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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(7) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu asked the following question (In Cantonese):
Would the Chairman please inform the Council what plans or steps have been contemplated to plant more trees and flowers in our city so that its environment may be further improved after the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In English):
I am pleased to answer this question from my friend, Mr. Henry Hu, on a matter which affects our environment. The Urban Council has an ambitious tree, shrub and flower-planting programme each year. In fact, 158,700 trees, 356,700 shrubs and 817,600 seasonal flowers have been planted in the past five years. In the current year, no less than 36,410 trees and 67,810 shrubs have been planted and an estimated 119,000 seasonal flowers will have been planted before the year closes. Next year, it is proposed to increase the planting programme by about 10% over that for this year. Full details of the annual programme are submitted to the Select Committee for consideration.
Many of our trees and shrubs do not survive the typhoon season, whilst others are damaged by vandalism or, at times, because of lack of water.
Staff is employed to the full and nursery space used to capacity to produce more trees and shrubs. A more spectacular increase is prevented mainly by the time it takes before a tree is ready for planting. To supplement local production, $2 million has, therefore, been requested for the purchase from China of about 10,000 semi-mature flowering trees of about 12 feet in height and 3 to 4 inches in diameter. The additional trees will, I am sure, enhance the beauty of the urban areas in no small way.
MR. HENRY Hu (In Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, I want to ask Mr. SALES where all these trees are to be planted?
MR. SALES (In English):- Sir, each year, as Mr. Henry Hu knows from previous membership of the Select Committee, the department submits to the Select Committee a detailed list showing the locations where the trees are to be planted, and the particular types of trees to be planted in each place together with the actual number. So, I would like to suggest that perhaps in the coming year when the ten thousand specially imported trees will be available, a detailed list would also be submitted to the Select Committee.
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307
MR. Henry Hu (In Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, I wish to ask Mr. SALES when these trees are planted, can more of them be planted in the urban area? (Laughter). I repeat my question, would Mr. SALES tell me can more of them be planted in Resettlement Estates?
MR. SALES (In English):- The planting programme does not discriminate against any particular area. The trees are planted where they are most needed at any given time from year to year, and certainly Mr. Henry Hu's concern for the Resettlement Estates will not be overlooked. In fact, I recall Mr. Hu asking a similar question a year or two ago about planting on the slopes of Resettlement Estates.
MOTION
CHAIRMAN (In English):- Ladies and gentlemen, we will now resume the debate on the motion "That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1973", when Officials reply to the points raised at the meetings held on the 14th and 16th November, 1972. The first speaker this afternoon is Mr. WALDEN, Commissioner for Resettlement.
MR. J. C. C. WALDEN, COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT (In English): Mr. Chairman, Hong Kong's calendar of political events does not have many dates on which there is much hope of exciting entertainment. But this annual conventional debate is one of them.
As this is the last debate and it closes a chapter in Hong Kong's rather slim political history I suppose the Council's fans were hoping for a spectacular firework display.
I am afraid that this year the subject of housing does not provide the material for it.
Instead of a battle royal over the aims and scope of a public housing policy for Hong Kong we have heard generous expressions of overwhelming support by the Unofficial Members of this Council for the new housing programme announced by His Excellency the Governor on October 18th.
The collective wish of Unofficial Members on behalf of the people of Hong Kong is for much more public housing; for public housing of a higher quality allocated at at least 35 square feet per person; and for this housing to be in estates provided with satisfactory communal services and amenities and not in bleak, concrete jungles.
These are also the Government's objectives for housing and are implicit in the new 10 year housing programme.
Page 164 of 206
Page 164 of 206
306
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(7) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu asked the following question (In Can- tonese):
Would the Chairman please inform the Council what plans or steps have been contemplated to plant more trees and flowers in our city so that its environment may be further improved after the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In English) : ----
I am pleased to answer this question from my friend, Mr. Henry Hu, on a matter which affects our environment. The Urban Council has an ambitious tree, shrub and flower- planting programme each year. In fact, 158,700 trees, 356,700 shrubs and 817,600 seasonal flowers have been planted in the past five years. In the current year, no less than 36,410 trees and 67,810 shrubs have been planted and an estimated 119,000 seasonal flowers will have been planted before the year closes. Next year, it is proposed to increase the planting programme by about 10% over that for this year. Full details of the annual programme
are submitted to the Select Committee for consideration.
Many of our trees and shrubs do not survive the typhoon season, whilst others are damaged by vandalism or, at times, because of lack of water.
Staff is employed to the full and nursery space used to capacity to produce more trees and shrubs. A more spectacular increase is prevented mainly by the time it takes before a tree is ready for planting. To supplement local pro- duction, $2 million has, therefore, been requested for the purchase from China of about 10,000 semi-mature flower- ing trees of about 12 feet in height and 3 to 4 inches in diameter. The additional trees will, I am sure, enhance the beauty of the urban areas in no small way.
MR. HENRY Hu (In Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I want to ask Mr. SALES where all these trees are to be planted?
MR. SALES (In English):-Sir, each year, as Mr. Henry Hu knows from previous membership of the Select Committee, the depart- ment submits to the Select Committee a detailed list showing the locations where the trees are to be planted, and the particular types of trees to be planted in each place together with the actual number. So, I would like to suggest that perhaps in the coming year when the ten thousand specially imported trees will be available, a detailed list would also be submitted to the Select Committee.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
307
MR. Henry Hu (In Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I wish to ask Mr. SALES when these trees are planted, can more of them be planted in the urban area? (Laughter). I repeat my question, would Mr. SALES tell me can more of them be planted in Resettlement Estates?
MR. SALES (In English):-The planting programme does not discriminate against any particular area. The trees are planted where they are most needed at any given time from year to year, and certainly Mr. Henry Hu's concern for the Resettlement Estates will not be over- looked. In fact, I recall Mr. Hu asking a similar question a year or two ago about planting on the slopes of Resettlement Estates.
MOTION
CHAIRMAN (In English):-Ladies and gentlemen, we will now resume the debate on the motion "That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1973", when Officials reply to the points raised at the meetings held on the 14th and 16th November, 1972. The first speaker this afternoon is Mr. WALDEN, Commissioner for Resettlement.
MR. J. C. C. WALDEN, COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT (In English): Mr. Chairman, Hong Kong's calendar of political events does not have many dates on which there is much hope of exciting entertainment. But this annual conventional debate is one of them.
As this is the last debate and it closes a chapter in Hong Kong's rather slim political history I suppose the Council's fans were hoping for a spectacular firework display.
I am afraid that this year the subject of housing does not provide the material for it.
Instead of a battle royal over the aims and scope of a public housing policy for Hong Kong we have heard generous expressions of overwhelming support by the Unofficial Members of this Council for the new housing programme announced by His Excellency the Governor on October 18th.
The collective wish of Unofficial Members on behalf of the people of Hong Kong is for much more public housing; for public housing of a higher quality allocated at at least 35 square feet per person; and for this housing to be in estates provided with satisfactory communal services and amenities and not in bleak, concrete jungles.
These are also the Government's objectives for housing and are implicit in the new 10 year housing programme.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.