1972 — Page 12

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 12 of 206

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

The transfer of Shek Kip Mei Estate residents to Pak Tin Estate and the conversion of the old Shek Kip Mei Estate into a modern Housing Estate is a matter which the Urban Council is very much concerned about. The Resettlement Department will have to go ahead in completing Phase I of the transfer within the coming months with minimum hardship to the tenants concerned.

The Government departments concerned are looking closely at schemes for rebuilding or converting the old Mark I and Mark II Estates during this decade, and it is of vital importance that the Shek Kip Mei conversion be completed with all possible speed.

With rising living standards in Hong Kong it would seem advisable for Government to provide in the New Shek Kip Mei housing estate all the community facilities as are provided in Housing Authority estates, including market stalls, car-parks, community halls, schools, libraries, post office, police post, etc.

In order to build up a greater sense of well being, of civic pride and of community responsibility, it is necessary to remind Government that such comprehensive facilities should be thoroughly planned for in advance and not after reconversion of the estate has been completed.

MR. RAYMOND Y. K. KAN:- Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee, at least until the end of this meeting, I wish to refer to the progress report that has been tabled, and would like to speak on the subject of funeral parlours.

At present, facilities for holding funeral services are provided by private concerns as well as the Urban Council. In Kowloon, these are available in a commercial funeral parlour, in a low-cost one under the control of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and in the Council's own funeral depot at Hung Hom. The Hung Hom Depot's facilities are far from adequate but arrangements have been made for its re-provisioning and consideration is being given to make these facilities and services comparable to those in existing commercial funeral parlours.

On Hong Kong Island, there are now 2 commercial funeral parlours and a low-cost one which is accommodated in one of these and run by the Tung Wah Group. The Urban Council has one funeral depot at Oil Street, North Point but the facilities provided are to say the least grossly inadequate. This is borne out by the fact that the Depot is very seldom made use of by the public for holding funerals. Furthermore, there is no plan to effect any improvements in the near future due to limitations of the site and nature of the neighbourhood. Indeed, no significant improvements can physically be made.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

People on the Island have therefore little alternative but to make use of the services and facilities provided by the two commercial funeral parlours, or the low-cost one of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. The Group's agreement with the owner of the International Funeral Parlour to provide subsidized funeral service in his premises will expire at the end of June next year. If this agreement is not renewed, it will mean that people on the Island will be deprived of competitive service and will have to rely to a very great extent on the services of the two commercial funeral parlours. This situation is not satisfactory, nor desirable.

There is therefore, I think, a case and indeed an urgent need to establish a funeral parlour on the Island to be run by this Council. This would provide the much needed low-cost service to the people in the possible event that the existing one ceases to operate by June next year. The establishment of a funeral parlour controlled and perhaps even operated by this Council would be a very effective means to regulate the charges for this type of service.

The Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee (now about to be merged with the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee) was unanimous in supporting this proposal. I understand that the Director of Public Works has already been approached for the allocation of a suitable site. It is hoped that this could be made available soon to enable the project to proceed at the earliest possible date.

MR. A. de O. SALES:-- Mr. Chairman, three of my much respected colleagues have spoken about the work of their respective committees by way of a swan song each. It is not my intention this afternoon to make a statement as chairman of a Select Committee, but by convention, Sir, I would like to talk on our Statement of Progress which you have tabled this afternoon. To some it may seem to be a statement of lack of progress in certain activities of the Council and the Department. Nevertheless, Mr. Chairman, we must acknowledge that much has been done, even though in many sections we would like to see much more done in the public interest. I would like to point out in particular, Sir, that in paragraph 200 you made the statement that 37 projects of a recreational nature were completed in the year under review, and that at the end of the year there were still 102 projects in various stages of development.

In another Council recently Mr. Chairman, you made the statement, I believe, that there was no delay, or undue delay, in completing the projects put forth by this Council. There was no representative of the Urban Council there, Sir, to point out to you, as I have done since in private, that there is a notable project advocated by this Council that has been the cause of considerable delay on the part of the

