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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
8. MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG asked the following question (in Cantonese):-In view of the recent occurrences of several fatal accidents of children at home that have caused great public concern on home safety, what measures and precautions can the Urban Council take to ensure a safe outdoor environment for children in all UC recreational facilities and venues? What useful recommendations have been made regarding safety measures in leisure venues and children's playgrounds by the recent duty visit to study recreational facilities in Europe and the United Kingdom? Has the Urban Council any concrete plans to standardize and maintain safety requirements such as enforcing periodic inspections and providing safety devices underneath the children's play equipment for all existing and future playgrounds?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. Wong, Chairman of the RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns measures and precautions taken by the Urban Council to ensure a safe outdoor environment for children in all Urban Council recreational facilities and venues, and is in two parts. The first part asks what recommendations have been made regarding safety measures in leisure venues and children's playgrounds by the recent visits to study recreational facilities in Europe and the United Kingdom. The second part asks whether the Urban Council has any plans to standardize and maintain safety requirements through periodic inspections and the provision of safety devices underneath children's play equipment, at all existing and future playgrounds.
All Council recreational facilities and venues are designed to meet the most up-to-date safety standards. This is particularly true in respect of children's playgrounds, both with regard to their layout and in the selection of equipment provided. The layout of a children's playground is one of the most critical safety factors since it is important to ensure that circulation patterns and clearances between equipment are sufficient, to protect children using the facility.
Particular care is taken in the selection of play equipment which must comply with the British standard or equivalent. Close contacts have been developed with the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) in the United Kingdom. These two bodies are recognized worldwide as the leading agencies in the field of playground safety. Both carry out research into play equipment and the results of this research have been made available to the Council. In Hong Kong, close liaison is also maintained with Play Right, a local agency concerned with the safety and development of children's playgrounds.
With regard to the maintenance and inspection of equipment, established procedures exist to ensure that all play equipment is inspected once every two days and completely overhauled every year. If faulty equipment is identified, repairs are arranged immediately. The equipment is not permitted to be used until such time as these repairs have been completed.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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With regard to the duty visit to Europe and United Kingdom, its primary purpose was to study the design and management of recreational facilities generally, with particular emphasis being placed on children's playgrounds and leisure pools. Delegates visited the National Playing Fields Association and held wide-ranging discussions with them. The major conclusion was to confirm the importance of the installation of safety matting under play equipment in children's playgrounds.
Council policy, adopted in May 1987, seeks to ensure that all Council playgrounds are provided with safety matting. 91 playgrounds already have safety matting installed. Plans are now at an advanced stage for the installation of safety matting in the remaining 130 playgrounds in the urban area, which are not as yet provided with such. All new playgrounds are now provided with safety matting as a matter of course. Plans are also being drawn up for the complete redevelopment of 30 of the older playgrounds, over the next 3 years, and this redevelopment programme will include improvements to safety.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I understand that there are still 130 playgrounds without safety matting. How long will it take to provide safety mattings for all these playgrounds?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in Cantonese):-We discussed this in our recent meeting. Originally it would take us three years to install safety mattings for all of them; however, we have now been promised that safety mattings for all the remaining 130 playgrounds could be provided within 24 months.
MR. L. H. KWAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have two follow-up questions. First, could all Members and the staff of USD be told about the knowledge we have got from the duty visit in order to enhance the safety standard in our playgrounds? The second one is for areas without safety matting, do we have sufficient notices to let the parents know so that they can pay special care and attention to the children who are playing there?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, concerning the first question, I am sure the department will disseminate the message to the staff and have discussions with them and implement all the recommendations contained in the Duty Visit Report. Secondly, concerning the remaining hundred thirty playgrounds, there may be only hundred and ten left without safety matting now. We have not put up notice there yet; however, if we have sufficient manpower, we will try to post proper notices at conspicuous places.
