1979 — Page 68

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Page 68 of 136

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

only do Hong Kong proud in its splendid location but, more important, it would serve the needs of a dynamic community in evolution, particularly beneficial for the education of the young citizen in a society so deeply conscious of the need to advance on all fronts all the time. There is the real danger of loss of credibility if, in the midst of plenty in the public coffers, the Government should deny the people the means to

enjoy the better things of life.

There must be the vision of a new Hong Kong in the coming century. It will not be achieved by a negative attitude. The people deserve better in every way in fair return for their daily effort to make the place what it is. A good government should boldly create a city which meets the just expectations of its successful people in the exacting years that remain in this century. Let the Government not disappoint the public and be found wanting by the generation now standing in the wings. They are just waiting

for their cue to come on stage.

Be it so, for how much longer can the Council hold the curtain for the

Government?

PAPER

The following paper was laid on the table:

(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and

Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of November 1979.

QUESTIONS

1. MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG asked the following question (in English):- What has been the demand for bathing sheds at Urban Council beaches and what proportion is allocated to organizations as opposed to individuals? In the allocation of bathing sheds, is any special consideration given to Associa tions of the handicapped people?

MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns bathing sheds at Urban Council beaches and the way in which they are allocated.

The first part of the question deals with the demand for bathing sheds and the proportion allocated to organizations as opposed to individuals. In 1979, 76 bathing sheds were available for allocation at Urban Council beaches; 45 at South Bay, 30 at Middle Bay, and one at Stanley Main Beach. The number of applications received was 722 of which 28 were from registered clubs or other organizations and 694 from individuals. For several years, it

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

has been the Council's policy to give priority to applications from clubs or as opposed to individuals and, in line with this policy, all the

organizations

28 clubs and organizations which applied were allocated bathing sheds. The remaining 48 sheds were allocated to individuals by ballot. From these figures, Members will note that all the clubs or organizations which applied were successful and that the number of sheds allocated to them in 1979 represented about 37% of the total number of sheds available.

The second part of the question is whether any special consideration is given to associations of handicapped people when bathing sheds are allocated. Of the 722 applications received in 1979, only one was from an association for handicapped people, namely, the Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth. This organization was allocated a shed at South Bay under the usual procedure and, at present, it does not appear that there is any need for a special procedure for dealing with applications from associations of handi- capped people. However, if in future it should be necessary to do so, I am sure that the Council's policy could be modified to give special consideration

to their needs.

MR. YOUNG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the reason for my asking the second part of this question was because the association so mentioned by the Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, that is the Federation of Handicapped Youth, did feel that its members had difficulties in gaining access to the shed so allocated to them this year at South Bay. Since the Chairman has said there are very few organizations who would probably need to have special consideration, would the Council consider that it would be very little trouble if, in fact, special consideration is given for exceptional cases such as this?

MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, it is not so much the difficulty of processing the applications and so on. The difficulty, as I see it, is simply access. Both South Bay and Middle Bay are only accessible down a path or steps which are quite steep and not too easy for physically handicapped people. Subject to this we would certainly be very well prepared to consider their applications.

THE HON. F. K. Hu (in English):-Mr. Chairman, in view of the big demand for bathing sheds, could Mr. Lo clarify whether the Council intends to demolish more bathing sheds in the next few years?

CHAIRMAN (in English):—It is outside the immediate purview of this question, but it is an interesting piece of information, Mr. Lo, please.

MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee did consider a departmental proposal that further bathing sheds be demolished, but came to the conclusion that it would not be in the public