1979 — Page 45

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR CHOI (in Cantonese): -I would like to reply to Dr HUANG sincerely. Actually, all the clearance starts with the main traffic roads and I live next door to Dr HUANG. As a matter of fact, I was not in Hong Kong during Typhoon Hope. Normally, the refuse is cleared at the latest time in Kowloon Tong area, and I would like to thank Dr HUANG for all work done by the Select Committee because Dr HUANG, during his chairmanship of the Select Committee, had laid down a very good ground work.

(Laughter).

CHAIRMAN (in English):-Perhaps the Urban Services Department did not know that our illustrious member, Dr Denny HUANG, had moved out of Kadoorie Avenue. (Laughter).

4 MISS MARIA W. C. TAM asked the following question (in English):~-~(a) Why is there no free showers for the bathers at Repulse Bay beach? (b) Is the Urban Council going to provide such free showers at Repulse Bay beach?

MR KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the provision of free showers at Repulse Bay beach.

The only shower facilities in premises under the control of the Urban Council at Repulse Bay are those in the building commonly known as 'Seaview', which is now officially named 'the Repulse Bay Beach Building'. When this building came under the control of the Council in 1976, showers were provided free for the use of the public and this continued until November 1977. At this time, the whole of the building was let out to a private contractor who operates a restaurant, the showers, and the changing facilities. The contractor pays a monthly rental to the Urban Council and charges each member of the public $2 for week-days and $3 for Sundays and public holidays for the use of the showers and changing facilities including the safe-keeping of clothing.

In reply to the second part of this question, I am aware that the Urban Council is planning showers and changing facilities at the eastern end of the beach. These facilities will be free and it is hoped they will be completed by the 1980 swimming season.

MR JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr Chairman, is it not true that plans for extension of showers and other facilities for the public, in fact I think more parking area, were discussed about 5 years ago and agreed in principle, but this was overtaken by the rather more grand development plans, including extension of the Repulse Bay beach etc. Are we now reverting to the original plan or is this an improvised scheme?

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MR Lo (in English):-Mr Chairman, I can confirm what Mr MACKENZIE has said. There were discussions in the Council a few years ago and we had approved in principle plans for the development of a big beach building, much bigger than the ones at South Bay and Deep Water Bay and so on, which would be on the existing car park in the middle of Repulse Bay and there would be shower facilities, changing rooms, restaurant and car-parking facilities on the ground level. Then the existing Seaview Building would be demolished to make way for a garden. That was our proposal at that time. However, as Mr MACKENZIE has said, there have since been plans put forward, I think by the PWD, for a comprehensive development of Repulse Bay, and in the light of those plans, it was decided that it would not be advisable to go ahead with our development until we knew what was proposed for the whole area. These new facilities mentioned in the last part of my answer would be on similar lines to the beach building at Deep Water Bay and Stanley Main Beach, etc.

MR HOWARD H. W. YOUNG (in English):-As the answer indicates that the showers at Repulse Bay were firstly free, then, because of letting out to private contractors, are now not free and beach-users are charged a sum of money which of course is debatable whether or not it is an excess burden on the ordinary man in the street, may I know whether it is the Council's policy to eventually provide free showers at all gazetted beaches or is it a policy just to provide showers and then let them out to private contractors to charge whatever they wish to the public?

MR LO (in English):-As far as I am aware, the Council has not decided what to do. Certainly, for the smaller beach buildings, there has been no charge and no proposal for a charge. I think that is simply because of the nature of the construction because showers are open and the changing rooms are fairly small. It would be very difficult to put in fencing and turnstiles and so on, so to charge for a small beach building would not be feasible. However, if a big beach building is put up at Repulse Bay, the Council would certainly consider making a charge. Of course, with a big beach building the facilities would include locker rooms and so on for the safe keeping of clothing and not just open showers.

5 MISS MARIA W. C. TAM asked the following question (in English): - What progress, if any, has been made in amending the law in permitting the operation of workers canteens in factory buildings?

MR EDMUND W. H. CHOW, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-I am grateful to Miss Maria W. C. TAM for raising this question. It enables me to have the opportunity to give a detailed answer to this important matter which is of great concern to the community and the workers.

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