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Page 12 of 206 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL The transfer of Shek Kip Mei Estate residents to Pak Tin Estate and the conversion of the old Shek Kip Mei Estate into a modern Housing Estate is a matter which the Urban Council is very much concerned about. The Resettlement Department will have to go ahead in completing Phase I of the transfer within the coming months with minimum hardship to the tenants concerned. The Government departments concerned are looking closely at schemes for rebuilding or converting the old Mark I and Mark II Estates during this decade, and it is of vital importance that the Shek Kip Mei conversion be completed with all possible speed. With rising living standards in Hong Kong it would seem advisable for Government to provide in the New Shek Kip Mei housing estate all the community facilities as are provided in Housing Authority estates, including market stalls, car-parks, community halls, schools, libraries, post office, police post, etc. In order to build up a greater sense of well being, of civic pride and of community responsibility, it is necessary to remind Government that such comprehensive facilities should be thoroughly planned for in advance and not after reconversion of the estate has been completed. MR. RAYMOND Y. K. KAN:- Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee, at least until the end of this meeting, I wish to refer to the progress report that has been tabled, and would like to speak on the subject of funeral parlours. At present, facilities for holding funeral services are provided by private concerns as well as the Urban Council. In Kowloon, these are available in a commercial funeral parlour, in a low-cost one under the control of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and in the Council's own funeral depot at Hung Hom. The Hung Hom Depot's facilities are far from adequate but arrangements have been made for its re-provisioning and consideration is being given to make these facilities and services comparable to those in existing commercial funeral parlours. On Hong Kong Island, there are now 2 commercial funeral parlours and a low-cost one which is accommodated in one of these and run by the Tung Wah Group. The Urban Council has one funeral depot at Oil Street, North Point but the facilities provided are to say the least grossly inadequate. This is borne out by the fact that the Depot is very seldom made use of by the public for holding funerals. Furthermore, there is no plan to effect any improvements in the near future due to limitations of the site and nature of the neighbourhood. Indeed, no significant improvements can physically be made. HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 5 People on the Island have therefore little alternative but to make use of the services and facilities provided by the two commercial funeral parlours, or the low-cost one of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. The Group's agreement with the owner of the International Funeral Parlour to provide subsidized funeral service in his premises will expire at the end of June next year. If this agreement is not renewed, it will mean that people on the Island will be deprived of competitive service and will have to rely to a very great extent on the services of the two commercial funeral parlours. This situation is not satisfactory, nor desirable. There is therefore, I think, a case and indeed an urgent need to establish a funeral parlour on the Island to be run by this Council. This would provide the much needed low-cost service to the people in the possible event that the existing one ceases to operate by June next year. The establishment of a funeral parlour controlled and perhaps even operated by this Council would be a very effective means to regulate the charges for this type of service. The Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee (now about to be merged with the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee) was unanimous in supporting this proposal. I understand that the Director of Public Works has already been approached for the allocation of a suitable site. It is hoped that this could be made available soon to enable the project to proceed at the earliest possible date. MR. A. de O. SALES:-- Mr. Chairman, three of my much respected colleagues have spoken about the work of their respective committees by way of a swan song each. It is not my intention this afternoon to make a statement as chairman of a Select Committee, but by convention, Sir, I would like to talk on our Statement of Progress which you have tabled this afternoon. To some it may seem to be a statement of lack of progress in certain activities of the Council and the Department. Nevertheless, Mr. Chairman, we must acknowledge that much has been done, even though in many sections we would like to see much more done in the public interest. I would like to point out in particular, Sir, that in paragraph 200 you made the statement that 37 projects of a recreational nature were completed in the year under review, and that at the end of the year there were still 102 projects in various stages of development. In another Council recently Mr. Chairman, you made the statement, I believe, that there was no delay, or undue delay, in completing the projects put forth by this Council. There was no representative of the Urban Council there, Sir, to point out to you, as I have done since in private, that there is a notable project advocated by this Council that has been the cause of considerable delay on the part of the

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Page 12 of 206 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL The transfer of Shek Kip Mei Estate residents to Pak Tin Estate and the conversion of the old Shek Kip Mei Estate into a modern Housing Estate is a matter which the Urban Council is very much concerned about. The Resettlement Department will have to go ahead in completing Phase I of the transfer within the coming months with minimum hardship to the tenants concerned. The Government departments concerned are looking closely at schemes for rebuilding or converting the old Mark I and Mark II Estates during this decade, and it is of vital importance that the Shek Kip Mei conversion be completed with all possible speed. With rising living standards in Hong Kong it would seem advis- able for Government to provide in the New Shek Kip Mei housing estate all the community facilities as are provided in Housing Authority estates, including market stalls, car-parks, community halls, schools, libraries, post office, police post, etc. In order to build up a greater sense of well being, of civic pride and of community responsibility, it is necessary to remind Government that such comprehensive facilities should be thoroughly planned for in advance and not after reconversion of the estate has been completed. MR. RAYMOND Y. K. KAN:-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee, at least until the end of this meeting, I wish to refer to the progress report that has been tabled, and would like to speak on the subject of funeral parlours. At present, facilities for holding funeral services are provided by private concerns as well as the Urban Council. In Kowloon, these are available in a commercial funeral parlour, in a low-cost one under the control of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and in the Council's own funeral depot at Hung Hom. The Hung Hom Depot's facilities are far from adequate but arrangements have been made for its re- provisioning and consideration is being given to make these facilities and services comparable to those in existing commercial funeral parlours. On Hong Kong Island, there are now 2 commercial funeral parlours and a low-cost one which is accommodated in one of these and run by the Tung Wah Group. The Urban Council has one funeral depot at Oil Street, North Point but the facilities provided are to say the least grossly inadequate. This is borne out by the fact that the Depot is very seldom made use of by the public for holding funerals. Fur- thermore, there is no plan to effect any improvements in the near future due to limitations of the site and nature of the neighbourhood. Indeed, no significant improvements can physically be made. HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 5 People on the Island have therefore little alternative but to make use of the services and facilities provided by the two commercial funeral parlours, or the low-cost one of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. The Group's agreement with the owner of the Interational Funeral Parlour to provide subsidized funeral service in his premises will expire at the end of June next year. If this agreement is not renewed, it will mean that people on the Island will be deprived of competitive service and will have to rely to a very great extent on the services of the two commercial funeral parlours. This situation is not satisfactory, nor desirable. There is therefore, I think, a case and indeed an urgent need to establish a funeral parlour on the Island to be run by this Council. This would provide the much needed low-cost service to the people in the possible event that the existing one ceases to operate by June next year. The establishment of a funeral parlour controlled and per- haps even operated by this Council would be a very effective means to regulate the charges for this type of service. The Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee (now about to be merged with the Environmental Hygiene Select Com- mittee) was unanimous in supporting this proposal. I understand that the Director of Public Works has already been approached for the allocation of a suitable site. It is hoped that this could be made avail- able soon to enable the project to proceed at the earliest possible date. MR. A. de O. SALES:--Mr. Chairman, three of my much respected colleagues have spoken about the work of their respective committees by way of a swan song each. It is not my intention this afternoon to make a statement as chairman of a Select Committee, but by con- vention, Sir, I would like to talk on our Statement of Progress which you have tabled this afternoon. To some it may seem to be a state- ment of lack of progress in certain activities of the Council and the Department. Nevertheless, Mr. Chairman, we must acknowledge that much has been done, even though in many sections we would like to see much more done in the public interest. I would like to point out in particular, Sir, that in paragraph 200 you made the statement that 37 projects of a recreational nature were completed in the year under review, and that at the end of the year there were still 102 projects in various stages of development. In another Council recently Mr. Chairman, you made the statement, I believe, that there was no delay, or undue delay, in completing the projects put forth by this Council. There was no representative of the Urban Council there, Sir, to point out to you, as I have done since in private, that there is a notable project advocated by this Council that has been the cause of considerable delay on the part of the

