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likely to be many years before the plan can be implemented. The Urban Works Department once more the recommendation that the beach should be resanded.
In the meantime, beach staff are deployed each year during the winter months on the removal of rocks from the beach. This is not completely effective and, unfortunately, much of this effort is wasted since each year typhoons cause the sand to shift and new rocks appear. However, the removal of rocks during the winter months will continue since this does help to provide channels through which the public can walk when they go into the water.
Turning to the question whether tourists are put off by the danger of getting their feet cut, I can only say that, according to my information, the great majority of the tourists who visit Repulse Bay stop there only for refreshment and sightseeing since this is one of the standard stops on the Island tour. The number of tourists who actually use the beach for swimming is probably very small and such complaints about the beach as are received by the Department usually refer to the lack of toilet and changing facilities. In this connection, the Council is now taking steps to provide more toilets and changing and shower facilities for the use of the general public.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):—I thank Mr. HU for his full reply. I wonder is there meant to be any difference between the resanding which is being referred to the P.W.D. and the Council is now taking steps to provide more toilets and changing and shower facilities. In other words, are both being paid for by the Council? Is there any difference in principle apart from the actual expenditure of money?
MR. HU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, the resanding is to avoid the cutting of feet, but reference to the toilet is in answer to Mr. BERNACCHI's question about complaints from the tourists.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):—I am sorry I do not think you have got my right meaning. The resanding, you say, is to be referred to the P.W.D., whereas apparently the Council itself is going ahead with providing more toilets and changing facilities presumably in cooperation with the P.W.D.
MR. HU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, both resanding and toilets of course are referred to the P.W.D. We always request the P.W.D. to look into those technical aspects for us whether it is resanding or public toilet facilities or shower facilities.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):—So, in fact the resanding is also going to be paid for by the Council. Is that right?
MR. HU (in English):—Yes. I think the cost will be paid by the Council.
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MR. BERNACCHI (in English):—How long do you estimate it will take before the job can be done? In other words, by next year or in a few years' time?
MR. HU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I think the best thing is to give you the information about the resanding we carried out in 1975. At that time, we dumped 600 cu. yds. of coral spoils onto areas near the low water mark at Repulse Bay Beach in front of the Seaview Restaurant and the Lido Building. The total area covered was 87,000 sq. ft. and it cost the Council about $80,000. Roughly the sand cover is only slightly over 2 inches and almost all the coral spoils in the two areas was washed away. The assessment by the Chief Engineer/Port Works revealed that the scheme was a failure and they made some comments. First, it was no use trying to cover just the area of the rock outcrops with sand or similar material. The material would only be distributed over a larger area within a short space of time and would just be ineffective in keeping the rock below seabed level covered. Secondly, the beach nourishment scheme for Repulse Bay that would be worthwhile would have to be one on a big scale and would involve a large amount of material, so, since then, we have invited an overseas consultant to carry out a feasibility study. Then, of course, the next step is to ask the P.W.D. to look into the question of resanding on a large scale again, and we are waiting for their report before we decide what to do.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):—So that there is a chance for something being done before the next swimming season?
MR. HU (in English):—I will not rule out the possibility. It all depends on the P.W.D.'s recommendation.
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):—Is it not a fact that the provision of shower and toilet facilities programme is already in the Public Works Programme to meet the urgent public needs and that the resanding is purely an investigation process?
MR. HU (in English):—Resanding is an investigation process and I think the toilet facilities is one of the programmes which we are studying all the time and I think as far as Repulse Bay is concerned there are public toilet facilities and changing facilities but with payment. One has to pay for the use of changing facilities. We are now looking into the possibility of providing shower facilities without charge.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):—I think, as with Mr. BERNACCHI, I may be a little confused as to whether shower and toilet facilities are actually a commitment of the Council?
