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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Signal Hill Garden is situated in Tsim Sha Tsui on a knoll where Signal Tower stands. It commands a very good view of the harbour. A chain fence about 2 metres high is provided along the perimeter of the garden following the elevation of the terrain with the exception of the lookout point which is bounded by a stone retaining wall. This lookout point overlooks the Middle Road Children's Playground about 30 metres beneath. The retaining wall is 1.5 metres in height with a round top to discourage the public from climbing on it and acts as a safety barrier for visitors to this garden. It is safe for anyone to lean against this retaining wall as his centre of gravity is well below the top of wall.
It was reported that on Saturday, 27 October 1984 at about 4.55 p.m., a young male was found to have fallen from the Signal Hill Garden into the Middle Road Children's Playground below whilst taking photographs with his friends by the retaining wall. According to the description given by his friends, the accident happened when he jerked himself up to sit on the top of the retaining wall. Because of the height and the round top of the wall, his momentum probably caused him to lose his balance and as a result he fell down to the Middle Road Children's Playground below. An ambulance was called immediately by the park-keeper on duty. Unfortunately, the young man was found to be dead upon arrival at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The Signal Hill Garden was opened to the public in 1974 and there has been no accident of a similar kind before this tragic incident. This safety record speaks for itself. I would like to assure Members that the existing retaining wall serves as an adequate safety barrier to visitors to the garden. To put up any additional railings or fence would not enhance the safety factor and could spoil the view from this spot. However, warning notices have been put up to warn the public not to climb up on the retaining wall and park-keepers on duty have been instructed to pay particular attention to any members of the public who may attempt to climb onto the retaining wall.
5.
(Mr. PAO Ping-wing arrived at 3.00 p.m.)
MR. LEE CHIK-YUET asked the following question (in Cantonese):— Recently, on behalf of this Council, I have the honour of presenting medals in the International Triangular Age Group Swimming Competition and during the occasion I had informal discussion with experts in the training of young swimmers, which elicited me to ask some questions as follows: Could this Council be informed about the winter swimming facilities provided by this Council at present and its future plan of development, especially with regard to covered and heated pools which are more suitable than heated but not covered pools in training of young swimmers as I was told by experts, furthermore is it possible to build another 25-metre covered and heated pool at the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool venue?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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MR. KENNETH T. C. LO CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-The question seeks information about the winter swimming facilities provided and being planned by the Council and asks whether it is possible to build another 25-metre covered and heated pool at the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool.
Of the 11 existing swimming pool complexes managed by the Council, five incorporate a heated main pool to facilitate winter use. One of the heated pools, viz. Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, is also covered.
Heated pools are, generally speaking, not very well used in winter. The most popular one is the indoor heated pool at Morrison Hill and the average daily attendance for the last two winters was around 650 people, representing a 20% utilization rate. The outdoor heated pools had utilization rate ranging between 7% and less than 1% for the same period. In view of the above, the Recreation Select Committee recently approved the closure of Chai Wan, Pao Yue Kong and Tai Wan Shan Swimming Pools this winter. However, the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool on Hong Kong Island and the Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool on Kowloon side will remain open. This arrangement will be reviewed next year against the monitoring of changes in demand.
There are seven new swimming pool complexes in various stages of planning. The Wan Chai Training Pool with its special modern training facilities is almost ready for use and is scheduled to start operation on 1 December 1984. This outdoor pool is heated and is designed to cater primarily for organized training in swimming, water polo and life-saving all the year round.
The Morrison Hill Swimming Pool consists of a covered 50-metre main pool, a covered 25-metre training pool and 2 outdoor pools for children and paddlers respectively. Due to the limited space available, it is not possible to build another 25-metre covered and heated pool at the venue.
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have two supplementary questions. First of all, in connection with the completion of the pool at the Wanchai Complex, will there be a cover to it? Second question, in the pools which will be opened in winter, one in Lai Chi Kok and one in Morrison Hill, will the time for operation be brought forward to 7.00 a.m. instead of 9.00 a.m.? Because I know that those who go to the heated pools in winter have the habit of going there rather early, they have to go to work. Is there any plans to make it earlier?
MR. KENNETH LO (in English):—Mr. Chairman, to the first question there are no plans to build a roof over the Wanchai Training Pool. As regards the other question, the earlier opening of the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, the department will certainly look into this.
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I am afraid that Mr. Lo missed one of my points, that is for the Lai Chi Kok and Morrison Hill, they are open in winter, is it possible to have the opening hours brought forward?
