HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. MACKENZIE (In English): -Mr. Chairman, to help to clarify this situation, could I ask the Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee to recall what is the possible financial involvement approximately for these four pools?
MR. SALES (In English):-Mr. Chairman, perhaps I should answer that question in a wider context because the cost of construction of pools has gone up very steeply from the very first pool until the last one we had. First and foremost, Government has undertaken to complete the remaining projects in Block B which in the last financial year was estimated at $470,000, i.e. an undertaking on the part of the Government apart from the projects in A, D and E. Secondly, Block Vote A for new projects will amount to $5-million. Thirdly, there is a capital item of $10-million in the new budget which, of course, covers all other projects but it is expected that this amount of money is not likely to be spent immediately because Government has still got a very great number of projects under A, D & E.
MR. MACKENZIE (In English):-Mr. Chairman, we won't pursue that line of enquiry. The Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee stated that the Council's target was one swimming pool complex for every 250,000 people in the population. Could I ask if this is endorsed by Government?
MR. SALES (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I can't answer for that very nebulous entity called "Government" in Hong Kong. But, as far as I know, it has always been accepted that such a programme would be undertaken. In fact, we already have a list of all these swimming pools in places which I have identified this afternoon, and I have gathered that it is the Government's intention to find the money for the Council somehow if the money is not forthcoming from the Jockey Club as in the past because of their new commitments. I think the Council can expect that Government will carry out this project on our behalf.
MOTIONS
(1) MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:
"RESOLVED that the Public Swimming Pools (Amendment) By-laws, 1973 be made under section 42 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
He said (In English):-Mr. Chairman, the inequity with which you cut out further supplementary questioning is to be deplored.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
383
As Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, I rise to move the motion in my name.
The purpose of the amendment to the By-laws is to increase the individual admission charges to the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool. This pool will have extra operational and maintenance costs above those for unheated pool complexes because of the additional facilities provided there. These will consist of:
(i) heated pool water to prevent the temperature falling below 75°F;
(ii) heated air over the pool to keep a warm surround of not less than 80°F;
(iii) hot water showers; and
(iv) overhead building protection.
None of these extras are available in existing pool complexes. The increases proposed are marginal: 30 cents for adults and 10 cents for children under the age of 14. They will still be below the true operational and maintenance costs. My Select Committee has agreed unanimously that such charges are reasonable.
I beg to move.
MR. MACKENZIE (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the motion.
MR. T. S. Lo:-(In English):--Sir, could I ask a question? How much are the fees below the true operational and maintenance costs? Because it would be of interest, I am sure, to the public to realize just how much the pool costs and how much they are being subsidized.
CHAIRMAN (In English):-I don't know if the Chairman of Recreation and Amenities Select Committee would like to clarify, but this is not question time, Mr. Lo.
MR. SALES (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I have also called for these figures and they will be forthcoming. At that time, we were sure that they were in fact well below costs, and the Select Committee considered the matter and agreed that they were indeed below cost.
MRS. ELLIOTT (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I am sorry this is not question time, but can I ask, on the point of clarification, the expression "14 years of age", I am not on that Committee, can you tell me why we don't classify school children?
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. MACKENZIE (In English): -Mr. Chairman, to help to clarify this situation, could I ask the Chairman of the Recreation and Ameni- ties Select Committee to recall what is the possible financial involve- ment approximately for these four pools?
MR. SALES (In English):-Mr. Chairman, perhaps I should answer that question in a wider context because the cost of construction of pools has gone up very steeply from the very first pool until the last one we had. First and foremost, Government has undertaken to com- plete the remaining projects in Block B which in the last financial year was estimated at $470,000, i.e. an undertaking on the part of the Government apart from the projects in A, D and E. Secondly, Block Vote A for new projects will amount to $5-million. Thirdly, there is a capital item of $10-million in the new budget which, of course, covers all other projects but it is expected that this amount of money is not likely to be spent immediately because Government has still got a very great number of projects under A, D & E.
MR. MACKENZIE (In English):-Mr. Chairman, we won't pursue that line of enquiry. The Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee stated that the Council's target was one swimming pool complex for every 250,000 people in the population. Could I ask if this is endorsed by Government?
MR. SALES (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I can't answer for that very nebulous entity called "Government" in Hong Kong. But, as far as I know, it has always been accepted that such a programme would be undertaken. In fact, we already have a list of all these swimming pools in places which I have identified this afternoon, and I have gathered that it is the Government's intention to find the money for the Council somehow if the money is not forthcoming from the Jockey Club as in the past because of their new commitments. I think the Council can expect that Government will carry out this project on our behalf.
MOTIONS
(1) MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:
"RESOLVED that the Public Swimming Pools (Amendment) By-laws, 1973 be made under section 42 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
He said (In English):-Mr. Chairman, the inequity with which you cut out further supplementary questioning is to be deplored.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
383
As Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, I rise to move the motion in my name.
The purpose of the amendment to the By-laws is to increase the individual admission charges to the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool. This pool will have extra operational and maintenance costs above those for unheated pool complexes because of the additional facilities provided there. These will consist of:
(i) heated pool water to prevent the temperature falling below
75°F;
(ii) heated air over the pool to keep a warm surround of not less
than 80°F;
(iii) hot water showers; and
(iv) overhead building protection.
None of these extras are available in existing pool complexes. The increases proposed are marginal: 30 cents for adults and 10 cents for children under the age of 14. They will still be below the true opera- tional and maintenance costs. My Select Committee has agreed un- animously that such charges are reasonable.
I beg to move.
MR. MACKENZIE (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the motion.
MR. T. S. Lo:-(In English):--Sir, could I ask a question? How much are the fees below the true operational and maintenance costs? Because it would be of interest, I am sure, to the public to realize just how much the pool costs and how much they are being subsidized.
CHAIRMAN (In English):-I don't know if the Chairman of Recrea- tion and Amenities Select Committee would like to clarify, but this is not question time, Mr. Lo.
MR. SALES (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I have also called for these figures and they will be forthcoming. At that time, we were sure that they were in fact well below costs, and the Select Committee con- sidered the matter and agreed that they were indeed below cost.
MRS. ELLIOTT (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I am sorry this is not question time, but can I ask, on the point of clarification, the expres- sion "14 years of age", I am not on that Committee, can you tell me why we don't classify school children?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.