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MRS. CHOW CHEUNG WAI-PING (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am sorry to say that the answer is too vague, so may I ask two supplementary questions? Now six months have passed since the recruitment trip but no written report nor fresh staffing proposals have been presented. Why does it take so long to present the report and when exactly will the proposals in train be out?

DR. PHILIP C. K. Kwok (in English):—I think I can only answer the second supplementary question because as I understand that the proposal will be forthcoming in the next week or two. Whereas the delay, we can go back to the Museums Select Committee and ask the Department on that.

MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, since the Director of Urban Services has up to the present moment advised that the Science Museum Planning Office senior staff have made good progress, why don't we promote one of these people to be the Museum director and not to recruit somebody from outside since they are doing very well on the planning? Why don't we just make use of our present talents?

DR. PHILIP C. K. Kwok (in English):—I think there is a difference in the job of a coordinator in the building of the Museum which is different from the eventual Director of Museum who will run e.g. the Science Technology Museum. So we are looking, I think, at two different kinds of person. That is the reason we will be looking for the recruitment of a person in the future who will run the Science Museum.

MR. MARVIN K. T. CHEUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, may I ask what was the cost of the trip last year and when is it possible for a factual report to be written on the events that took place on that trip?

DR. PHILIP C. K. Kwok (in English):—As I said, I think this question will be raised in the next Museums Select Committee and the Department will be forthcoming with some of the replies.

CHAIRMAN (in English):—In other words, you have to wait, he doesn't have the fact at his fingertips. These are fairly wide-ranging supplementaries. He is committed to giving a report to the next Museums Select Committee.

MR. LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, in view of the wide interest in terms of supplementary questions, is it possible for Council to agree to waiving the Standing Order? What I refer to is to bar anybody from asking the same question again within the next six months because I think it is an important question. Since the question has been raised as a matter of public record, I think the answer that must be given subsequently should also be part of the public record and not be buried in some other voluminous minutes.

CHAIRMAN (in English):—I don't think it needs to wait six months. I think the Chairman of Museums Select Committee when he is available can make a

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statement at the next or subsequent public meetings. When he is satisfied he has got all the information.

MR. LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG (in English): To make the statement, Mr. Chairman is one thing that does not entitle any other Members to ask supplementary questions. A statement is just a statement of what the other person making the statement says but is in no way other Members can query that statement. But in view of the fact of the wide interest expressed this afternoon, I think it needs to clear the air on the issue. It is public money that is at stake.

CHAIRMAN (in English): —I think it could be done and forward the paper to the Standing Committee and discuss it in the open as we are going to do later this afternoon. No problem about that. Your point is noted. SUC will make sure that it will be dealt with.

7. MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):—I should be grateful to know what methods are used to sterilize the warm water in the Urban Council swimming pools to ensure that our swimming pools are safe for the public to use.

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):―This question asks what methods are used to sterilize warm water in Urban Council Swimming Pools to ensure that they are safe for the public to use.

The Council at present opens four heated swimming pools for public use during the winter months: 2 at Morrison Hill, 1 at Sham Shui Po Park and 1 at Wan Chai Training Pool. The water is heated to approximately 26°C to create a comfortable swimming environment.

The method of water treatment at heated pools is the same as at non-heated pools open during the summer months. The water is constantly circulated for treatment during opening hours. Chlorine and other suitable chemicals such as alum and soda are added during circulation. The purpose of adding chlorine is to remove bacteria and algae from the water. Alum is added to remove suspended matter so as to render the water clean and clear. Soda is added to maintain suitable alkalinity in the water so that the chlorine can effectively combat any bacteria in the water. The free residual chlorine and alkalinity levels maintained comply with standards recommended by the World Health Organization.

Departmental staff take water samples from pools to test the chlorine and alkalinity levels every 2 hours when pools are open. Adjustments to the chemical levels are made as and when required. Water samples are also sent to the Water Supplies Department for bacteriological examination each month to ensure that pool water is safe for public use.