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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Hom, have developed mechanical problems and are at present out of order. The Public Works Department has been requested to rectify the faults as soon as possible.
The fountains at Statue Square in Central, and at Fat Kwong Street, Hung Hom, have developed mechanical problems and are at present out of order. The Public Works Department has been requested to rectify the faults as soon as possible.
At the invitation of the Urban Council, a Water Fountain Consultant visited Hong Kong last year to advise on the planning and design of fountains for passive and active recreational facilities, refuse collection points, public latrines, etc.
MR LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):--The Urban Services Department conducts periodical surveys of space beneath existing and planned flyovers and elevated roads, to see whether the space can be usefully employed for some Urban Council purpose. Apart from several spaces already in use, 4 further sites have been allocated and are being developed as passive recreation areas. A fifth site is now being processed.
After an inspection of 38 sites suitable for fountains, he came up with some useful comments such as lowering but increasing the density of water jets, the use of salt water, underwater lights, multi-coloured effects, special equipment for 'dancing' fountains, and so on. Drawings for 6 sites have since been received and these are being studied by the Architectural Office in consultation with the Urban Services Department.
In reply to the second part of the question, the Geotechnical Control Division of the Public Works Department has been consulted and the advice is that it is not feasible to sink artesian wells in Hong Kong. It is, however, possible that deep bore wells may provide an answer. In February this year, the Council approved a scheme for a feasibility study into the sinking of deep bore wells at 19 locations in Hong Kong and Kowloon.
In reply to the third part of the question, apart from inviting the previously mentioned Consultant to advise in designing new fountains in Hong Kong, the Council has also requested the department to keep abreast of the latest development in fountain design and to work closely with the Principal Government Architect to provide attractive fountains and waterfalls in Council amenity projects whenever feasible. Furthermore, a number of amenity projects in the 'packages' farmed out to local private consultants have included fountains and waterfalls.
MR YOUNG (in English):-Mr Chairman, has the recent long period of water restriction impaired in any way long-term development plans for the provision of fountains?
MR FUNG (in English):-The planning process goes on regardless and I can assure Mr YOUNG that the recent water restriction has not impaired the planning process of waterfalls and fountains.
MR F. K. Hu (in English):-Mr Chairman, can I be advised whether the existing fountains are suitable for use by sea water?
MR FUNG (in English):-Mr Chairman, sea water is very corrosive and I do not think the present fountains' mechanism will be able to last very long with the use of sea water.
MR F. K. Hu asked the following question (in English):-What progress has the Council made in acquiring land under flyovers for the Council's use?
The possible use to which space under flyovers can be put is limited, since it is necessary from the engineering and highways point of view to exclude uses which pose a threat of fire or may generate an unacceptably high degree of conflict between pedestrians and vehicular traffic. Within these limits, the Urban Services Department continues to press for the allocation to the Urban Council of space beneath flyovers suitable for Urban Council purposes.
MR HU (in English):-Mr Chairman, for the spaces already in use, can Mr Fung be more specific about the use?
MR FUNG (in English):-Mr Chairman, unfortunately, spaces below flyovers have no street address, therefore, it would be a rather lengthy process for me to describe each one. However, I have a list here which I shall gladly table if necessary for Members' information. The existing areas have been used for a refuse collection point, a temporary market, general beautification, children's playgrounds and amenity plots as well.
MR HU (in English):-Can I be advised when the Council presses for the allocation of space, is there any competition from other Government departments also applying for space for other uses?
MR FUNG (in English):-Mr Chairman, I am not aware of any potential competitors with the Urban Council for the space but as I have explained earlier, I think the usage of these spaces is rather limited by the geographical area, traffic flow, pollution and noise in general.
MR KIM Y. S. CHAM (in English):—Mr Chairman, is the experiment of using rocks and big boulders under the Harcourt Road flyover proving a success?
MR FUNG (in English): --Mr Chairman, I think it is proving a success in that there has never been any complaint about the rocks being planted under the Harcourt Road flyover.
MR KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English):—Mr Chairman, Mr Fung, in his answer, referred to passive recreation only. Some of these spaces are very large, I am ...
