Page 74 of 154
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
Mr. Chairman, the area in the north-west corner of Victoria Park is due to be developed as a sitting-out area, forming part of a much larger project for which the Government is financially responsible. But, since the Government is not at present in a position to provide the funds, the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee has approved the release of funds from the Council's Urban Amenities Block Vote for the temporary development of the sitting-out area in the north-west corner. Work is expected to start in about May next year and be completed in 5 to 6 months. In the meantime, the site is fenced off. The work will consist of providing a turfed and planted mound covering half the area, and a children's playground for which the Lions Club of Bayview is generously donating an amount not exceeding $60,000 towards the cost of play equipment.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):- Mr. Chairman, as it appears that funds are assured for the project from the Urban Council and from the generous donations from the Lions Club of Bayview, could I ask the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee to, perhaps, advance the time-table as there seems to be no reason for this delay so that the sitting-out area can be completed earlier than the end of next year?
MR. Lo (in English):- We'll certainly see what can be done. As I stated in my reply, the work is expected to start in about May next year and there are various temporary procedures and that kind of thing to be gone through before actual work on the ground can start. But I will certainly assure Mr. MACKENZIE that we will expedite it as soon as possible.
MOTION
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved the following motion (in English):---
"THAT the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1976-77 and the list of works which the Council proposes to undertake during the next financial year be approved for transmission to the Governor in accordance with Section 39 of the Urban Council Ordinance."
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
He said: The preparation of our annual budget is a meticulous exercise. It starts in the Urban Services Department. Then separate sectional statements are issued to the select committees where they are carefully examined. A close scrutiny by the Finance Select Committee follows before the statements now before the Council for adoption are put to the Standing Committee for consideration. This gradual process is as it should be. In this way every care is taken to ensure that public money is applied properly to cover approved expenditure and, by progressive adjustments, secondary sources of revenue are kept in realistic proportion to costs of service to avoid undue subsidy by the general public of any sectional commercial interests.
The first part of our expenditure is for the payment of personal emoluments to the staff of the Urban Services Department and the consequential surcharge payable to the Government for pensions, medical and other benefits. It always represents a big slice of our annual expenditure, varying from about two-thirds when the budget is drawn up to over three-quarters when the accounts are closed. This has been the experience so far but it is not likely to continue because proportionately more will be spent on capital costs as construction work gets under way. Still, it is most important because over 15,000 persons are involved. Consequently, the Council has to watch the position. We follow the Government policy of restraint; therefore, the Department must ensure all the more that at all times our staff are gainfully employed. To improve the standard of performance there are many training courses run by the Department; staff are sent abroad for advanced training if such opportunities are not found locally as well as to broaden their outlook and experience.
The other two parts of our estimates of expenditure reflect in monetary terms the approved expansion of services as the Council intensifies its effort to raise standards and to reach out into every nook and corner of the urban areas to serve the people.
There is a steep increase in Part IV where this Council has budgeted for construction of various buildings and installations in accordance with an approved schedule. This is a far-sighted policy at a time when such costs are lower than before and what may be expected to be the level in the near future. Not only are we taking up a slack in the construction industry, so giving employment to people in recession, but there are also savings which our recent experience has shown to be the case.
In any event, Hong Kong needs such facilities. Thus, it seems a pity that we are unable to step up our construction programme more than we are doing.
Page 74 of 154
Page 74 of 154
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116
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
Mr. Chairman, the area in the north-west corner of Victoria Park is due to be developed as a sitting-out area, forming part of a much larger project for which the Government is financially responsible. But, since the Government is not at present in a position to provide the funds, the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee has approved the release of funds from the Council's Urban Amenities Block Vote for the temporary development of the sitting- out area in the north-west corner. Work is expected to start in about May next year and be completed in 5 to 6 months. In the meantime, the site is fenced off. The work will consist of providing a turfed and planted mound covering half the area, and a children's playground for which the Lions Club of Bayview is generously donating an amount not exceeding $60,000 towards the cost of play equipment.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as it appears that funds are assured for the project from the Urban Council and from the generous donations from the Lions Club of Bayview, could I ask the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee to, perhaps, advance the time-table as there seems to be no reason for this delay so that the sitting-out area can be completed earlier than the end of next year?
MR. Lo (in English):-We'll certainly see what can be done. As I stated in my reply, the work is expected to start in about May next year and there are various temporary procedures and that kind of thing to be gone through before actual work on the ground can start. But I will certainly assure Mr. MACKENZIE that we will expedite it as soon as possible.
MOTION
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved the following motion (in English):---
"THAT the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1976-77 and the list of works which the Council proposes to undertake during the next financial year be approved for transmission to the Governor in accordance with Section 39 of the Urban Council Ordinance."
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
117
He said: The preparation of our annual budget is a meticulous exercise. It starts in the Urban Services Department. Then separate sectional statements are issued to the select committees where they are carefully examined. A close scrutiny by the Finance Select Committee follows before the statements now before the Council for adoption are put to the Standing Committee for consideration. This gradual process is as it should be. In this way every care is taken to ensure that public money is applied properly to cover approved expenditure and, by pro- gressive adjustments, secondary sources of revenue are kept in realistic proportion to costs of service to avoid undue subsidy by the general public of any sectional commercial interests.
The first part of our expenditure is for the payment of personal emoluments to the staff of the Urban Services Department and the consequential surcharge payable to the Government for pensions, medical and other benefits. It always represents a big slice of our annual expenditure, varying from about two-thirds when the budget is drawn up to over three-quarters when the accounts are closed. This has been the experience so far but it is not likely to continue because proportionately more will be spent on capital costs as construction work gets under way. Still, it is most important because over 15,000 persons are involved. Consequently, the Council has to watch the position. We follow the Government policy of restraint; therefore, the Depart- ment must ensure all the more that at all times our staff are gainfully employed. To improve the standard of performance there are many training courses run by the Department; staff are sent abroad for advanced training if such opportunities are not found locally as well as to broaden their outlook and experience.
The other two parts of our estimates of expenditure reflect in monetary terms the approved expansion of services as the Council intensifies its effort to raise standards and to reach out into every nook and corner of the urban areas to serve the people.
There is a steep increase in Part IV where this Council has budgetted for construction of various buildings and installations in accordance with an approved schedule. This is a far-sighted policy at a time when such costs are lower than before and what may be expected to be the level in the near future. Not only are we taking up a slack in the construction industry, so giving employment to people in recession, but there are also savings which our recent experience has shown to be the case.
In any event, Hong Kong needs such facilities. Thus, it seems a pity that we are unable to step up our construction programme more than we are doing.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.