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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
As wages will be increased every year, the expenditure for hawker control evidently tends to go up corresponding to the increase in wages even though there is no increase in the size of staff. It appears necessary, therefore, that the licence and pitch fees have to be re-adjusted regularly.
Markets
Originally, the ultimate aim of the Council was to resite all on-street hawkers to markets. As there are so many street traders, it would be too optimistic to resite all of them into market in a few years' time.
According to schedule, there will be 2 markets, 3 temporary markets and one cooked food centre to be completed in 1981. It will cost the rate payers about $45.1 million. In 1982, 2 market complex projects costing $75.2 million and one market extension costing $6 million will be completed. In 1983, 3 market complex projects costing $87.5 million are expected to be ready for use.
It clearly shows that large market projects are quite expensive, as construction cost continues to go up. With the present financial difficulties in the Council, it is most unlikely that more markets will be built other than those mentioned previously.
Another problem for building a new market is to find a suitable site. A market must be built in a place where it is convenient for people to go for shopping. Otherwise, it may not be viable, and no hawker would like to move into the market.
It is hoped that the Government will allocate more suitable sites for markets; and one or two years later, the financial situation of the Urban Council will improve. By that time, the Council can speed up its market building programme in order to resite more street traders into markets.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
MRS. GRACE HO (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, as in past years, I will confine my comments today mainly on subjects which are within the ambit of Environmental Hygiene Select Committee. Earlier, Mr. CHOI mentioned that when we want to clean Hong Kong, we do face a lot of problems and of course we have to try our best.
Early in 1980, public toilets and bathhouses as well as refuse collection points were singled out for special attention.
The Council is responsible for 103 public toilets on Hong Kong Island and 53 in Kowloon. A rather disproportionate figure, when one compares it with today's population distribution, but clearly, earlier planners provided more public conveniences on the Island which was the centre of activities, whilst Kowloon was a wilderness. Some of these toilets were therefore quite ancient and either required rebuilding or refurbishment. Over two years ago, a programme was worked out to refurbish some of these decrepit toilets, but due to all sorts of reasons, the Public Works Department were unable to carry out the work within the time schedule. Therefore, a fresh look was taken to identify which of the obsolete public toilets could be rebuilt and in the redevelopment maximize the use of scarce land resources and where possible, include in the rebuilding plans refuse collection points and public bathhouses. It is interesting that although new rise buildings are replacing tenement buildings, in some areas there is still a demand for public bathhouses where hot water is available.
26 new
A new programme of refurbishment was drawn up to identify public toilets which had a life expectancy of over 10 years. Work started in earnest during the past year and a total of 18 public toilets were refurbished to date. About another 70 are scheduled for renovation. Individual toilets bowls and wall tiles visually improve surroundings and facilitate maintenance. As an experiment, fibreglass doors will replace the heavy steel doors to toilets to improve their appearance and to reduce maintenance work. 22 public toilets are to be redeveloped and they will incorporate refuse collection points and bathhouses. Public toilets are under planning, some of them within market complexes, and hopefully they will be completed within 5 years.
However, just providing the structures are not enough as an article titled 'Guide to Loos' published in the South China Morning Post pointed out. Supervision is essential to ensure that public toilets are kept clean. A Urban Services Department team carried out a review on the management of public toilets in the Urban Area and reported in November 1980. The team made a number of recommendations which were accepted by the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee and these are being implemented. Amongst the suggestions were closer supervision by management of staff and minor repairs being undertaken by the Department's own General Works Teams.
With the proposed establishment of district management and advisory boards, there should be better feedback from the residents of areas when they spot shortcomings in these and other facilities.
I welcome the formation of a high level panel Steering Committee for Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign No. 2 and the setting up of executive, advisory committees for this purpose in the New Territories. The greater involvement of both officials and non-officials, the greater the rate of success. The appointment of a co-ordinator will ensure that efforts are channelled into the right direction and bottlenecks removed.
As a prelude to this year's New Campaign, a district by district cleaning exercise was commenced last November, involving community leaders. Site visits carried out by members of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign Committee identified the problems faced and work to be done to improve the general environment.
