Page 130 of 154
225
224
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
economy on the unfortunate, poor, sick people. The Government should be sympathetic towards medical staff working on outlying islands and at places near the border in the New Territories. They have to endure the drudgery of travelling long distances. In addition to their normal salary, they should be paid some sort of allowance as an incentive.
In view of the foregoing, it is only reasonable for the Government to increase the amount of expenditure on the above three items.
I have another point. While the Government is actively developing recreational and sport programmes in the urban areas of both Hong Kong and Kowloon, it is difficult to understand why little has been done to improve sport facilities in the New Territories. I think that all citizens of Hong Kong should be equally entitled to enjoy more sport grounds and recreational facilities. There is no reason for any part to suffer discrimination.
As far as I know, there are many sports grounds in various parts of the New Territories which need repairs and improvements. The tracks of the sports grounds in Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long, Fanling, Tai Po and Cheung Chau for example are not up to standard, and the facilities provided therein are far from being satisfactory. The wooden benches in Tai Po Sports Ground, in particular, are rotten and broken, but no repairs of any kind have ever been carried out. The most disappointing of all is, perhaps, the condition of the public sports grounds in Yim Tin, Tai O, Lantau Island. It is hoped that early action will be taken by the authorities concerned to improve the conditions of the said sports grounds.
I have also to point out that the concrete-surfaced sports ground in Yim Tin is not suitable for sport activities because it is studded with sand and stones, and is too small in size the area being 16 yds. by 17 yds. Besides, the bend of its track is too sharp and the facilities therein are inadequate. As such, at every sport meeting held by the Lantau Island Sub-office of the New Territories School Sport Association, there are always over 30 school children injured in various accidents and some even have to be admitted to hospital for treatment because the injuries they sustained are more serious. This arouses the dissatisfaction of the parents who are reluctant to allow their children to participate in sport meetings. It is deplorable indeed! In order to prevent such thing from happening again, it is advisable that a better-equipped sports ground be provided in Tai O, as soon as possible. I think that this suggestion deserves top priority consideration.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. P. C. WONG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as a Vice-Chairman of the Food Hygiene Select Committee, I feel it is important that educational programmes to improve the eating habit which not only ensures sufficient nutrition without being extravagant, but also eliminates chances of food poisoning or intoxication should be more extensively used. Proper food storage and kitchen cleanliness must be well recognized. The report that over 300,000 rodents (rats) caught last year is alarming as these must have been living on exposed food or food residues left all over the places.
The Libraries Select Committee must be praised for its ever-expanding programmes with new ideas. The opening of the music library only two days ago, being first of its kind within the activities of the Urban Council is a good example. However, there is room indeed for providing facilities for students or workers of College level who find great difficulty in getting technical references from a public library.
The Museums Select Committee has achieved a great success in putting up the Museum of History in the Star House which largely wins the support of the Community, because this kind of establishment has been long overdue. Its Chairman, in ensuring that its advisers must be consulted and their advices must be followed in acquisition of antiques in future is an important decision that no silly mistake will be made. The only thing that remains for me to say here is that more effective publicity on our collections should be made to the Community.
With regard to the City Hall & Entertainments Select Committee, I would like to say that more efforts should be made to allow newly discovered young talents to perform in public with all our possible support. A second thing I would like to say is that in future full-time conductors should not be allowed to take in private students with fees to be paid.
Besides the above, I must reiterate that the name of Urban Council should be changed to City Council without delay, as in fact what remains to be rural in the not-too-distant future can be foreseen as negligible. With the name of the Council rectified, we should ask for representations in all Government Departments where the community have foremost and direct contact with the present Council. That 80% of our ward cases deals with Housing while the same small number of councillors remain appointed to sit on Housing Department meetings and the "junior" councillors will have to solicit their advice is really unwise, unfair and unpractical to all concerned. When we have to handle housing problems, how can we afford to have no direct inside
Page 130
Page 131
Page 130 of 154
225
224
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
economy on the unfortunate, poor, sick people. The Government should be sympathetic towards medical staff working on outlying islands and at places near the border in the New Territories. They have to endure the drudgery of travelling long distances. In addition to their normal salary, they should be paid some sort of allowance as an incentive.
