1974 — Page 164

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN

CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, this meeting is called to order. Before we go on to the business on our Agenda, I would like to wish you all "Kung Hei, Kung Hei". (Laughter).

MINUTES

The minutes of the meetings held on 14th and 16th January, 1975 were confirmed.

PAPER

The following paper was laid on the table:-

Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of January 1975.

QUESTIONS

(1) DR. P. C. WONG asked the following question (in English): ·

Can the Urban Council pay immediate attention to schools, which are badly affected by refuse being collected at or near their entrances? I refer in particular to the Saint Barnabas' Primary School at Kwun Tong.

DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):

Mr. Chairman, the practice is to site refuse collection points, if possible, away from large institutions, such as schools, to avoid causing obstruction to pedestrians and traffic. But ideal sites are not easy to come by; a recent survey reveals that there are 34 refuse collection points located within 20 feet of the entrances to schools in the urban area. The majority of these are designed to receive refuse from the schools themselves, and the department has received only one complaint about the siting of these collection points during the last 12 months.

The refuse collection point near the entrance to St. Barnabas' Primary School is an off-street site operated and managed by the Housing Department. It is about 60 feet away

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from the school. I understand that this point is to be rebuilt shortly as a proper permanent refuse collection point, which should result in an improvement in environ- mental hygiene; this is being done with the agreement of the principal of the school.

I reiterate that such complaints are unavoidable although the principle of the Council is to avoid the siting of refuse collection points at or near to the entrance of schools as far as practicable.

DR. P. C. WONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the principal of the school, Mr. KWAN, told me that this refuse collection point near to St. Barnabas' Primary School has been there for quite sometime. Can the Council at an early date solve this problem? When I phoned him, it was a month ago. Since this is a matter which affects the health and hygiene of the school children, I hope that this can be given top priority.

DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I want to build proper, permanent refuse collection points and this is one of the points constantly mentioned and discussed by my Committee.

(Mr. Peter P. K. NG arrived at the meeting at this point.)

I want to tell Dr. WONG that the problem of building permanent points will be expedited, but I cannot promise or guarantee that we can re- build this collection point which is near to the St. Barnabas' Primary School quickly. However, as I've mentioned, there are 34 refuse collec- tion located within 20 feet of the entrances to schools. This one is about 60 feet away from the school, so I cannot give a very firm reply but I hope that these temporary off-street collection points can become permanent ones.

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

What progress has been made in providing adequate toilet, shower and changing facilities at the more popular Hong Kong beaches, and will these be available for the 1975 swimming season?

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

Mr. Chairman, Mr. MACKENZIE has been pressing for improved facilities at the more popular Hong Kong beaches for