1982 — Page 20

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

In conclusion, I think that I must repeat what I said earlier namely that there are no short cuts where the growth of a community spirit is concerned and that it is only by continuing efforts by the Government and the Urban Council over a period of years that people will come to have a sense of belonging

to Hong Kong.

3. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):~/ understand that because of inflationary pressure and higher labour costs, this Council has had to curtail some of its projects. In view of the now known fixed income for the next two years, does the Chairman consider it necessary to institute a review of all present projects and those which have been postponed to see whether our priorities may have to be altered?

MR. LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL WORKS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the need to review the Council's capital works programme following the Government's decision that the Council's activities should be financed from a fixed but increased share of the rates in future.

The Council's capital works programme is planned within the framework of a five-year forecast which is reviewed annually to reflect the resources available including finance, land and the capacity of the Public Works Department as well as public demand for the facilities under planning. An overall financial ceiling which covers the five-year forecast period is approved at the beginning of each financial year and any changes to the programme must be submitted to the Council for approval before the overall financial ceiling as well as annual estimates of capital expenditure can be revised. The approved ceiling at the end of March 1982 for the five-year period 1981-82 to 1985-86 was $1,970 million. The department is currently reviewing the progress of the Council's capital works programme in 1981-82 in conjunction with the Principal Government Architect in order to establish what changes in the Council's capital works programme for the five years starting from 1982-83 are necessary. The results of this review will be ready for consideration by Members in the near future and I can give an assurance that this review will take due notice of the revised basis for the Council's income in the next five years.

MR. SULKE (in English): I am very much obliged by the answer, but my question was wider, not just buildings, and I would like an assurance that projects such as you, Mr. Chairman, mentioned in your opening address, will also be reviewed. MR. FUNG (in English): Can I, on behalf of the Chairman of the Urban Council, assure you that all projects will be reviewed, not just capital works projects.

4. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):—I understand that Highways Office has recently promulgated regulations which in effect will prevent this Council from further tree planting in Hong Kong streets. As

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

trees are not only aesthetically necessary to brighten the concrete landscape, but also play a large part in temperature and pollution control, what steps is this Council taking to persuade the Highways Department to rescind these regulations? MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION Select Committee, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the effect of Highways Office regulations on the planting of trees in Hong Kong streets.

The Urban Council has a statutory responsibility for the upkeep of all trees within five metres of any highway except where trees are located on private lots or where roads pass through Country Parks.

In order to fulfill this responsibility, the Council has traditionally followed a policy of planting trees in streets wherever possible in the belief that they, together with trees and shrubs on private lots and public open space, would do something to provide much-needed greenery in the midst of a mass of concrete. However, progress in these areas has been seriously curtailed in recent years mainly for two reasons:-----

(i) Firstly, the green areas provided by private lots alongside highways are fast disappearing since developers are permitted to build on virtually the whole of these plots with little or no requirement that they should landscape them. This, naturally, makes the presence of trees in streets all the more important.

(ii) Secondly, the Highways Office of the Public Works Department has imposed restrictions on the planting of trees within four metres of the highway on roads where the speed limit is 30mph and within six metres of the highway where the speed limit is 40mph. These restrictions, together with a demand for clear sightlines at the approaches to intersections, rule out the planting of trees along virtually all highways in the urban areas. Because the Council and the department strongly believe that present policies are damaging the urban environment, especially for the longer term, detailed objections were sent to the Highways Office in the autumn of 1981 and also to the Principal Government Town Planning officer. In reply, the Highways Office agreed that there was cause for concern and that, in future, in consultation with the City Services Department, it would incorporate landscape planning into all major road schemes. The Highways Office also agreed to review the present restrictions on the planting of trees alongside existing highways though the department has not yet been informed of the results of this review.

Fortunately, consciousness of the need to provide more greenery in the urban environment seems to be gradually spreading and Mr. SULKE'S comment on the value of trees as a means of providing beauty and shade and reducing pollution is timely. I hope therefore that the initiative taken by the Council and the department in pressing for a change in current policies will meet with a favourable response and that the present regulations restricting the planting of trees will be withdrawn, or at least modified, in the near future.

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