1979 — Page 83

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Environmental Protection Unit to establishing Special Committees to deal In recent weeks much attention has been given by EPCOM and the with different aspects of environmental pollution in greater detail. Special Committees on Land and Water Pollution, Air Pollution and Noise have been established, and one to deal with the legislative aspects of environmenta protection. I have been asked to serve as Chairman of the Special Committee on Land and Water Pollution as well as continuing my regular membership

of EPCOM.

One material result of the work of EPCOM, of direct benefit to long suffering residents, has been the introduction of noise restraints on construc- tion sites on Sundays and public holidays. Although the building industry has pointed out the economic effect on the community by increased building costs most people seem to feel a little peace and quiet on a Sunday is worth paying for. Also this measure has stimulated the use of less noisy equipment which can only be to the advantage of the health of those working in that industry.

With the progress that has been made towards the introduction of environ. mental protection legislation, EPCOM will have a busy year ahead.

Transport

After rents this is probably the most emotive subject for debate in Hong Kong at the present time. Now that I have retired from active participation in the operation of both sea and land transport I would like to make a few general points on this subject.

Are we being persuaded to adopt draconian methods similar to those in Singapore, and by administrative means control the movement of private vehicles into the congested areas of Central, Hong Kong? If so, it denotes a complete reversal of the Hong Kong philosophy, and in my opinion is the thin end of an insideous Government wedge into our life style that should be resisted at all costs, no matter how attractive such a measure might appear as a temporarily palliative to a difficult situation.

The approach must be positive and creative, using our immense resources of man, money and material to overcome the transport problem, and not succumb to it. To stimulate private enterprise participation in transport should be Government's goal not creeping nationalization leading to ineffec- tive and inefficient transport management.

The record of the majority of private enterprise transport carriers in Hong Kong bears comparison with any other city. Especially when comparing fares and numbers carried.

It is unfortunate that the deluge of successive consultant's reports on trans- port matters has seemed to have the affect of numbing Government decision in some areas, instead of acting as a spur to initiative and action. Rumours that Government is dusting off the Western approaches Cross Harbour link

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

scheme after the passage of many years must make our former colleague on

this Council Ken Watson smile.

Finance

Having expounded

on our growing ability to spend money on the develop-

ment of capital projects I must now don the mantle of my canny Scottish ancestery and sound a note of caution on the direction our present course is

taking.

It is self-evident that every facility completed requires staff to man it and thereafter this becomes a recurrent feature of our budget. Staff costs of additions to our services last year will add some $22 million to the personal emoluments charge in 1980. As new projects and services come on stream this costs will escalate steeply. The forecast of annual personal emoluments from 1980 to 1984 shows an increase of over $200 million; from $406 million to $639 million. Some 50% in 4 years.

This same forecast predicts a deficit from 1981 onwards, arising to very materials proportions. This situation that has not arisen before as the con- struction of our projects has been limited by site availability and the capacity

of the P.W.D.

I would again emphasize what I said when speaking on the motion approv- ing the budget. We are subject to the constraints of limited growth in rate and other revenue, and to avoid a recurrent deficit situation we must now as a matter of urgency re-examine the priorities of our various capital projects.

While all of our schemes are within our statutory responsibility I suggest that those which contribute to a cleaner and better environment be ranked higher than others. However, it is up to the Functional Select Committees to make their own choice and subsequently Standing Committee to exercise its prerogative. But first the Budget Sub-Committee has an important part to play in advising the Council what it can afford to do.

With these sombre words of warning I support the motion before Council.

MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, 1979 has been a dramatic year for Hong Kong. Event has followed event in fast and furious manner. Not all of them have been to Hong Kong's benefit or advantage. In particular, we have had wave after wave of refugees and illegal im- migrants, the boat people from Vietnam as well as others from China. This has placed a great strain on Hong Kong's housing and social services and the economy generally. It has even had an effect on the Council's programme for providing recreational facilities for the people of Hong Kong.

For instance, the Council had waited many years for the allocation of the Shumshuipo Military Camp. We intended to develope this to provide recrca- tion both active and passive, for the residents of west Kowloon. At last