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complaints are commonly found on the newspapers and other mass media. All our USD staff can do is merely to warn the operators. They cannot take action to prosecute the food premises which expulse fume or which are not co-operative.
Mr. Chairman, I propose that legislation should be amended or introduced to control the above problems.
(Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN left the meeting at 4:41 p.m.)
MR. PAO PING-WING (in English):—Mr. Chairman, firstly, as Chairman of the Capital Works Select Committee, I should like to report on the progress of the capital works programme. This financial year has seen the completion of seventeen projects; among these are three Urban Council complexes at Quarry Bay, Sheung Wan and Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok, an indoor games hall at Chai Wan and a large temporary market at Tai Kok Tsui. The remainder of this financial year will see the completion and opening to the public of ten projects including two major recreational projects in Kowloon, the Kowloon Park and the second phase of the Carpenter Road Park in Kowloon City. The out-turn forecast for capital works expenditure for this financial year is estimated to be $360 million, which shows a 12% increase over last year.
In November 1988 this Council approved a five-year programme of Capital expenditure covering the period 1988-89 to 1992-93. Expenditure on projects included in this programme is expected to total $2.36 billion over the five-year period. The annual amounts range from $360 million for this financial year to more than $400 million on capital works for each of the next three years.
For this financial year and the coming one approximately half of the expenditure will be incurred on projects falling under the ambit of the Recreation Select Committee, one fifth on projects under the Museums Select Committee and another one fifth on complexes under the Capital Works Select Committee. When the planning workload is considered the dominance of recreation and museum projects is even more pronounced. This is because several large projects for which departmental planning and Council's approval is required are financed, or partially financed, by donations from private organizations or are financed through central government or through the Housing Authority as compensation for Urban Council facilities alienated by the Authority in its redevelopment programme. In this connection, I would like to express my gratitude to all the staff of the Urban Services Department, Architectural Services Department and other departments concerned on their efforts in expanding the UC capital works programme at an admirable high quality and speed.
One significant feature of this financial year has been the rapid rise in the Tender Price Index. In the first two quarters of 1988, this was surging ahead at more than 3% a month. The rise in the index, and a reduction in the number of competitive tenderers for new projects, are direct results of the very tight labour market. During the year Council has approved some $176 million in supplementary provision for projects either under construction or scheduled to commence construction in this financial year, the total adjusted commitment of which is about $916 million. Fortunately, the Tender Price Index for the third quarter of 1988 shows a reduction in the increase to approximately 0.7% a month. I hope this prefigures a return to stability and will reduce the need to seek supplementary provision for projects at the tender return stage.
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Amidst the excitement of producing new capital projects the very important aspect of the maintenance of existing facilities has not been forgotten. Measures have been, and further measures will be, put into practice to reduce the time taken to complete repairs. A series of local maintenance depots is planned to be established next financial year manned by staff whose sole duty is the repair and maintenance of Urban Council facilities by providing carbon filtration systems for refuse collection points, improving lights and safety matting in our parks and playgrounds. In addition, a comprehensive programme of park improvements is being drawn up.
During the year, Mr. Chairman, members have noted with concern the quality of some of the land proposed to be allocated to this Council for recreational projects. Land allocated for recreational purposes should be suitable for use for recreational purposes. This would seem to be an obvious statement but it does need to be reiterated. The people of Hong Kong do not wish, nor is it healthy for them, to play active games in areas subject to heavy pollution, nor is it very nice even just to sit in such areas. To reduce the effect of pollution on an open space we are finding it necessary to build large earth berms. These have the secondary effect of reducing the usable area for recreational purposes. Account must be taken of this and the effect of pollution on our open space by government planners in assessing the adequacy of open space provision for a particular area and additional land for open space in the area should be made available. An improvement in the quality, as well as the quantity, of open space will help to make Hong Kong ‘a better organized, more efficient and more desirable place in which to live and work' to quote from the aim of the government's Metroplan.
Sir, with these remarks, I support the motion.
THE HON. MRS. NELLIE FONG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I want to take this opportunity to stand up and be counted.
Controversy on the process for the election of our future Chief Executive and Legislature has thrived in the last few weeks.
Today, I will say how I see the issue.
For Democracy to exist the people must be represented. For Hong Kong to have a democratic Legislature, the people of Hong Kong must have a voice in
312
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
complaints are commonly found on the newspapers and other mass media. All our USD staff can do is merely to warn the operators. They cannot take action to prosecute the food premises which expulse fume or which are not co- operative.