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Page 12 of 206

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

With rising living standards in Hong Kong it would seem advis- able for Government to provide in the New Shek Kip Mei housing estate all the community facilities as are provided in Housing Authority estates, including market stalls, car-parks, community halls, schools, libraries, post office, police post, etc.

MR. RAYMOND Y. K. KAN:-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee, at least until the end of this meeting, I wish to refer to the progress report that has been tabled, and would like to speak on the subject of funeral parlours.

At present, facilities for holding funeral services are provided by private concerns as well as the Urban Council. In Kowloon, these are available in a commercial funeral parlour, in a low-cost one under the control of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and in the Council's own funeral depot at Hung Hom. The Hung Hom Depot's facilities are far from adequate but arrangements have been made for its re- provisioning and consideration is being given to make these facilities and services comparable to those in existing commercial funeral parlours.

On Hong Kong Island, there are now 2 commercial funeral parlours and a low-cost one which is accommodated in one of these and run by the Tung Wah Group. The Urban Council has one funeral depot at Oil Street, North Point but the facilities provided are to say the least grossly inadequate. This is borne out by the fact that the Depot is very seldom made use of by the public for holding funerals. Fur- thermore, there is no plan to effect any improvements in the near future due to limitations of the site and nature of the neighbourhood. Indeed, no significant improvements can physically be made.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

People on the Island have therefore little alternative but to make use of the services and facilities provided by the two commercial funeral parlours, or the low-cost one of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. The Group's agreement with the owner of the Interational Funeral Parlour to provide subsidized funeral service in his premises will expire at the end of June next year. If this agreement is not renewed, it will mean that people on the Island will be deprived of competitive service and will have to rely to a very great extent on the services of the two commercial funeral parlours. This situation is not satisfactory, nor desirable.

There is therefore, I think, a case and indeed an urgent need to establish a funeral parlour on the Island to be run by this Council. This would provide the much needed low-cost service to the people in the possible event that the existing one ceases to operate by June next year. The establishment of a funeral parlour controlled and per- haps even operated by this Council would be a very effective means to regulate the charges for this type of service.

The Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee (now about to be merged with the Environmental Hygiene Select Com- mittee) was unanimous in supporting this proposal. I understand that the Director of Public Works has already been approached for the allocation of a suitable site. It is hoped that this could be made avail- able soon to enable the project to proceed at the earliest possible date.

MR. A. de O. SALES:--Mr. Chairman, three of my much respected colleagues have spoken about the work of their respective committees by way of a swan song each. It is not my intention this afternoon to make a statement as chairman of a Select Committee, but by con- vention, Sir, I would like to talk on our Statement of Progress which you have tabled this afternoon. To some it may seem to be a state- ment of lack of progress in certain activities of the Council and the Department. Nevertheless, Mr. Chairman, we must acknowledge that much has been done, even though in many sections we would like to see much more done in the public interest. I would like to point out in particular, Sir, that in paragraph 200 you made the statement that 37 projects of a recreational nature were completed in the year under review, and that at the end of the year there were still 102 projects in various stages of development.

1972 — Page 12

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