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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English): Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. The meeting is called to order.
It is my pleasant duty to welcome back to the Council Mr. Peter P. F. CHAN who previously served the Council as an Appointed Member for twelve years. After his term of office expired in 1980, he decided to run for election this year and was successful in being elected.
I also extend a welcome to a new member to this Council, Mr. Francis CHAINE, who was elected at the Urban Council Election last month.
I have no doubt that both Mr. Peter P. F. CHAN and Mr. Francis CHAINE will make a positive contribution to the Council's work with loyalty and dedication.
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 1981 were confirmed.
## STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): During 1981, the Urban Council faces the daunting task of co-ordinating its role with that of the ten Urban District Boards. Kwun Tong and Wong Tai Sin District Boards have been already formed and five Urban Councillors have been nominated to these two Boards. By the end of the Council year, the other eight Urban District Boards will have Urban Councillors appointed as members. Each Urban Councillor will become a strong link between the District Board and the Council.
The Urban Council has a Capital Works Programme of over $1,000 million to be spent on projects such as multi-purpose market complexes, parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, libraries, etc., over the next five years. To ensure that the Council's resources will be properly used in each District, it is essential that Urban Councillors keep in close touch with the needs of their respective District residents. To fulfil this vital task, it is obvious that Urban Councillors will have to be united and working closely together so as to successfully co-ordinate the Council's responsibilities with the activities of the District Boards.
This Council, through its members, is totally committed to improve and steadily expand its services in all of the ten Urban Districts. The Council will also give its full support to territory-wide campaigns, such as the Fight Crime Campaign and Clean Hong Kong Campaign, since such campaigns are aimed to make Hong Kong a safer, cleaner and better place for all to live in.
The great majority of people in Hong Kong subscribe to the idea of the 'Welfare Society' providing that it rests on a foundation of free enterprise, greater productivity and individual initiative. We look forward with optimism to an era of closer interaction between the Urban Council and the District Boards in seeking to realize the 'Welfare Society' through the opening up of more opportunities for individuals to be of service among our urban population.
## 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 March 1981.
## QUESTIONS
1. Mr. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese): As there have been recent complaints from residents regarding the provision and untidiness of barbecue pits at a certain section of Repulse Bay, what steps can the Council take to ensure that there is a proper balance between providing recreational outlets to meet popular demand on the one hand, and minimizing inconvenience to local residents on the other? As the amount of litter caused by campers on that beach is also a reason for complaint, what action has been taken by the Council regarding suggestions made in my annual debate speech of 1980 on legitimizing camping on beaches under controlled conditions?
MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied (in English): This question covers two points: firstly, the management of recreational outlets in such a way as to minimize inconvenience to local residents and, secondly, the possibility that camping on beaches might be allowed under controlled conditions.
In reply to the first part of the question, the Council is aware that there are conflicting views on the provision of barbecue pits at beaches. Such differences of opinion are inevitable and it is no easy matter to achieve the right balance between the provision of the recreational outlets needed to meet popular demand and, at the same time, to do so without causing unnecessary inconvenience to local residents. Barbecuing facilities at beaches such as Repulse Bay are obviously in demand and it is the view of the Urban Council that the provision of proper barbecue pits in selected areas does limit any nuisance that they may cause to a particular area whereas, without them, barbecuing would be much harder to control and would affect a wider area. At present, there are two barbecue areas at Repulse Bay beach. One, which is located in front of the Lido Restaurant, has 55 barbecue pits. The
Page 19 of 146
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Page 19 of 146
2
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English): Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. The meeting is called to order.
It is my pleasant duty to welcome back to the Council Mr. Peter P. F. CHAN who previously served the Council as an Appointed Member for twelve years. After his term of office expired in 1980, he decided to run for election this year and was successful in being elected.
I also extend a welcome to a new member to this Council, Mr. Francis CHAINE, who was elected at the Urban Council Election last month.
I have no doubt that both Mr. Peter P. F. CHAN and Mr. Francis CHAINE will make a positive contribution to the Council's work with loyalty and dedication.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 17 March 1981 were confirmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-During 1981, the Urban Council faces the daunt- ing task of co-ordinating its role with that of the ten Urban District Boards. Kwun Tong and Wong Tai Sin District Boards, have been already formed and five Urban Councillors have been nominated to these two Boards. By the end of the Council year, the other eight Urban District Boards will have Urban Councillors appointed as members. Each Urban Councillor will become a strong link between the District Board and the Council.
The urban Council has a Capital Works Programme of over $1,000 million to be spent on projects such as multi-purpose market complexes, parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, libraries, etc., over the next five years. To ensure that the Council's resources will be properly used in each District, it is essential that Urban Councillors keep in close touch with the needs of their respective District residents. To fulfil this vital task, it is obvious that Urban Councillors will have to be united and working closely together so as to successfully co-ordinate the Council's responsibilities with the activities of the District Boards.
This Council through its members is totally committed to improve and steadily expand its services in all of the ten Urban Districts. The Council will also give its full support to territory-wide campaigns, such as, the Fight Crime Campaign and Clean Hong Kong Campaign, since such campaigns are aimed to make Hong Kong a safer, cleaner and better place for all to live in.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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The great majority of people in Hong Kong subscribe to the idea of the 'Welfare Society' providing that it rests on a foundation of free enterprise, greater productivity and individual initiative. We look forward with optimism to an era of closer interaction between the Urban Council and the District Boards in seeking to realize the 'Welfare Society' through the opening up of more opportunities for individuals to be of service among our urban population.
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 March 1981.
QUESTIONS
1. Mr. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG asked the following question (in Can- tonese):-As there have been recent complaints from residents recently re- garding the provision and untidiness of barbeque pits at a certain section of Repulse Bay, what steps can the Council take to ensure that there is a proper balance between providing recreational outlets to meet popular demand on the one hand, and minimizing inconvenience to local residents on the other? As the amount of litter caused by campers on that beach is also a reason for complaint, what action has been taken by the Council regarding sugges- tions made in my annual debate speech of 1980 on legitimizing camping on beaches under controlled conditions?
MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied (in English):-This question covers two points: firstly, the manage- ment of recreational outlets in such a way as to minimize inconvenience to local residents and, secondly, the possibility that camping on beaches might be allowed under controlled conditions.
In reply to first part of the question, the Council is aware that there are conflicting views on the provision of barbecue pits at beaches. Such differences of opinion are inevitable and it is no easy matter to achieve the right balance between the provision of the recreational outlets needed to meet popular demand and, at the same time, to do so without causing unnecessary in- convenience to local residents. Barbecuing facilities at beaches such as Repulse Bay are obsivously in demand and it is the view of the Urban Council that the provision of proper barbecue pits in selected areas does limit any nuisance that they may cause to a particular area whereas, without them, barbecuing would be much harder to control and would affect a wider area. At present, there are two barbecue areas at Repulse Bay beach. One, which is located in front of the Lido Restaurant, has 55 barbecue pits. The
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