CHAIRMAN (in English):—The position is simply this. The programme of providing shower facilities at beaches to which Mr. MACKENZIE refers has
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likely to be many years before the plan can be implemented. The Urban Works Department once more the recommendation that the beach should be Services Department has therefore been instructed to take up with the Public
resanded.
In the meantime, beach staff are deployed each year during the winter months on the removal of rocks from the beach. This is not completely effective and, unfortunately, much of this effort is wasted since each year typhoons cause the sand to shift and new rocks appear. However, the removal of rocks during the winter months will continue since this does help to provide channels through which the public can walk when they go into the
water.
Turning to the question whether tourists are put off by the danger of getting their feet cut, I can only say that, according to my information, the great majority of the tourists who visit Repulse Bay stop there only for refreshment and sightseeing since this is one of the standard stops on the Island tour. The number of tourists who actually use the beach for swimming is probably very small and such complaints about the beach as are received by the Department usually refer to the lack of toilet and changing facilities. In this connection, the Council is now taking steps to provide more toilets and changing and shower facilities for the use of the general public.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):—I thank Mr. HU for his full reply. I wonder is there meant to be any difference between the resanding which is being referred to the P.W.D. and the Council is now taking steps to provide more toilets and changing and shower facilities. In other words, are both being paid for by the Council? Is there any difference in principle apart from the actual expenditure of money?
MR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the resanding is to avoid the cutting of feet, but reference to the toilet is in answer to Mr. BERNACCHI's question about complaints from the tourists.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-I am sorry I do not think you have got my right meaning. The resanding, you say, is to be referred to the P.W.D.. whereas apparently the Council itself is going ahead with providing more toilets and changing facilities presumably in cooperation with the P.W.D.
MR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, both resanding and toilets of course are referred to the P.W.D. We always request the P.W.D. to look into those technical aspects for us whether it is resanding or public toilet facilities or shower facilities.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):—So, in fact the resanding is also going to be paid for by the Council. Is that right?
MR. HU (in English):-Yes. I think the cost will be paid by the Council.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-How long do you estimate it will take before the job can be done? In other words, by next year or in a few years' time? MR. HU (in English):--Mr. Chairman, I think the best thing is to give you the information about the resanding we carried out in 1975. At that time, we dumped 600 cu. yds. of coral spoils onto areas near the low water mark at Repulse Bay Beach in front of the Seaview Restaurant and the Lido Building. The total area covered was 87,000 sq. ft. and it cost the Council about $80,000. Roughly the sand cover is only slightly over 2 inches and almost all the coral spoils in the two areas was washed away. The assessment by the Chief Engineer/Port Works revealed that the scheme was a failure and they made some comments. First, it was no use trying to cover just the area of the rock outcrops with sand or similar material. The material would only be distributed over a larger area within a short space of time and would just be ineffective in keeping the rock below seabed level covered. Secondly, the beach nourishment scheme for Repulse Bay that would be worthwhile would have to be one on a big scale and would involve a large amount of material, so, since then, we have invited an overseas consultant to carry out a feasibility study. Then, of course, the next step is to ask the P.W.D. to look into the question of resanding on a large scale again, and we are waiting for their report before we decide what to do.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-So that there is a chance for something being done before the next swimming season?
MR. HU (in English):-I will not rule out the possibility. It all depends on the P.W.D.'s recommendation.
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):-Is it not a fact that the provision of shower and toilet facilities programme is already in the Public Works Programme to meet the urgent public needs and that the resanding is purely an investigation process?
MR. HU (in English):-Resanding is an investigation process and I think the toilet facilitics is one of the programmes which we are studying all the time and I think as far as Repulse Bay is concerned there are public toilet facilities and changing facilities but with payment. One has to pay for the use of changing facilities. We are now looking into the possibility of providing shower facilities without charge.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):—I think, as with Mr. BERNACCHI, I may be a little confused as to whether shower and toilet facilities are actually a commitment of the Council?
CHAIRMAN (in English):-The position is simply this. The programme of providing shower facilities at beaches to which Mr. MACKENZIE refers has
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