Page 108 of 146
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Although Hong Kong has won international fame in the provision of swimming pools, we have yet to see a real recreational fun-pool that not only offers rectangular pools of water to frolic in, but also equipped with a water chute for children and teenagers to slide into the water. Such facilities are quite common abroad in many fun parks and even hotels, and with Hong Kong's climatic conditions and population concentration there is greater potential for even higher usage and greater viability. With the experience in Hong Kong of a wave tank already in Ocean Park, I suggest we could build a recreational fun-pool complex not only having a multitude of water-slides, but also a pool with artificial waves which no doubt will be a novelty and success as it has been in other places abroad with our energetic fun-seekers.
Last year, I advocated a system of camping under controlled conditions on Urban Council beaches, but this apparently has fallen on deaf ears. In the meantime, youngsters continue to camp overnight at beaches, although theoretically it is illegal, and because we have adopted an ostrich-like approach of 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil', the mess on the beach the next day is there for all to see. I must stress that camping on a beach, if done properly with the right equipment, attitude, and with adequate facilities to dispose of litter, is a very good past-time. I confess doing it myself out in ungazetted beaches in the New Territories, to remain out of the clutches of our not so enlightened Urban Council by-laws.
Lack of imagination has also caused us to become less enterprising and receptive to experimenting when compared to private enterprise. Bearing in mind that private enterprise is the key to Hong Kong's success, we might yet take another leaf out of its book. Not too long ago, an approach was made to the Urban Council for a pilot scheme to establish an artificial ski-slope in the Urban Area. The project would not have cost the Council or the public one cent, and the risks were to be borne entirely by the proposer. A number of Councillors (unfortunately mostly non-skiers) also viewed a similar project during a fact-finding mission to U.K. Regrettably, this very imaginative proposal was turned down for a hotch-potch of reasons, and whether this novice past-time will ever be introduced to our young people is in limbo.
I hope that the Council will be more aggressive in future and continue to take the lead in advocating new and revolutionary recreational facilities for our young people who comprise the bulk of our population, and not be bound by a straight-jacket of 'what was good enough for us when we were young, is good enough for those who are now young'.
As further food for thought in providing recreational amenities, may I suggest we again stretch our imagination a bit and have a good look at ideas like coin-operated gas stoves in lieu of charcoal pits for our barbeque spots. Adding children toys, games and video cassette lending facilities as an extension of our library services should be a good way of providing more to the public by using existing facilities.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 108 of 146
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We should also establish an information hot line, as in many countries, listing out daily Urban Council cultural and sports events for the benefit of local people and tourists alike.
Housing
As it is customary to break with tradition with Standing Orders at this time of the year and speak on matters outside of Urban Council jurisdiction, I will grind an axe today too. Having spoken on housing on two past occasions, I will dwell on it no more except to repeat:
(A) I shed no tears for speculators that burnt their fingers while property prices have stabilized.
(B) I still advocate income tax relief on interest payments for mortgages on homes for personal occupation.
(C) I express my wholehearted support for the new rules of the home ownership scheme where land premium is ignored but resale conditions are stringent. All of this contributes to stability and sense of belonging in Hong Kong.
Transport
I would however like to air one other subject of public concern. After housing, the greatest cause of frustration is transport, not only the time to get to work, but also the cost. While our bus fares are reasonable when compared to other metropolises in the world, the prices middle-class employees have to pay to travel on public light buses on non-franchised routes is close to extortionate. The fare from Central to Shau Kei Wan during peak hours can be as high as $8, and a 15-minute trip along the waterfront road to Causeway Bay costs $3-$4. The mind boggles when a junior executive or middle-class white-collar clerk has to fork out more than 10% of his take-home pay just to get to and from work! Lower income people in Wah Fu Estate are not much better off by paying $7-$8 for a trip in a mini-bus to Central, especially when more well-to-do upper middle-class people in Baguio Villa and Chi Fu Fa Yuen can do a journey in equal (if not better) comfort for $2.50 or $2.00.
This anomaly is because we have side by side an orderly, franchised fixed route maxi-cab system with a chaotic, uncontrolled mini-bus system whose prices yo-yo throughout the day according to supply and demand. The fluctuations are greater than the fluctuations of the price of a fresh garoupa between an auspicious festival and a dull rainy day. These mini-buses are the one and only form of public transport in Hong Kong whose prices are not controlled, and the situation warrants serious action by the authorities concerned before the frustrations so generated blow up into public displeasure.
Regarding speeding up transport, the King's Road bus priority scheme in Eastern last year did not work, but the Pokfulam Road scheme is smooth beyond expectations. As for the snarls of Eastern, a solution might be to make...
