Page 197 of 206
372
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (In English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, before taking the first item on the agenda today, I would like to congratulate Mr. BERNACCHI (in his absence), Mr. C. K. CHAN and Mr. Henry Hu, on their re-election to the Council, and commiserate with Mr. WONG on his failure to get to be elected. Perhaps he will try again another time. (Applause).
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 13th February, 1973 were confirmed.
(Mr. B. A. BERNACCHI arrived at this point.)
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of February 1973.
MR. R. H. LOBO (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I should like to say a few words about markets. I am pleased to say that as a general rule our public markets are now much cleaner and tidier than they were before, thanks to a determined effort by the Select Committee and the department's staff and with the help of the "Keep Hong Kong Clean" Campaign. I am confident that the department will do its best to ensure that the improved conditions are maintained.
From time to time, in the press and elsewhere, there are suggestions that we are not producing enough new markets or that we are producing them too slowly. This criticism is not really justified, as the following facts will show. There are 37 market and hawker projects in the 1973-74 Public Works Programme and 3 more market projects have been recommended for inclusion in the course of the year. Since the beginning of 1970, 6 markets and 8 hawker bazaars have been completed and 2 more markets will be ready by the end of this year. It is expected that by the end of 1975 13 new market buildings will be in operation. By that stage, the programme capital expenditure on the provision of modern marketing facilities for the people of Hong Kong will already be in excess of $25m. I think you will agree that this is very good progress indeed.
You will note, Sir, that I mentioned hawker bazaars in this context. I did so because they play an important role in the overall pattern of marketing facilities.
373
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Since the market building programme was restarted in 1970, after a lapse of some 10 years, the whole approach to market planning has undergone a major change. In future, nearly every market will occupy the lower floors of a multi-purpose Government building containing a wide range of other community facilities such as multi-storey car parking, social welfare services, libraries and study-rooms and local Government offices. I am sure the public will find it most convenient to have all these facilities grouped together in one central location in the district. (Mr. H. M. G. FORSGATE arrived at this point.) It is likely that most of these multi-purpose buildings will be constructed by Government, and the marketing and other sections under the control of this Council will either be sold or leased to the Council. In this connection the Council must take steps to ensure that Government continues to regard the provision of marketing facilities as a matter of top priority and is not slowed down in cases where the need for the other facilities in the building are less urgent.
Now I come to the question of abattoirs. When the two new abattoirs were built in 1968 and 1969, their combined slaughtering capacity for pigs was less than 3,000 per day on an eight-hour shift. The workload has since been increasing very rapidly and the average total kill is no less than 7,000 pigs per day. I am glad to report that this problem has been tackled with determination, efficiency and vigour because the successful introduction of night shift work at Cheung Sha Wan abattoir and early morning shift at Kennedy Town Abattoir last November not only increased the slaughtering capacity but greatly improved the supply timetable and hygienic, fresh, hot meat is now made available in good time to all urban districts. The heavily over-worked machinery at Cheung Sha Wan abattoir has also been thoroughly overhauled. Measures are in train to implement important further mechanisation proposals at Cheung Sha Wan abattoir, and later at Kennedy Town abattoir to improve their working efficiency, and increase the slaughtering capacity. After completion of these projects, costing in total over 13 million dollars the abattoirs will be efficient, and reliable, in ensuring an adequate supply of hygienic meat in good time for the marketing hours.
Finally, this being the last meeting of this Council as presently constituted, I would like to thank publicly the hard working members of the Department, especially those who were directly involved with the planning and the day-to-day running of the markets and abattoirs for their good work and the splendid support given to me and my colleagues.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (In English):-Mr. Chairman, from next month, we shall have a new Urban Council and as this is the last meeting of the old Urban Council, I wish to take this opportunity
Page 198 of 206
Page 197 of 206
372
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (In English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, before taking the first item on the agenda today, I would like to congratulate Mr. BERNACCHI (in his absence), Mr. C. K. CHAN and Mr. Henry Hu, on their re-election to the Council, and commiserate with Mr. WONG on his failure to get to be elected. Perhaps he will try again another time. (Applause).
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 13th February, 1973 were confirmed.
(Mr. B. A. BERNACCHI arrived at this point.)
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services
Department for the month of February 1973.
MR. R. H. LOBO (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I should like to say a few words about markets. I am pleased to say that as a general rule our public markets are now much cleaner and tidier than they were before, thanks to a determined effort by the Select Committee and the department's staff and with the help of the "Keep Hong Kong Clean" Campaign. I am confident that the department will do its best to ensure that the improved conditions are maintained.
From time to time, in the press and elsewhere, there are sugges- tions that we are not producing enough new markets or that we are producing them too slowly. This criticism is not really justified, as the following facts will show. There are 37 market and hawker projects in the 1973-74 Public Works Programme and 3 more market projects have been recommended for inclusion in the course of the year. Since the beginning of 1970, 6 markets and 8 hawker bazaars have been completed and 2 more markets will be ready by the end of this year. It is expected that by the end of 1975 13 new market buildings will be in operation. By that stage, the programme capital expendi- ture on the provision of modern marketing facilities for the people of Hong Kong will already be in excess of $25m. I think you will agree that this is very good progress indeed.
You will note, Sir, that I mentioned hawker bazaars in this context. I did so because they play an important role in the overall pattern of marketing facilities.
i
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
373
Since the market building programme was restarted in 1970, after a lapse of some 10 years, the whole approach to market planning has undergone a major change. In future, nearly every market will occupy the lower floors of a multi-purpose Government building containing a wide range of other community facilities such as multi-storey car parking, social welfare services, libraries and study-rooms and local Government offices. I am sure the public will find it most convenient to have all these facilities grouped together in one central location in the district. (Mr. H. M. G. FORSGATE arrived at this point.) It is likely that most of these multi-purpose buildings will be constructed by Government, and the marketing and other sections under the control of this Council will either be sold or leased to the Council. In this connection the Council must take steps to ensure that Government continues to regard the provision of marketing facilities as a matter of top priority and is not slowed down in cases where the need for the other facilities in the building are less urgent.
Now I come to the question of abattoirs. When the two new abattoirs were built in 1968 and 1969, their combined slaughtering capacity for pigs was less than 3,000 per day on an eight-hour shift. The workload has since been increasing very rapidly and the average total kill is no less than 7,000 pigs per day. I am glad to report that this problem has been tackled with determination, efficiency and vigour because the successful introduction of night shift work at Cheung Sha Wan abattoir and early morning shift at Kennedy Town Abattoir last November not only increased the slaughtering capacity but greatly improved the supply timetable and hygienic, fresh, hot meat is now made available in good time to all urban districts. The heavily over- worked machinery at Cheung Sha Wan abattoir has also been thor- oughly overhauled. Measures are in train to implement important further mechanisation proposals at Cheung Sha Wan abattoir, and later at Kennedy Town abattoir to improve their working efficiency, and increase the slaughtering capacity. After completion of these projects, costing in total over 13 million dollars the abattoirs will be efficient, and reliable, in ensuing an adequate supply of hygienic meat in good time for the marketing hours.
Finally, this being the last meeting of this Council as presently constituted, I would like to thank publicly the hard working members of the Department, especially those who were directly involved with the planning and the day-to-day running of the markets and abattoirs for their good work and the splendid support given to me and my colleagues.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (In English):-Mr. Chairman, from next month, we shall have a new Urban Council and as this is the last meeting of the old Urban Council, I wish to take this opportunity
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