Page 24 of 135
15
14
Page 24 of 135
15
14
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Hom, have developed mechanical problems and are at present out of order. The Public Works Department has been requested to rectify the faults a
The fountains at Statue Square in Central, and at Fat Kwong Street, Hung for passive and active recreational facilities, refuse collection points, public
soon as possible.
latrines, etc.
At the invitation of the Urban Council, a Water Fountain Consultant visited
MR LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOP- MENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):--The Urban Services Hong Kong last year to advise on the planning and design of fountain Department conducts periodical surveys of space beneath existing and planned After an inspection of 38 sites suitable for fountains, he came up with some useful comments such as lowering but increasing the density of water jets,
flyovers and elevated roads, to see whether the space can be usefully employed
the use of salt water, underwater lights, multi-coloured effects, special equip
for some Urban Council purpose. Apart from several spaces already in use, 4 further sites have been allocated and are being developed as passive ment for 'dancing' fountains, and so on. Drawings for 6 sites have since bee
recreation areas. A fifth site is now being processed. received and these are being studied by the Architectural Office in consulta.
tion with the Urban Services Department.
In reply to the second part of the question, the Geotechnical Control Division of the Public Works Department has been consulted and the advic is that it is not feasible to sink artesian wells in Hong Kong. It is, however, possible that deep bore wells may provide an answer. In February this year, the Council approved a scheme for a feasibility study into the sinking o deep bore wells at 19 locations in Hong Kong and Kowloon.
In reply to the third part of the question, apart from inviting the previously mention Consultant to advise in designing new fountains in Hong Kong, the Council has also requested the department to keep abreast of the latest development in fountain design and to work closely with the Principal Government Architect to provide attractive fountains and waterfalls in Counci amenity projects whenever feasible. Furthermore, a number of amenity proj ects in the 'packages' farmed out to local private consultants have included fountains and waterfalls.
MR YOUNG (in English):-Mr Chairman, has the recent long period of water restriction impaired in any way long-term development plans for the provision of fountains?
MR FUNG (in English):-The planning process goes on regardless and I can assure Mr YOUNG that the recent water restriction has not impaired the planning process of waterfalls and fountains.
MR F. K. Hu (in English):-Mr Chairman, can I be advised whether the existing fountains are suitable for use by sea water?
MR FUNG (in English):-Mr Chairman, sea water is very corrosive and I
I do not think the present fountains' mechanism will be able to last very long with the use of sea water.
3 MR F. K. Hu asked the following question (in English):-What progress has the Council made in acquiring land under flyovers for the Council's use
The possible use to which space under flyovers can be put is limited, since it is necessary from the engineering and highways point of view to exclude uses which pose a threat of fire or may generate an unacceptably high degree of conflict between pedestrians and vehicular traffic. Within these limits, the Urban Services Department continues to press for the allocation to the Urban Council of space beneath flyovers suitable for Urban Council purposes.
MR HU (in English):-Mr Chairman, for the spaces already in use, can Mr Fung be more specific about the use?
MR FUNG (in English):-Mr Chairman, unfortunately, spaces below flyovers have no street address, therefore, it would be a rather lengthy process for me to describe each one. However, I have a list here which I shall gladly table if necessary for Members' information. The existing areas have been used for a refuse collection point, a temporary market, general beautification, children's playgrounds and amenity plots as well.
MR HU (in English):-Can I be advised when the Council presses for the allocation of space, is there any competition from other Government depart- ments also applying for space for other uses?
MR FUNG (in English):-Mr Chairman, I am not aware of any potential competitors with the Urban Council for the space but as I have explained earlier, I think the usage of these spaces is rather limited by the geographical area, traffic flow, pollution and noise in general.
MR KIM Y. S. CHAM (in English):—Mr Chairman, is the experiment of using rocks and big boulders under the Harcourt Road flyover proving a success?
MR FUNG (in English): --Mr Chairman, I think it is proving a success in that there has never been any complaint about the rocks being planted under the Harcourt Road flyover.
MR KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English):—Mr Chairman, Mr Fung, in his answer, referred to passive recreation only. Some of these spaces are very large, I am
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