Page 117 of 174
194
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
tion with the consultants regarding their proposals. The Final Report presented by the consultants, although fairly heavy stuff, has been thoroughly discussed in EPCOM, which generally accepts the principle of the recommendations, subject to a number of points which the Committee considers should be taken into account at the later stage of legislative drafting. The major points raised by EPCOM, include the need for Government to consult industry and agriculture before proceeding with legislative drafting, the need for Government to have the necessary technical support before introducing the legislation, and the need for a strengthened Environmental Protection Unit so that it can properly assume a central functional responsibility for pollution control.
Control of effluents
EPCOM also advised that high priority should be given to controls over the discharge of industrial effluents, the lack of which at the moment means that they are causing increasing pollution of the waters of Hong Kong. Government agrees with this view and the drafting of the water pollution control ordinance and its implementation will be given top priority amongst the legislative proposals put forward by the consultants.
Harbour cleansing
The Marine Department has the thankless task of trying to remove muck and refuse deposited in the harbour and typhoon shelters by uncaring boatpeople and others. Some 16 tons are removed by hand methods daily: a laborious and expensive operation. However, help is at hand in the shape of a mechanised self-propelled scavenging craft of unique design which is capable of scooping up to 50 tons of lap sap per 8-hour shift. Its designers claim it can also operate in fairly rough seas which makes it suitable for our waters. I suggest the Environmental Hygiene and Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign Committees lend support to the Marine Department in its request for finance to build this craft. I will ensure my Sub-Committee of EPCOM does likewise.
Dr. Stuart REED was appointed as the Environmental Protection Adviser, head of the Environmental Protection Unit, in July this year. His job is to advise on a programme of environmental improvement and all that implies, especially the collection of monitoring data, developing protection legislation and assessing the environmental impact of development projects.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 117 of 174
195
Progress on the development of pollution control policy is encouraging. I can assure this Council that concrete steps are being taken to protecting the environment by best practical means. common sense approach to a difficult problem.
Hawker problem
A
Hawker problems will no doubt exist as long as the Council and will remain long after we have all departed to hawk our talents elsewhere. Hawking properly controlled has a distinct economic attraction in our environment, but there's the rub - can we control it? The record shows that on our own we cannot; so perhaps we should give up pretending we can and hand responsibility for hawkers to the whiz kids of Government, viz. the Home Affairs Department? But more optimistically the integrated shopping and market complexes in new housing estates and those proposed for the old estates such as at Shek Lei hold out some hope for the future. In these new complexes hawker and housewife will be able to meet in a convenient and pleasant environment enabling some measure of order to return to our congested streets, some of which are given over entirely to hawking activities.
Finance and Rising cost of operations
Finally a word on the state of our finances. Largely as a result of under spending on capital works we may end up with a small surplus at the end of this financial year. But as I mentioned earlier measures taken will improve our output on projects and I predict that in a couple of years the Council will be looking for ways and means to balance its budget. Recurrent costs are rising steadily and the Government's decision to increase its on-cost from 26% to 29% from April 1977 is an example. This trend will persist, and no doubt personal emoluments, which form the greatest part of our annual cost, will continue to rise.
Revenue
The Urban Council Rate provides some 73% of our total income; revenue from fees produces about 15%, the balance coming from rents, bank interest, etc. From this it is evident we can only directly influence a minor proportion of our income, as Government holds the power to amend our proportion of the rate.
It is essential therefore to monitor trends in all aspects of expenditure so that early warning can be given of a likely deficit. All Select
Page 117 of 174
194
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
tion with the consultants regarding their proposals. The Final Report presented by the consultants, although fairly heavy stuff, has been thoroughly discussed in EPCOM, which generally accepts the principle of the recommendations, subject to a number of points which the Committee considers should be taken into account at the later stage of legislative drafting. The major points raised by EPCOM, include the need for Government to consult industry and agriculture before proceeding with legislative drafting, the need for Government to have the necessary technical support before introducing the legislation, and the need for a strengthened Environmental Protection Unit so that it can properly assume a central functional responsibility for pollution control.
Control of effluents
EPCOM also advised that high priority should be given to controls over the discharge of industrial effluents, the lack of which at the moment means that they are causing increasing pollution of the waters of Hong Kong. Government agrees with this view and the drafting of the water pollution control ordinance and its implementation will be given top priority amongst the legislative proposals put forward by the consultants.
Harbour cleansing
The Marine Department has the thankless task of trying to remove muck and refuse deposited in the harbour and typhoon shelters by uncaring boatpeople and others. Some 16 tons are removed by hand methods daily: a laborious and expensive operation. However, help is at hand in the shape of a mechanised self propelled scavenging craft of unique design which is capable of scooping up to 50 tons of lap sap per 8-hour shift. Its designers claim it can also operate in fairly rough seas which makes it suitable for our waters. I suggest the Environmental Hygiene and Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign Committees lend support to the Marine Department in its request for finance to build this craft. I will ensure my Sub-Committee of EPCOM does likewise.
Dr. Stuart REED was appointed as the Environmental Protection Adviser, head of the Environmental Protection Unit, in July this year. His job is to advise on a programme of environmental improvement and all that implies, especially the collection of monitoring data, developing protection legislation and assessing the environmental impact of development projects.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 117 of 174
195
Progress on the development of pollution control policy is encouraging. I can assure this Council that concrete steps are being taken to protecting the environment by best practical means. common sense approach to a difficult problem.
Hawker problem
A
Hawker problems will no doubt exist as long ss the Council and will remain long after we have all departed to hawk our talents a distinct economic elsewhere. Hawking properly controlled has attraction in our environment, but theres the rub-can we control it? The record shows that on our own we cannot; so perhaps we should give up pretending we can and hand responsibility for hawkers to the whiz kids of Government, viz. the Home Affairs Department? But more optimistically the integrated shopping and market complexes in new housing estates and those proposed for the old estates such as at Shek Lei hold out some hope for the future. In these new complexes hawker and housewife will be able to meet in a convenient and pleasant environment enabling some measure of order to return to our congested streets, some of which are given over entirely to hawking activities.
Finance and Rising cost of operations
Finally a word on the state of our finances. Largely as a result of under spending on capital works we may end up with a small surplus at the end of this financial year. But as I mentioned earlier measures taken will improve our output on projects and I predict that in a couple of years the Council will be looking for ways and means to balance its budget. Recurrent costs are rising steadily and the Government's decision to increase its oncost from 26% to 291% from April 1977 is an example. This trend will persist, and no doubt personal emoluments, which form the greatest part of our annual cost, will continue to rise.
Revenue
The Urban Council Rate provides some 73% of our total income; revenue from fees produces about 15%, the balance coming from rents, bank interest, etc. From this it is evident we can only directly influence a minor proportion of our income, as Government holds the power to amend our proportion of the rate.
It is essential therefore to monitor trends in all aspects of expendi- ture so that early warning can be given of a likely deficit. All Select
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.