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conduct a meeting. If any Select Committees require simultaneous interpretation in their meetings, then they will be provided with such service.
(4) MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):
What action does the Council take to protect swimmers on urban beaches from sharks?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
Mr. Chairman, bathers at public bathing beaches are warned and advised to leave the water as soon as the appearance of sharks is noticed. Precautionary measures taken by beach staff include the ringing of the alarm bell, repeated warning by loud hailer, and the hoisting of a red flag (A special new shark warning flag will be introduced next swimming season in order that a distinctive warning of sharks can be given.). Temporary warning notices are also displayed at prominent places during the period of "alert". If necessary, catamarans may be used to ferry stranded swimmers from raft to shore when a shark alarm is sounded. In addition, there is an established procedure to inform the Police District Control and the Information Services Department so that bathers at all other beaches are also alerted.
In case Miss YEUNG is thinking about them, the installation of shark-proof nets round the seaward portion of public bathing beaches would appear impracticable. Nets are unlikely to survive storms and typhoons; they are likely to be extremely expensive; and Hong Kong has not suffered a shark fatality at its beaches for many years. (Mrs. E. ELLIOTT left the meeting at this point.)
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Thank you Mr. Lo. Besides warning the swimmers, what other precautionary steps could be taken so that the swimmers could continue to swim without being affected by the sharks.
MR. LO (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as I have already said in my answer that shark-proof nets would appear to be impracticable and short of that, I do not think there is any way to ensure absolutely that
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no sharks could possibly come near the beaches. But the system of warning and advising people to get back on to the beach would appear to be sufficient.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):-If shark alarms happen regularly, does it mean that we can't go to beaches all the season?
MR. Lo (in English):-Should sharks become more ferocious in local waters, naturally we will have to re-assess the position.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Could I make a personal statement. Apparently the sharks come near-shore only in the breeding season which, in Hong Kong, is in the months of August and September and, therefore, only that time is the dangerous time for swimmers.
MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I am not sure that Mr. Lo has answered the question. The question is "what action does the Council take to protect swimmers on urban beaches from sharks". Perhaps Miss YEUNG was talking about an entirely different kind of shark. (Laughter).
(5) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English):–
What is Council expenditure on Hawker administration and control for 1975-76, and anticipated expenditure for 1976-77? What would be the additional cost per annum if the Hawker Control Force and General Duties Teams are recruited to full Establishment?
DR. HENRY H. L. Hu, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
Mr. Chairman, actual expenditure on hawker control and administration in the financial year 1975-76 was $21,071,862; the estimate of expenditure for the financial year 1976-77 is $23,700,000, which represents an increase of $2.6 million, or 12.3%. The increase is largely due to increased provision for salaries, provision for minor works in hawker bazaars, and additional provision for the hawker experimental scheme, i.e. the purchase of barriers and signs, etc.
The Hawker Control Force has an approved establishment of 473 men against a total strength of 218 men of all ranks. If the Force is recruited to full establishment, the additional cost per annum would be $5,722,940.
Page 61 of 135
Page 61 of 135
88
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
conduct a meeting. If any Select Committees require simultaneous interpretation in their meetings, then they will be provided with such service.
(4) MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):
What action does the Council take to protect swimmers on
urban beaches from sharks?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):·
Mr. Chairman, bathers at public bathing beaches are warned and advised to leave the water as soon as the appearance of sharks is noticed. Precautionary measures taken by beach staff include the ringing of the alarm bell, repeated warning by loud hailer, and the hoisting of a red flag (A special new shark warning flag will be introduced next swimming season in order that a distinctive warning of sharks can be given.). Temporary warning notices are also displayed at prominent places during the period of "alert". If necessary, catamarans may be used to ferry stranded swimmers from raft to shore when a shark alarm is sounded. In addition, there is an established procedure to inform the Police District Control and the Information Services Department so that bathers at all other beaches are also alerted.
In case Miss YEUNG is thinking about them, the installation of shark-proof nets round the seaward portion of public bathing beaches would appear impracticable. Nets are unlikely to survive storms and typhoons; they are likely to be extremely expensive; and Hong Kong has not suffered a shark fatality at its beaches for many years. (Mrs. E. ELLIOTT left the meeting at this point.)
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Thank you Mr. Lo. Besides warn- ing the swimmers, what other precautionery steps could be taken so that the swimmers could continue to swim without being affected by the sharks.
MR. LO (in English): -Mr. Chairman, as I have already said in my answer that shark-proof nets would appear to be impracticable and short of that, I do not think there is any way to ensure absolutely that
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no sharks could possibly come near the beaches. But the system of warning and advising people to get back on to the beach would appear to be sufficient.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese): -If shark alarms happen regularly, does it mean that we can't go to beaches all the season?
MR. Lo (in English):-Should sharks become more ferocious in local waters, naturally we will have to re-assess the position.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Could I make a personal statement. Apparently the sharks come near-shore only in the breed- ing season which, in Hong Kong, is in the months of August and September and, therefore, only that time is the dangerous time for swimmers.
MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I am not sure that Mr. Lo has answered the question. The question is "what action does the Council take to protect swimmers on urban beaches from sharks". Perhaps Miss YEUNG was talking about an entirely different kind of shark. (Laughter).
(5) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English): –
What is Council expenditure on Hawker administration and control for 1975-76, and anticipated expenditure for 1976- 77? What would be the additional cost per annum if the Hawker Control Force and General Duties Teams are recruited to full Establishment?
DR. HENRY H. L. Hu, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COM- MITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
Mr. Chairman, actual expenditure on hawker control and administration in the financial year 1975-76 was $21,071,862; the estimate of expenditure for the financial year 1976-77 is $23,700,000, which represents an increase of $2.6 million, or 12.3%. The increase is largely due to increased provision for salaries, provision for minor works in hawker bazaars, and additional provision for the hawker experimental scheme, i.e. the purchase of barriers and signs, etc.
The Hawker Control Force has an approved establishment of 473 men against a total strength of 218 men of all ranks. If the Force is recruited to full establishment, the addi- tional cost per annum would be $5,722,940.
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