Mr. Chairman, I propose that legislation should be amended or introduced to control the above problems.
(Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN left the meeting at 4.41 p.m.)
MR. PAO PING-WING (in English):-Mr. Chairman, firstly, as Chairman of the Capital Works Select Committee, I should like to report on the progress of the capital works programme. This financial year has seen the completion of seventeen projects; among these are three Urban Council complexes at Quarry Bay, Sheung Wan and Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok, an indoor games hall at Chai Wan and a large temporary market at Tai Kok Tsui. The remainder of this financial year will see the completion and opening to the public of ten pro- jects including two major recreational projects in Kowloon, the Kowloon Park and the second phase of the Carpenter Road Park in Kowloon City. The out- turn forecast for capital works expenditure for this financial year is estimated to be $360 million, which shows a 12% increase over last year.
In November 1988 this Council approved a five-year programme of Capital expenditure covering the period 1988-89 to 1992-93. Expenditure on projects included in this programme is expected to total $2.36 billion over the five year period. The annual amounts range from $360 million for this financial year to more than $400 million on capital works for each of the next three years.
For this financial year and the coming one approximately half of the expen- diture will be incurred on projects falling under the ambit of the Recreation Select Committee, one fifth on projects under the Museums Select Committee and another one fifth on complexes under the Capital Works Select Committee. When the planning workload is considered the dominance of recreation and museum projects is even more pronounced. This is because several large pro- jects for which departmental planning and Council's approval is required are financed, or partially financed, by donations from private organizations or are financed through central government or through the Housing Authority as compensation for Urban Council facilities alienated by the Authority in its redevelopment programme. In this connection, I would like to express my gratitude to all the staffs of the Urban Services Department, Architectural Services Department and other departments concerned on their efforts in expanding the UC capital works programme at an admirable high quality and speed.
One significant feature of this financial year has been the rapid rise in the Tender Price Index. In the first two quarters of 1988, this was surging ahead at more than 3% a month. The rise in the index, and a reduction in the number of competitive tenderers for new projects, are direct results of the very tight labour
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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market. During the year Council has approved some $176 million in sup- plementary provision for projects either under construction or scheduled to commence construction in this financial year, the total adjusted commitment of which is about $916 million. Fortunately, the Tender Price Index for the third quarter of 1988 shows a reduction in the increase to approximately 0.7% a month. I hope this prefigures a return to stability and will reduce the need to seek supplementary provision for projects at the tender return stage.
Amidst the excitement of producing new capital projects the very important aspect of the maintenance of existing facilities has not been forgotten. Measures have been, and further measures will be, put into practice to reduce the time taken to complete repairs. A series of local maintenance depots is planned to be established next financial year manned by staff whose sole duty is the repair and maintenance of Urban Council facilities by providing carbon filtration systems for refuse collection points, improving lights and safety matting in our parks and playgrounds. In addition, a comprehensive programme of park im- provements is being drawn up.
During the year, Mr. Chairman, members have noted with concern the qual- ity of some of the land proposed to be allocated to this Council for recreational projects. Land allocated for recreational purposes should be suitable for use for recreational purposes. This would seem to be an obvious statement but it does need to be reiterated. The people of Hong Kong do not wish, nor is it healthy for them, to play active games in areas subject to heavy pollution, nor is it very nice even just to sit in such areas. To reduce the effect of pollution on an open space we are finding it necessary to build large earth berms. These have the secondary effect of reducing the usable area for recreational purposes. Account must be taken of this and the effect of pollution on our open space by govern- ment planners in assessing the adequacy of open space provision for a particu- lar area and additional land for open space in the area should be made avail- able. An improvement in the quality, as well as the quantity, of open space will help to make Hong Kong ‘a better organized, more efficient and more desirable place in which to live and work' to quote from the aim of the government's Metroplan.
Sir, with these remarks, I support the motion.
THE HON. MRS. NELLIE FONG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I want to take this opportunity to stand up and be counted.
Controversy on the process for the election of our future Chief Executive and Legislature has thrived in the last few weeks.
Today, I will say how I see the issue.
For Democracy to exist the people must be represented. For Hong Kong to have a democratic Legislature, the people of Hong Kong must have a voice in
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