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the moment, we have not yet found a building in the housing sector which is large enough to house a whole library, but only probably large enough to house a study room which is not our primary purpose.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I have recently been to Sham Shui Po and So Uk Estate, and found a place which belongs to the Boys and Girls Association. Well, that used to be an experimental study room for the school children and they have given up the place right now. But do you think you can negotiate with the Housing Department so that we can use this place for our temporary northern or the southern library facilities, because there are a lot of young men there who urgently require the help of library books?
From Lei Cheng Uk Estate to So Uk Estate and Yuen Chow Estate, there are a lot of youngsters who want to have libraries.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Miss YEUNG raised her voice towards the end (Laughter); so, with your permission, I will accept that as a supplementary question provided Mrs. ELLIOTT wishes to answer it. (Laughter).
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, we do have problems about providing libraries in the estates, because the impression given is that the library is for the estate only and not for others outside the estate. However, I have brought this matter to the attention of the Secretary for Housing and we hope that he will put forward some suggestions as to the possibility of getting a suitable building in that area, for example, Pak Tin Estate or, as you mentioned, Lei Cheng Uk or one of the other estates like So Uk. We have this in mind, but this building, I must emphasize, must be suitable for the purpose because we do not want a half-baked library. We are also looking into the possibility of setting up smaller libraries for children, and this is a recent suggestion which was discussed at our last meeting and about which we are asking for further information to discuss it again.
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, is it not correct that the mobile library has been available for some time. Has it been delayed in getting into operation?
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-So far as I am aware, the mobile library has not yet arrived; the vehicle has not arrived, funds are there and the money is there. (Laughter). We are waiting for the vehicle.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-It is a satisfactory explanation. (Laughter).
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(4) DR. P. C. WONG asked the following question (in English):-
(a) In an editorial in an English paper dated 24th August, 1975, it said "the Committee (referring to the Urban Council) responsible for the idea (Hawkers permitted area) were out of touch with reality. Even now, although the scheme has proved unpopular, the Council insisting that it is still in the experimental stage--are reluctant to change the situation".
Can we know what plan will be introduced on the expiration of the experimental stage?
(b) In the same editorial, this Council is described as "being responsible for the unsuccessful pedestrian precinct in Hanoi Road and Cornwall Avenue".
If this is the case, which Committee is in fact responsible for the move? If not, does the Council have to clarify the matter?
MR. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
Mr. Chairman, the Hawkers Select Committee has not yet decided what modifications are required to the experimental scheme, but I can assure you that the whole matter is being carefully reviewed.
The Council was not responsible for the pedestrian precinct experiment in Hanoi Road and Cornwall Avenue. It was a Government scheme, and the Council assisted only to the extent of making the area more attractive by planting shrubs and flowers and providing some seats.
DR. WONG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as we are all aware, particularly the community and the hawkers, that by the 14th September, this experimental stage will come to an end and there are only five days for us to prepare any substantial and workable plan for the scheme. Can we have a more substantial reply from Mr. Hu?
MR. HU (in English):-Ever since the experimental scheme existed, the Hawkers Select Committee has constantly been reviewing the situation. We sometimes reach a conclusion from Select Committee, but it may be difficult to carry out, so we should think again. Since it is an experiment, there is no harm for us to think and to re-think because we cannot commit a mistake which may cause inconvenience to the inhabitants and the hawkers.
Page 63 of 154
Page 63 of 154
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
the moment, we have not yet found a building in the housing sector which is large enough to house a whole library, but only probably large enough to house a study room which is not our primary purpose.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I have recently been to Sham Shui Po and So Uk Estate, and found a place which belongs to the Boys and Girls Association. Well, that used to be an experi- mental study room for the school children and they have given up the place right now. But do you think you can negotiate with the Housing Department so that we can use this place for our temporary northern or the southern library facilities, because there are a lot of young men there who urgently require the help of library books?
From Lei Cheng Uk Estate to So Uk Estate and Yuen Chow Estate, there are a lot of youngsters who want to have libraries.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Miss YEUNG raised her voice towards the end (Laughter); so, with your permission, I will accept that as a supplementary question provided Mrs. ELLIOTT wishes to answer it. (Laughter).
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, we do have problems about providing libraries in the estates, because the impression given is that the library is for the estate only and not for others outside the estate. However, I have brought this matter to the attention of the Secretary for Housing and we hope that he will put forward some suggestions as to the possibility of getting a suitable building in that area, for example, Pak Tin Estate or, as you mentioned, Lei Cheng Uk or one of the other estates likes So Uk. We have this in mind, but this build- ing, I must emphasize, must be suitable for the purpose because we do not want a half baked library. We are also looking into the pos- sibility of setting up smaller libraries for children, and this is a recent suggestion which was discussed at our last meeting and about which we are asking for further information to discuss it again.
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, is it not correct that the mobile library has been available for sometime. Has it been delayed in getting into operation?
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-So far as I am aware, the mobile library has not yet arrived; the vehicle has not arrived, funds are there and the money is there. (Laughter). We are waiting for the vehicle.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-It is a satisfactory explanation. (Laughter).
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95
(4) DR. P. C. WONG asked the following question (in English) :-
(a) In an editorial in an English paper dated 24th August, 1975, it said "the Committee (referring to the Urban Council) responsible for the idea (Hawkers permitted area) were out of touch with reality. Even now, although the scheme has proved unpopular, the Council insisting that it is still in the experimental stage--are reluctant to change the situation".
Can we know what plan will be introduced on the expira- tion of the experimental stage?
(b) In the same editorial, this Council is described as "being responsible for the unsuccessful pedestrian precinct in Hanoi Road and Cornwall Avenue".
If this is the case, which Committee is in fact responsible for the move? If not, does the Council have to clarify the matter?
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COM- MITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
Mr. Chairman, the Hawkers Select Committee has not yet decided what modifications are required to the experi- mental scheme, but I can assure you that the whole matter is being carefully reviewed.
The Council was not responsible for the pedestrian precinct experiment in Hanoi Road and Cornwall Avenue. It was a Government scheme, and the Council assisted only to the extent of making the area more attractive by planting shrubs and flowers and providing some seats.
DR. WONG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as we are all aware, particularly the community and the hawkers, that by the 14th Septem- ber, this experimental stage will come to an end and there are only five days for us to prepare any substantial and workable plan for the scheme. Can we have a more substantial reply from Mr. Hu?
MR. HU (in English): --Ever since the experimental scheme existed, the Hawkers Select Committee has constantly been reviewing the situa- tion. We sometimes reach a conclusion from Select Committee, but it may be difficult to carry out, so we should think again. Since it is an experiment, there is no harm for us to think and to re-think because we cannot commit a mistake which may cause inconvenience to the inhabitants and the hawkers.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.