In view of the foregoing, it is only reasonable for the Government to increase the amount of expenditure on the above three items.
I have another point. While the Government is actively develop- ing recreational and sport programmes in the urban areas of both Hong Kong and Kowloon, it is difficult to understand why little has been done to improve sport facilities in the New Territories. I think that all citizens of Hong Kong should be equally entitled to enjoy more sport grounds and recreational facilities. There is no reason for any part to suffer discrimination.
As far as I know, there are many sports grounds in various parts of the New Territories which need repairs and improvements. The tracks of the sports grounds in Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long, Fanling, Tai Po and Cheung Chau for example are not up to standard, and the facilities provided therein are far from being satisfactory. The wooden benches in Tai Po Sports Ground, in particular, are rotten and broken, but no repairs of any kind have ever been carried out. The most disappointing of all is, perhaps, the condition of the public sports grounds in Yim Tin, Tai O, Lantau Island. It is hoped that early action will be taken by the authorities concerned to improve the condi- tions of the said sports grounds.
I have also to point out that the concrete-surfaced sports ground in Yim Tin is not suitable for sport activities because it is studded with sand and stones, and is too small in size the area being 16 yds. by 17 yds. Besides, the bend of its track is too sharp and the facilities therein are inadequate. As such, at every sport meeting held by the Lantau Island Sub-office of the New Territories School Sport Associa- tion, there are always over 30 school children injured in various accidents and some even have to be admitted to hospital for treatment because the injuries they sustained are more serious. This arouses the dis- satisfaction of the parents who are reluctant to allow their children to participate in sport meetings. It is deplorable indeed! In order to prevent such thing from happening again, it is advisable that a better- equipped sports ground be provided in Tai O, as soon as possible. I think that this suggestion deserves top priority consideration.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. P. C. WONG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as a Vice-Chairman of the Food Hygiene Select Committee, I feel it is important that educa- tional programmes to improve the eating habit which not only ensures sufficient nutrition without being extravagant, but also eliminates chances of food poisoning or intoxication should be more extensively used. Proper food storage and Kitchen cleanliness must be well recognized. The report that over 300,000 rodents (rats) caught last year is alarming as these must have been living on exposed food or food residues left all over the places.
The Libraries Select Committee must be praised for its ever- expanding programmes with new ideas. The opening of the music library only two days ago, being first of its kind within the activities of the Urban Council is a good example. However, there is room indeed for providing facilities for students or workers of College level who find great difficulty in getting technical references from a public library.
The Museums Select Committee has achieved a great success in putting up the Museum of History in the Star House which largely wins the support of the Community, because this kind of establishment has been long overdue. Its Chairman, in ensuring that its advisers must be consulted and their advices must be followed in acquisition of antiques in future is an important decision that no silly mistake will be made. The only thing that remains for me to say here is that more effective publicity on our collections should be made to the Community.
With regard to the City Hall & Entertainments Select Committee, I would like to say that more efforts should be made to allow newly discovered young talents to perform in public with all our possible support. A second thing I would like to say is that in future full-time conductors should not be allowed to take in private students with fees to be paid.
Besides the above, I must reiterate that the name of Urban Council should be changed to City Council without delay, as in fact what remains to be rural in the not-too-distant future can be foreseen as negligible. With the name of the Council rectified, we should ask for representa- tions in all Government Departments where the community have fore- most and direct contact with the present Council. That 80% of our ward cases deals with Housing while the same small number of councillors remain appointed to sit on Housing Department meetings and the "junior" councillors will have to solicit their advice is really unwise unfair and unpractical to all concerned. When we have to handle housing problems, how can we afford to have no direct inside
Page 130Page 131
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.