260
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
While the ordinary citizen creates domestic pollution in various ways, agricultural effluent, especially from pigs and chicken farming, has had a devastating effect on certain parts of the New Territories. Uncontrolled disposal of effluent has created indescribable conditions of stagnant filth in the once limpid streams running into Deep Bay and elsewhere. There is no easy solution either, as control would be expensive, and make pig farming in its present form non-viable. Thus creating a potential political problem. A firm of Consultants have made a study, and their report should be publicized shortly, with perhaps some remedy. However, the dimensions of this problem can be grasped when it is realized that the half million pigs in the New Territories produce effluent equivalent to a human population of over one million persons.
Industrial pollution caused by the effluent from factories has been assessed. Although not yet on a scale to cause grave concern, it is growing, especially from the textile and allied industries. As our industrial base widens to enhance our economic structure, pollution-producing type industry will come on stream. Legislation must be evolved and introduced without much more delay to ensure that new industry conforms to the highest standard of modern pollution control. I can assure this Council that Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN and myself, who are members of the Pollution Committee, will not only keep you informed of progress on this highly topical subject, but also ensure any of your ideas and suggestions are properly represented.
Finance
In the lead-up to full financial control of our own affairs, the Co-ordinating Committee, chaired by Mr. BERNACCHI, did its best to cover all eventualities, and I must say the Government representatives on that Committee were generally most co-operative in working out future costings. However, I can well remember crossing swords with a charming but fairly inflexible lady financial expert on the Government side, who, in predicting future staff costs, referred to "incremental creep". Whereas it is a veritable gallop. Not only from recurrent costs, but every item of capital expenditure is subject to an explosive inflationary spiral. I was therefore dismayed to read last week of our surplus of $60 million being referred to as a "windfall" and a "surprise" to Urban Councillors. I trust no one around this table subscribed to such utter balderdash. Otherwise, we would look like veritable novices in the first year of handling our own finances. Lack of progress in spending is something to be deplored and not regarded as skill in building a reserve. Our job is to utilize our financial resources in the best interests of the community, and I share the frustrations of my other colleagues, Mr. Chairman, at our inability to report so little progress in 1973. I predict that as our staff expansion and capital works programme gets under way this year, our surplus will melt away, and we will soon be clamouring for additional funds.
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In this context, I would remind Government of what I regard as a firm commitment given in response to a question I put in Legislative Council last summer, that it (the Government) would finance the expansion of the swimming pool programme not covered by Jockey Club grants, out of central Government funds. The success of these complexes, referred to by His Excellency last year, makes a continuance of the programme a high priority in our planning. Perhaps you, Sir, can give us this assurance in your reply.
Housing
Although in company with eight of my colleagues, I have been shunted sideways into an enlarged Housing Authority, I am even more conscious of my obligations to interpret and forward the views of this Council on housing and other related matters. The responsibility for the public housing needs of Hong Kong is a daunting task, but I think I can fairly report that it is being tackled with energy, enthusiasm, and a rare unanimity of purpose between the old Housing Authority, Resettlement Department, and Public Works Department. The decision to amalgamate, long advocated by this Council, was a very wise one, and the fruits of the combined labours should become apparent from the year 1975 onwards. The bogey of finance that all threatened us previously seems to be laid, and every effort is being directed to the production of more and better housing.
Hawker Problems
On the other hand, the seemingly intractable hawker problem I fear will escalate unless firmer measures are taken. As I see it, areas of Kowloon streets seem to be slipping into the control of unbridled hawking to the detriment of others' legitimate interests. I wish my colleagues dealing with this pail of worms, more success in the future than they have had in the past.
Cultural Complex at Tsimshatsui
In Kowloon, we residents of that part of the Colony await with interest and keen anticipation, the production of firm plans for the cultural complex at Tsim Sha Tsui that is to grow phoenix-like
260
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
While the ordinary citizen creates domestic pollution in various ways, agricultural effluent, especially from pigs and chicken farming, has had a devastating effect on certain parts of the New Territories. Uncontrolled disposal of effluent has created indescribable conditions of stagnant filth in the once limpid streams running into Deep Bay and elsewhere. There is no easy solution either, as control would be expensive, and make pig farming in its present form non-viable. Thus creating a potential political problem. A firm of Consultants have made a study, and their report should be publicized shortly, with perhaps some remedy. However, the dimensions of this problem can be grasped when it is realized that the half million pigs in the New Territories produce effluent equivalent to a human population of over one million persons.
Industrial pollution caused by the effluent from factories has been assessed. Although not yet on a scale to cause grave concern, it is growing, especially from the textile and allied industries. As our in- dustrial base widens to enhance our economic structure, pollution producing type industry will come on stream. Legislation must be evolved and introduced without much more delay to ensure that new industry conforms to the highest standard of modern pollution control. I can assure this Council that Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN and myself, who are members of the Pollution Committee, will not only keep you informed of progress on this highly topical subject, but also ensure any of your ideas and suggestions are properly represented.
Finance
In the lead-up to full financial control of our own affairs, the Co-ordinating Committee, chaired by Mr. BERNACCHI, did its best to cover all eventualities, and I must say the Government representatives on that Committee were generally most co-operative in working out future costings. However, I can well remember crossing swords with a charming but fairly inflexible lady financial expert on the Govern- ment side, who, in predicting future staff costs, referred to "incremental creep". Whereas it is a veritable gallop. Not only from recurrent costs, but every item of capital expenditure is subject to an explosive inflationary spiral. I was therefore dismayed to read last week of our surplus of $60 million being referred to as a "windfall" and a "surprise" to Urban Councillors. I trust no one around this table subscribed to such utter balderdash. Otherwise we would look like veritable novices in the first year of handling our own finances. Lack of progress in spending is something to be deplored and not regarded as skill in building a reserve. Our job is to utilize our financial re-
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 166 of 212
261
sources in the best interests of the community, and I share the frustra- tions of my other colleagues, Mr. Chairman, at our inability to report so little progress in 1973. I predict that as our staff expansion and capital works programme gets under way this year, our surplus will melt away, and we will soon be clamouring for additional funds.
In this context I would remind Government of what I regard as a firm commitment given in response to a question I put in Legislative Council last summer, that it (the Government) would finance the ex- pansion of the swimming pool programme not covered by Jockey Club grants, out of central Government funds. The success of these com- plexes, referred to by His Excellency last year, makes a continuance of the programme a high priority in our planning. Perhaps you, Sir, can give us this assurance in your reply.
Housing
Although in company with eight of my colleagues, I have been shunted sideways into an enlarged Housing Authority, I am even more conscious of my obligations to interpret and forward the views of this Council on housing and other related matters. The responsibility for the public housing needs of Hong Kong is a daunting task, but I think I can fairly report that it is being tackled with energy, enthusiasm and a rare unanimity of purpose between the old Housing Authority, Reset- tlement Department and Public Works Department. The decision to amalgamate, long advocated by this Council, was a very wise one, and the fruits of the combined labours should become apparent from the year 1975 onwards. The bogey of finance that all threatened us previously seems to be laid, and every effort is being directed to the production of more and better housing.
Hawker Problems
On the other hand, the seemingly intractable hawker problem I fear will escalate unless firmer measures are taken. As I see it, areas of Kowloon streets seem to be slipping into the control of unbridled hawking to the detriment of others' legitimate interests. I wish my colleagues dealing with this pail of worms, more success in the future than they have had in the past.
Cultural Complex at Tsimshatsui
In Kowloon, we residents of that part of the Colony await with interest and keen anticipation, the production of firm plans for the cultural complex at Tsim Sha Tsui that is to grow phoenix-like
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