1983 — Page 49

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

quarterly literary magazine for original writing produced by Hong Kong belongers. Has this suggestion been followed up and is it being considered?

MRS. ELLIOTT, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns a proposal for the Urban Council to publish a quarterly literary magazine of original writing by Hong Kong residents.

I understand that the library staff are considering the proposal and a paper is being prepared for consideration by the Libraries Select Committee at its September meeting this year.

3. Mr. Walter M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):-This Council agreed some time ago that in order to encourage the visual arts among local artists official art studios should be furnished in U.C. Premises. Are there any such visual art studios available now in our premises and how many are planned in the future and when will they be ready?

MR. LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL WORKS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-Other than the two Committee Rooms in the City Hall which are sometimes used by arts organizations for sketching classes, there are at present no purpose-built visual art studios in U.C. premises. However, an artist studio will be provided in each District Cultural Centre under planning. The six district cultural Centres which are at a more advanced stage of planning are:

(1) New Western District Cultural Centre (Central and Western)

(2) Ngau Chi Wan District Cultural Centre (Wong Tai Sin)

(3) Shui Wo Street District Cultural Centre (Kwun Tong)

(4) Kwun Chung District Cultural Centre (Yau Ma Tei)

(5) Sham Shui Po District Cultural Centre (Sham Shui Po) (6) Sai Wan Ho District Cultural Centre (Eastern)

They are all expected to be completed by 1985-86.

It has been agreed already by the relevant Select Committees that each art studio will be provided with facilities for Chinese and Western painting; and some may be able to cater for sculpture, pottery or prints as well. It is hoped that these art studios will meet the needs of local artists who do not have adequate studio accommodation of their own.

MR. SULKE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, for sculpture and pottery, very special facilities are required. Will these be provided?

MR. FUNG (in English):-In the planning process, the experts will be consulted.

4. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):-Could I please be told what progress is being made in persuading the Central Government to make mandatory provision for refuse storage chambers for all multi-storey buildings?

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the Council's recommendation to Government that refuse storage chambers are made mandatory in all new multi-storey buildings.

While the progress on this particular recommendation has been disappoint-ingly slow, it now appears to be gathering momentum within the Government. There has been extensive consultation both within the Government and between the Government and the private sector through the Real Estate Developers Association and the various sub-committees of the Building Development Advisory Committee.

Draft regulations have been prepared and although it may be expected that there will be minor amendments to the draft as a result of consultations, I am told that the Government Secretariat is hopeful of introducing the necessary legislation in the next session of the Legislative Council.

MR. SULKE (in English):-I am very glad to hear Dr. HUANG's answer, but will this legislation cover only new buildings or will it cover existing buildings?

DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):-In my reply, I have already mentioned that only new buildings are subject to this legislation, but for the existing ones, we haven't touched on that yet.

MR. SULKE (in English):-I hope the Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee will agree with me that it is also essential for existing buildings to have such facilities.

DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):-As for the existing multi-storey buildings, according to the Building Regulation, they are not required to have refuse storage chambers, and there will be difficulties if we amend the Regulation. We can only try our best to set up more off-street permanent refuse collection points to solve the problem.

5. MR. PAO PING-WING asked the following question (in Cantonese):-Despite Council's successful market building programme, please could I ask why has the Hung Hom District been singularly neglected in the provisions of new markets?

I know that there is an existing market in Bulkeley Street. But this market, having been in use for over 20 years, is totally incapable of meeting the local demand of over 90 000 residents. This in turn has led to the existence of widespread illegal on-street hawking in the nearby vicinity causing intolerable environmental problems. What is the present position regarding the reprovision of this market and when will the works be completed, if there is a date?

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