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Page 131
Page 131 of 233
Page 130 of 233
220
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Signal Hill Garden is situated in Tsim Sha Tsui on a knoll where Signal Tower stands. It commands a very good view of the harbour. A chain fence about 2 metres high is provided along the perimeter of the garden following the elevation of the terrain with the exception of the lookout point which is bounded by a stone retaining wall. This lookout point overlooks the Middle Road Children's Playground about 30 metres beneath. The retaining wall is 1.5 metres in height with a round top to discourage the public from climbing on it and acts as a safety barrier for visitors to this garden. It is safe for anyone to lean against this retaining wall as his centre of gravity is well below the top of wall.
It was reported that on Saturday, 27 October 1984 at about 4.55 p.m., a young male was found to have fallen from the Signal Hill Garden into the Middle Road Children's Playground below whilst taking photographs with his friends by the retaining wall. According to the description given by his friends, the accident happened when he jerked himself up to sit on the top of the retaining wall. Because of the height and the round top of the wall, his momentum probably caused him to lose his balance and as a result he fell down to the Middle Road Children's Playground below. An ambulance was called immediately by the park-keeper on duty. Unfortunately, the young man was found to be dead upon arrival at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The Signal Hill Garden was opened to the public in 1974 and there has been no accident of a similar kind before this tragic incident. This safety record speaks for itself. I would like to assure Members that the existing retaining wall serves as an adequate safety barrier to visitors to the garden. To put up any additional railings or fence would not enhance the safety factor and could spoil the view from this spot. However, warning notices have been put up to warn the public not to climb up on the retaining wall and park-keepers on duty have been instructed to pay particular attention to any members of the public who may attempt to climb onto the retaining wall.
5.
(Mr. PAO Ping-wing arrived at 3.00 p.m.)
MR. LEE CHIK-YUET asked the following question (in Cantonese):— Recently, on behalf of this Council, I have the honour of presenting medals in the International Triangular Age Group Swimming Competition and during the occasion I had informal discussion with experts in the training of young swimmers, which elicited me to ask some questions as follows: Could this Council be informed about the winter swimming facilities provided by this Council at present and its future plan of development, especially with regard to covered and heated pools which are more suitable than heated but not covered pools in training of young swimmers as I was told by experts, furthermore is it possible to build another 25-metre covered and heated pool at the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool venue?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 130 of 233
221
MR. KENNETH T. C. LO CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-The question seeks information about the winter swimming facilities provided and being planned by the Council and asks whether it is possible to build another 25-metre covered and heated pool at the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool.
Of the 11 existing swimming pool complexes managed by the Council, five incorporate a heated main pool to facilitate winter use. One of the heated pools, viz. Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, is also covered.
Heated pools are, generally speaking, not very well used in winter. The most popular one is the indoor heated pool at Morrison Hill and the average daily attendance for the last two winters was around 650 people, representing a 20% utilization rate. The outdoor heated pools had utilization rate ranging between 7% and less than 1% for the same period. In view of the above, the Recreation Select Committee recently approved the closure of Chai Wan, Pao Yue Kong and Tai Wan Shan Swimming Pools this winter. However, the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool on Hong Kong Island and the Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool on Kowloon side will remain open. This arrangement will be reviewed next year against the monitoring of changes in demand.
There are seven new swimming pool complexes in various stages of planning. The Wan Chai Training Pool with its special modern training facilities is almost ready for use and is scheduled to start operation on 1 December 1984. This outdoor pool is heated and is designed to cater primarily for organized training in swimming, water polo and life-saving all the year round.
The Morrison Hill Swimming Pool consists of a covered 50-metre main pool, a covered 25-metre training pool and 2 outdoor pools for children and paddlers respectively. Due to the limited space available, it is not possible to build another 25-metre covered and heated pool at the venue.
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have two supplementary questions. First of all, in connection with the completion of the pool at the Wanchai Complex, will there be a cover to it? Second question, in the pools which will be opened in winter, one in Lai Chi Kok and one in Morrison Hill, will the time for operation be brought forward to 7.00 a.m. instead of 9.00 a.m.? Because I know that those who go to the heated pools in winter have the habit of going there rather early, they have to go to work. Is there any plans to make it earlier?
MR. KENNETH LO (in English):—Mr. Chairman, to the first question there are no plans to build a roof over the Wanchai Training Pool. As regards the other question, the earlier opening of the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, the department will certainly look into this.
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I am afraid that Mr. Lo missed one of my points, that is for the Lai Chi Kok and Morrison Hill, they are open in winter, is it possible to have the opening hours brought forward?
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