Page 108 of 146
172
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Although Hong Kong has won international fame in the provision of swimming pools, we have yet to see a real recreational fun-pool that not only offers rectangular pools of water to frolic in, but also equipped with a water chute for children and teenagers to slide into the water. Such facilities are quite common abroad in many fun parks and even hotels, and with Hong Kong's climatic conditions and population concentration there is greater potential for even higher usage and greater viability. With the experience in Hong Kong of a wave tank already in Ocean Park, I suggest we could build a recreational fun- pool complex not only having a multitude of water-slides, but also a pool with artificial waves which no doubt will be a novelty and success as it has been in other places abroad with our energetic fun-seekers.
Last year,
I advocated a system of camping under controlled conditions on Urban Council beaches, but this apparently has fallen on deaf ears. In the meantime, youngsters continue to camp overnight at beaches, although theoretically it is illegal, and because we have adopted an ostrich-like approach of 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil', the mess on the beach the next day is there for all to see. I must stress that camping on a beach, if done properly with the right equipment, attitude, and with adequate facilities to dispose of litter, is a very good past-time. I confess doing it myself out in ungazetted beaches in the New Territories, to remain out of the clutches of our not so enlightened Urban Council by-laws.
Lack of imagination has also caused us to become less enterprising and receptive to experimenting when compared to private enterprise. Bearing in mind that private enterprise is the key to Hong Kong's success, we might yet take another leaf out of its book. Not too long ago, an approach was made to the Urban Council for a pilot scheme to establish an artificial ski-slope in the Urban Area. The project would not have cost the Council or the public one cent, and the risks were to be borne entirely by the proposer. A number of Councillors (unfortunately mostly non-skiers) also viewed a similar project during a fact finding mission to U.K. Regrettably, this very imaginative proposal was turned down for a hotch-potch of reasons, and whether this novice past-time will ever be introduced to our young people is in limbo.
I hope that the Council will be more aggressive in future and continue to take the lead in advocating new and revolutionary recreational facilities for our young people who comprise the bulk of our population, and not be bound by a straight-jacket of 'what was good enough for us when we were young, is good enough for those who are now young'.
As further food for thought in providing recreational amenities, may I suggest we again stretch our imagination a bit and have a good look at ideas like coin-operated gas stoves in lieu of charcoal pits for our barbeque spots.
Adding children toys, games and video cassette lending facilities as an extension of our library services should be a good way of providing more to the public by using existing facilities.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 108 of 146
173
We should also establish an information hot line, as in many countries, listing out daily Urban Council cultural and sports events for the benefit of local people and tourists alike.
Housing
As it is customary to break with tradition with Standing Orders at this time of the year and speak on matters outside of Urban Council jurisdiction, I will grind an axe today too. Having spoken on housing on two past occasions, I will dwell on it no more except to repeat:
(A) I shed no tears for speculators that burnt their fingers while property prices
have stabilized.
(B) I still advocate income tax relief on interest payments for mortgages on
homes for personal occupation.
(C) I express my wholehearted support for the new rules of the home ownership scheme where land premium is ignored but resale conditions are stringent. All of this contributes to stability and sense of belonging in Hong Kong.
Transport
I would however like to air one other subject of public concern. After housing, the greatest cause of frustration is transport, not only the time to get to work, but also the cost. While our bus fares are reasonable when compared to other metropolises in the world, the prices middle class employees have to pay to travel on public light buses on non-franchised routes is close to extortionate. The fare from Central to Shau Kei Wan during peak hours can be as high as $8, and a 15-minute trip along the waterfront road to Causeway Bay costs $3-$4. The mind boggles when a junior executive or middle class white collar clerk has to fork out more than 10% of his take home pay just to get to and from work! Lower income people in Wah Fu Estate are not much better off by paying $7-$8 for a trip in a mini-bus to Central, especially when more well-to-do upper middle class people in Baguio Villa and Chi Fu Fa Yuen can do a journey in equal (if not better) comfort for $2.50 or $2.00.
This anomoly is because we have side by side an orderly, franchised fixed route maxi-cab system with a chaotic, uncontrolled mini-bus system whose prices yo-yo throughout the day according to supply and demand. The fluctuations are greater than the fluctuations of the price of a fresh garoupa between an auspicious festival and a dull rainy day. These mini-buses are the one and only form of public transport in Hong Kong whose prices are not controlled, and the situation warrants serious action by the authorities concerned before the frustrations so generated blow up into public displeasure.
Regarding speeding up transport, the King's Road bus priority scheme in Eastern last year did not work, but the Pokfulam Road scheme is smooth beyond expectations. As for the snarls of Eastern, a solution might be to make
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