MOTIONS
1. MR. TONG Kam-BIU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:---
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
8. MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG asked the following question (in Cantonese):-In view of the recent occurrences of several fatal accidents of children at home that have caused great public concern on home safety, what measures and precautions can the Urban Council take to ensure a safe outdoor environment for children in all UC recreational facilities and venues? What useful recommendations have been made regarding safety measures in leisure venues and children's playgrounds by the recent duty visit to study recreational facilities in Europe and the United Kingdom? Has the Urban Council any concrete plans to standardize and maintain safety requirements such as enforcing periodic inspections and providing safety devices underneath the children's play equipment for all existing and future playgrounds?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. Wong, Chairman of the RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns measures and precautions taken by the Urban Council to ensure a safe outdoor environment for children in all Urban Council recreational facilities and venues, and is in two parts. The first part asks what recommendations have been made regarding safety measures in leisure venues and children's playgrounds by the recent visits to study recreational facilities in Europe and the United Kingdom. The second part asks whether the Urban Council has any plans to standardize and maintain safety requirements through periodic inspections and the provision of safety devices underneath children's play equipment, at all existing and future playgrounds.
All Council recreational facilities and venues are designed to meet the most up-to-date safety standards. This is particularly true in respect of children's playgrounds, both with regard to their layout and in the selection of equipment provided. The layout of a children's playground is one of the most critical safety factors since it is important to ensure that circulation patterns and clearances between equipment are sufficient, to protect children using the facility.
Particular care is taken in the selection of play equipment which must comply with the British standard or equivalent. Close contacts have been developed with the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) in the United Kingdom. These two bodies are recognized worldwide as the leading agencies in the field of play- ground safety. Both carry out research into play equipment and the results of this research have been made available to the Council. In Hong Kong, close liaison is also maintained with Play Right, a local agency concerned with the safety and development of children's playgrounds.
With regard to the maintenance and inspection of equipment, established procedures exist to ensure that all play equipment is inspected once every two days and completely overhauled every year. If faulty equipment is identified, repairs are arranged immediately. The equipment is not permitted to be used until such time as these repairs have been completed.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 95 of 185
181
With regard to the duty visit to Europe and United Kingdom, its primary purpose was to study the design and management of recreational facilities generally, with particular emphasis being placed on children's playgrounds and leisure pools. Delegates visited the National Playing Fields Association and held wide ranging discussions with them. The major conclusion was to confirm the importance of the installation of safety matting under play equipment in children's playground.
Council policy, adopted in May 1987, seeks to ensure that all Council playgrounds are provided with safety matting. 91 playgrounds already have safety matting installed. Plans are now at an advanced stage for the installation of safety matting in the remaining 130 playgrounds in the urban area, which are not as yet provided with such. All new playgrounds are now provided with safety matting as a matter of course. Plans are also being drawn up for the complete redevelopment of 30 of the older playgrounds, over the next 3 years, and this redevelopment programme will include improvements to safety.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I understand that there are still 130 playgrounds without safety matting. How long will it take to provide safety mattings for all these playgrounds?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in Cantonese):-We discussed this in our recent meeting. Originally it would take us three years to install safety mattings for all of them; however, we have now been promised that safety mattings for all the remaining 130 playgrounds could be provided within 24 months.
MR. L. H. KWAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have two follow-up questions. First, could all Members and the staff of USD be told about the knowledge we have got from the duty visit in order to enhance the safety standard in our playgrounds? The second one is for areas without safety matting, do we have sufficient notices to let the parents know so that they can pay special care and attention to the children who are playing there?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, concerning the first question, I am sure the department will disseminate the message to the staff and have discussions with them and implement all the recommendations contained in the Duty Visit Report. Secondly, concerning the remaining hundred thirty playgrounds, there may be only hundred and ten left without safety matting now. We have not put up notice there yet; however, if we have sufficient manpower, we will try to post proper notices at conspicuous places.
MOTIONS
1. MR. TONG Kam-BIU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:---
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