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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
17
On one occasion in the past year the bacteriological sample taken from one
CHAIRMAN (in English):---Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. pool in the Kwun Tong pool complex was found to be marginally below the required standard. Immediate action was taken to rectify the situation; which
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 11 April 1989, were confirmed.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services for the month of April 1989.
QUESTIONS
1.
DR. THE HON. ELSIE TU asked the following question (in English):--- (a) At what times of the day is water in the Kwun Tong Swimming Pool checked for pollution, and at what times is pollution found to be greater? (b) Is there any evidence that many Kwun Tong swimmers have to go to Sham Shui Po swimming-pools because of (1) long queues and (2) polluted water at Kwun Tong pools?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):---This question concerns water quality at the Kwun Tong Swimming Pool Complex and is in two parts. The first part concerns the frequency at which swimming pool water samples are taken, and whether there are any differences in the pollution levels detected at different times.
Samples of pool water at all Urban Council Swimming Pool Complexes are taken every hour throughout the period when pools are open to the public. These samples are tested for the balance of acidity of the water (PH value) and the free residual chlorine in the water. Swimming pool water is treated with chlorine to remove bacteria. Traces of chlorine in pool water indicate that bacterial levels are insignificant. The free chlorine content in swimming pool water is controlled automatically and maintained within a range of 0.5 parts per million to 1 part per million. This range is recommended by the Government Hygiene Adviser as the best indicator of safe water quality, and is also in accordance with standards set by the World Health Organization.
Random samples of pool water are also taken monthly whilst the pools are in operation. These are sent to the Government Laboratory for detailed bacteriological and chemical analysis.
has not recurred.
The second part of this question asks if there is any evidence that swimmers in Kwun Tong have had to travel to swimming pools complexes in Sham Shui Po due to long queues or polluted water in the Kwun Tong pools.
It follows from the earlier information that, since the pools in the Kwun Tong Complex are not polluted, there is no evidence that any Kwun Tong swimmers have had to go to swimming pools in Sham Shui Po or other districts because of pollution at Kwun Tong.
Turning to the issue of queuing and its effect on attendance: last year, Kwun Tong Swimming Pool complex was operated on 3 sessions daily, starting at 7 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7.45 p.m. from March to November. Swimmers who turn up shortly before the start of a session do queue to wait for entry to the pool, preferring to wait rather than gain immediate entry at the end of the preceding session. Admission records show that these queues rarely take more than 15 minutes to clear after the admission gates are opened. Records also show that there were only 4 occasions in 1988 when the maximum admission capacity of the pool was reached, and all such cases happened towards the end of a session. There is therefore no reason to believe that Kwun Tong swimmers were forced to swim at pools in other districts due to long queues or excessive demand.
For this swimming season, the Kwun Tong Swimming Pool and 9 other UC swimming pools will be operated on a single-session basis. Swimmers can enter the complex at any time during the opening hours. This should remove the artificial restraint on admissions, which in the past has resulted in queues forming at the start of each session.
(Mr. Marvin K. T. CHEUNG arrived at 2.32 p.m.)
DR. THE HON. ELSIE TU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee if he has any record of any complaint made by people living in Kwun Tong concerning the water quality or the queuing at the Swimming Pool?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in English):---Mr. Chairman, I haven't got any record at this stage. But I would be happy to give a written reply.
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):---Mr. Chairman, may I ask whether it is the intention of Urban Council to use alternative methods of cleansing the water in swimming pools instead of the existing method of chlorination. I mean the new
Page 12 of 166
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Page 12 of 166
16
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
17
On one occasion in the past year the bacteriological sample taken from one
CHAIRMAN (in English):---Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order pool in the Kwun Tong pool complex was found to be marginally below the required standard. Immediate action was taken to rectify the situation; which
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 11 April 1989, were confirmed.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services an
Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of April 1989.
QUESTIONS
1.
DR. THE HON. ELSIE TU asked the following question (in English):--- (a) At what times of the day is water in the Kwun Tong Swimming Pool checka
for pollution, and at what times is pollution found to be greater? (b) Is there any evidence that many Kwun Tong swimmers have to go to Shan Shui Po swimming-pools because of (1) long queues and (2) polluted wate at Kwun Tong pools?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTE replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns water quality at th Kwun Tong Swimming Pool Complex and is in two parts. The first pa concerns the frequency at which swimming pool water samples are taken, an whether there are any differences in the pollution levels detected at differen times.
Samples of pool water at all Urban Council Swimming Pool Complex ar taken every hour throughout the period when pools are open to the public These samples are tested for the balance of acidity of the water (PH value) an the free residual chlorine in the water. Swimming pool water is treated wit chlorine to remove bacteria. Traces of chlorine in pool water indicates tha bacterial levels are insignificant. The free chlorine content in swimming po water is controlled automatically and maintained within a range of 0.5 parts p million to part per million. This range is recommended by the Government Hygiene Adviser as the best indicator of safe water quality, and is also i accordance with standards set by the World Health Organization.
Random samples of pool water are also taken monthly whilst the pools ar in operation. These are sent to the Government Laboratory for detaile bacteriological and chemical analysis.
has not recurred.
The second part of this question asks if there is any evidence that swimmers in Kwun Tong have had to travel to swimming pools complexes in Sham Shui Po due to long queues or polluted water in the Kwun Tong pools.
It follows from the earlier information that, since the pools in the Kwun Tong Complex are not polluted there is no evidence that any Kwun Tong swimmers have had to go to swimming pools in Sham Shui Po or other district because of pollution at Kwun Tong.
Turning to the issue of queuing and its effect on attendance: last year, Kwun Tong Swimming Pool complex was operated on 3 sessions daily, starting at 7 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7.45 p.m. from March to November. Swimmers who turn up shortly before the start of a session do queue to wait for entry to the pool preferring to wait rather than gain immediate entry at the end of the preceding session. Admission records show that these queues rarely take more than 15 minutes to clear after the admission gates are opened. Records also show that there were only 4 occasions in 1988 which the maximum admission capacity of the pool was reached and all such cases happened towards the end of a session. There is therefore no reason to believe that Kwun Tong swimmers were forced to swim at pools in other districts due to long queues or excessive demand.
For this swimming season, the Kwun Tong Swimming Pool and 9 other UC swimming pools will be operated on a single-session basis. Swimmers can enter the complex at any time during the opening hours. This should remove the forming at the start of cach session. artificial restraint on admissions, which in the past has resulted in queues
(Mr. Marvin K. T. CHEUNG arrived at 2.32 p.m.)
DR. THE HON. ELSIE TU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Chairman made by people living in Kwun Tong concerning the water quality or the queuing of Recreation Select Committee if he has any record of any complaint having been at the Swimming Pool?
record nor Department has given me any at this stage. But I would be happy to MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I haven't got any give a written reply.
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):--Mr. Chairman, may I ask whether it is the intention of Urban Council to use alternative methods of cleansing the water in swimming pools instead of the existing method of chlorination. I mean the new
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.