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42
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 14th May, 1974, were confirmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English): -For some time now our Council has been gravely concerned with the seemingly slow progress in the construction of our buildings and installations and even with the lack of any progress at all in processing some projects deemed of importance for the performance of our functions. In consequence, because the Council has accumulated some surplus cash in our first year of independent operation, I proposed earlier in the current financial year that we should act positively to finance some of these projects ourselves under a fair and reasonable arrangement with the Government. This scheme found unanimous support on our side, first among a few select committees directly concerned with the problem, and secondly from the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. I hope it will not be long before it is accepted by the Government and put into practice in the service of the community.
In essence, our Council's proposal concerns the projects in Public Works categories A, D and E on 31st March, 1973, which the Government undertook to complete entirely at their expense. At the last count, there were some 70 such projects still to be completed; their total cost is well beyond our modest means. Nevertheless, among them, there are many relatively small projects in cost, which could be built without more delay. However, because of the Government's present policy of cutting down drastically on their financial commitments by re-phasing their construction programmes, only 3 minor projects in the urban areas, adding up to no more than $1,106,693 in estimated value, will be built in 1974-75 at their expense, apart from the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool in any case paid for by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. Sad to say, this poor performance will confirm our worst fears, although we still hope that in the end the Government will do far better than anticipated and so prove us wrong altogether. Anyhow, in the circumstances, the Council has volunteered, as a start, to pay for the construction of the Mong Kok Market, 12 off-street refuse collection points, 5 beach buildings, the Smithfield Temporary Hawker Bazaar, and the temporary reprovisioning of the To Kwa Wan Market. They should cost in all less than $10m which is within our relatively meagre resources.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
43
In addition, we have suggested that the Government should negotiate with the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club for agreement to build the Tai Wan Swimming Pool Complex immediately and not wait for the Hammer Hill site to be ready in the unpredictable future, thus transferring their definite commitment to another pool project offering a real opportunity to start work in the next financial year, or perhaps even in the current one.
To sum up, the proposal we made is for the Council to go full steam ahead on selected projects discharging the Government's promises on the understanding that in each case the Government would undertake to build a similar project later on, or re-pay us in cash if none could be found or was required. In other words, in the first instance, the scheme would be on a project-for-project basis, making at the end such cash adjustment as might be necessary to cover the difference in costs. At the same time, where a particular project that we build in advance does not call for a similar structure to be provided subsequently, the transaction would be settled on a deferred cash payment basis; in short, the Council would be repaid in cash at a convenient time later on to accord with the Government's revised completion schedule for that project. In either part of the scheme, interest would accrue until the liquidation of the account; such an arrangement would only be fair since the Council's cash surplus is now bearing interest put to good use on other community programmes.
The scheme to “swop projects" or to "switch finances" would enable the community to benefit in the relatively near future from the use of buildings and installations which otherwise would not exist until a considerably later time. And, this exchange scheme would take advantage of the increased capability of the Public Works Department resulting from the projected re-phasing of the Government's own building programme.
It is intended of course that we will still continue with the progressive construction of our own projects listed in Public Works categories B and C at the time the Council was re-constituted last year as well as such new projects as may be agreed upon by the Council and put on our own list, including minor works under the separate amenities block vote. For all these Council works, priorities are being established.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Council makes the offer with goodwill and in the belief that it will serve the interest of the community. The ball is now in Government's court.
Page 38 of 187
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Page 37 of 187
42
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 14th May, 1974, were con- firmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English): -For some time now our Council has been gravely concerned with the seemingly slow progress in the con- struction of our buildings and installations and even with the lack of any progress at all in processing some projects deemed of importance for the performance of our functions. In consequence, because the Council has accumulated some surplus cash in our first year of in- dependent operation, I proposed earlier in the current financial year that we should act positively to finance some of these projects ourselves under a fair and reasonable arrangement with the Government. This scheme found unanimous support on our side, first among a few select committees directly concerned with the problem, and secondly from the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. I hope it will not be long before it is accepted by the Government and put into practice in the service of the community.
In essence, our Council's proposal concerns the projects in Public Works categories A, D and E on 31st March, 1973, which the Govern- ment undertook to complete entirely at their expense. At the last count, there were some 70 such projects still to be completed; their total cost is well beyond our modest means. Nevertheless, among them, there are many relatively small projects in cost, which could be built without more delay. However, because of the Government's present policy of cutting down drastically on their financial commit- ments by re-phasing their construction programmes, only 3 minor projects in the urban areas, adding up to no more than $1,106,693 in estimated value, will be built in 1974-75 at their expense, apart from the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool in any case paid for by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. Sad to say, this poor performance will confirm our worst fears, although we still hope that in the end the Government will do far better than anticipated and so prove us wrong altogether. Anyhow, in the circumstances, the Council has volun- teered, as a start, to pay for the construction of the Mong Kok Market, 12 off-street refuse collection points, 5 beach buildings, the Smithfield Temporary Hawker Bazaar, and the temporary reprovisioning of the To Kwa Wan Market. They should cost in all less than $10m which is within our relatively meagre resources.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
43
In addition, we have suggested that the Government should negotiate with the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club for agreement to build the Tai Wan Swimming Pool Complex immediately and not wait for the Hammer Hill site to be ready in the unpredictable future, thus transferring their definite commitment to another pool project offering a real opportunity to start work in the next financial year, or perhaps even in the current one.
To sum up, the proposal we made is for the Council to go full steam ahead on selected projects discharging the Government's prom- ises on the understanding that in each case the Government would undertake to build a similar project later on, or re-pay us in cash if none could be found or was required. In other words, in the first instance, the scheme would be on a project-for-project basis, making at the end such cash adjustment as might be necessary to cover the difference in costs. At the same time, where a particular project that we build in advance does not call for a similar structure to be provided subsequently, the transaction would be settled on a deferred cash pay- ment basis; in short, the Council would be repaid in cash at a convenient time later on to accord with the Government's revised completion schedule for that project. In either part of the scheme, interest would accrue until the liquidation of the account; such an arrangement would only be fair since the Council's cash surplus is now bearing interest put to good use on other community programmes.
The scheme to “swop projects" or to "switch finances" would enable the community to benefit in the relatively near future from the use of buildings and installations which otherwise would not exist until a considerably later time. And, this exchange scheme would take advantage of the increased capability of the Public Works Department resulting from the projected re-phasing of the Government's own building programme.
It is intended of course that we will still continue with the pro- gressive construction of our own projects listed in Public Works categories B and C at the time the Council was re-constituted last year as well as such new projects as may be agreed upon by the Council and put on our own list, including minor works under the separate ameni- ties block vote. For all these Council works, priorities are being established.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Council makes the offer with goodwill and in the belief that it will serve the interest of the community. The ball is now in Government's court.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.