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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Miss YEUNG's second question is whether the Crematorium staff can go over to a 2-shift system. At present, each of the five cremators works to a 3-cremation schedule per day, making a normal total of 15 cremations per day. At the most, it is possible to add one or two more cremations to the schedule and this has been done on most days between 1st - 7th March. To meet the present additional pressure, the Urban Services Department has, from 24th February, required staff to work on Sundays as on any other day, and this will continue until further notice. Creating a second shift is however not con- sidered possible since experience has shown that more cremations cause overheating which can damage the installation and lead to more serious delays.

With regard to the third question, it is not true that the last cremation must take place at 2.30 p.m. in the afternoon so that the workers can get away by 5 p.m. The last cremation is at 3.30 p.m. after which the staff must wait for 1 hr. 45 mins. the minimum period for cremation, plus up to the one hour that must normally be allowed for cooling before the ashes can be removed.

In the private sector, it is true that bodies have to be kept in funeral parlours for the additional waiting time, and I understand that this results in additional measures being taken (at an extra charge) to treat the bodies and the coffins. Mr. Chairman, may I add here that sometimes the members of the deceased's family like to pre-deter- mine the time for pressing the button for cremation. This also causes some delay.

With regard to decomposition of the bodies, Members are no doubt aware that all coffins are hermetically sealed. Finally, Mr. Chairman, while the situation is not satisfactory,

it can hardly be described as "apalling", and once the Kowloon Crematorium comes back into operation in the middle of March, the waiting time will be shortened.

In the longer term, the Council has, of course, plans to replace the present Kowloon Crematorium with a new one which it is hoped will be built by 1976. May I say also finally, Mr. Chairman, that the situation in a way would indicate the Urban Council's year-long policy in promoting crema- tion proves to be very successful today—even earlier than we anticipated.

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MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, do I under- stand from the answer just given that the situation will be satisfactory when the Kowloon Crematorium once again comes into operation, or do we still need further crematoria?

MR. PETER P. F. CHAN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the answer is "yes". We are also planning the reprovisioning of our Diamond Hill Crematorium, and when additional facilities are available I think the situation will be very very much improved.

(7) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English):

I was delighted to learn at the January Council meeting that

work was now scheduled on the following:

changing rooms/showers at Repulse Bay, Shek O and Big Wave Bay Beaches;

beach buildings at Middle Bay and South Bay Beaches

for completion "for use by the public during the 1974 swimming season."

May I enquire how far construction has proceeded and when

it will be completed?

MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):

This question concerns the timing for construction of the changing rooms and showers at Repulse Bay, Shek O and Big Wave Bay; and beach buildings at Middle Bay and South Bay.

The department has been informed by the Public Works Department that construction of the beach buildings at Middle and South Bays will start in May and, subject to no unforeseen delays, should be completed in August of this year. Work on the changing rooms and showers will begin in June/July, and completion is expected in October. The Public Works Department will make every effort to expedite the construction of these changing rooms so as to enable the public to have the use of the facilities before the swimming season ends in November.

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