Page 92 of 120
151
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 92 of 1
Page 92 of 120
150
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
As wages will be increased every year, the expenditure for hawker control evidently tends to go up corresponding to the increase in wages even though there is no increase in the size of staff. It appears necessary, therefore, that
the licence and pitch fees have to be re-adjusted regularly.
Markets
hawkers to markets. As there are so many street traders, it would be too Originally, the ultimate aim of the Council was to resite all onstreet
optimistic to resite all of them into market in a few years' time.
According to schedule, there will be 2 markets, 3 temporary markets and one cooked food centre to be completed in 1981. It will cost the rate payers about $45.1 million. In 1982, 2 market complex projects costing $75.2 million and one market extension costing $6 million will be completed. In 1983. 3 market complex projects costing $87.5 million are expected to be ready for
use.
It clearly shows that large market projects are quite expensive, as construc- tion cost continues to go up. With the present financial difficulties in the Council, it is most unlikely that more markets will be built other than those mentioned previously.
Another problem for building a new market is to find a suitable site. A market must be built in a place where it is convenient for people to go for shopping. Otherwise, it may not be viable, and no hawker would like to move into the market.
It is hoped that the Government will allocate more suitable sites for markets; and one or two years later, the financial situation of the Urban Council will improve. By that time, the Council can speed up its market building programme in order to resite more street traders into markets.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
MRS. GRACE HO (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, as in past years, I will confine my comments today mainly on subjects which are within the ambi of Environmental Hygiene Select Committee. Earlier, Mr. CHOI mentioned that when we want to clean Hong Kong, we do face a lot of problems and of course we have to try our best.
Early in 1980, public toilets and bathhouses as well as refuse collection points were singled out for special attention.
The Council is responsible for 103 public toilets on Hong Kong Island and 53 in Kowloon. A rather disproportionate figure, when one compares it with today's population distribution, but clearly, earlier planners provided more public conveniences on the Island which was the centre of activities, whilst Kowloon was a wilderness. Some of these toilets were therefore quite ancient and either required rebuilding or refurbishment. Over two years ago, a
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 92 of 120
151
programme was worked out to refurbish some of these decrepit toilets, but due to all sorts of reasons, the Public Works Department were unable to arry out the work within the time schedule. Therefore, a fresh look was
aken to
identify which of the obsolete public toilets could be rebuilt and in e redevelopment maximize the use of scarce land resources and where
possible, include in the rebuilding plans refuse collection points and public Aathhouses. It is interesting that although new rise buildings are replacing d tenement buildings, in some areas there is still a demand for public fathhouses where hot water is available.
26 new
A new programme of refurbishment was drawn up to identify public toilets which had a life expectancy of over 10 years. Work started in earnest during the past year and a total of 18 public toilets were refurbished to date. About rother 70 are scheduled for renovation. Individual toilets bowls and wall ales visually improve surroundings and facilitate maintenance. As an experi- ment, fibreglass doors will replace the heavy steel doors to toilets to improve their appearance and to reduce maintenance work. 22 public toilets are to be redeveloped and they will incorporate refuse collection points and bathhouses. public toilets are under planning, some of them within market com- plexes, and hopefully they will be completed within 5 years.
However, just providing the structures are not enough as an article titled Guide to Loos' published in the South China Morning Post pointed out. Supervision is essential to ensure that public toilets are kept clean. A Urban Services Department team carried out a review on the management of public toilets in the Urban Area and reported in November 1980. The team made a number of recommendations which were accepted by the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee and these are being implemented. Amongst the suggestions were closer supervision by management of staff and minor repairs being undertaken by the Department's own General Works Teams.
With the proposed establishment of district management and advisory boards, there should be better feedback from the residents of areas when they spot shortcomings in these and other facilities.
I welcome the formation of a high level panel Steering Committee for Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign No. 2 and the setting up of executive, advisory committees for this purpose in the New Territories. The greater involvement of both officials and non officials, the greater the rate of success. The appoint- ment of a co-ordinator will ensure that efforts are channelled into the right direction and bottlenecks removed.
As a prelude to this year's New Campaign, a district by district cleaning exercise was commenced last November, involving community leaders. Site visits carried out by members of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign Committee identified the problems faced and work to be done to improve the general environment.
Page 92 of 1
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