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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese):—Mr. CHAN keeps harping on the point that future improvement would be made. In fact, in paragraph 5, the point that it is not considered necessary to provide facilities for the elderly people is incorrect because our population is ageing and the world figure is about 12% and in Hong Kong, it is about 14% already and will gradually rise to 15%. I think that the Recreation Select Committee should express concern to the elderly in future and to adjust the actual need accordingly. I wonder if the Select Committee will consider this point?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):-Persons who lodge complaints for the inadequacy of recreational facilities for the elderly people would not admit that they are elderly people. I think this is a rather good thing. I do agree that we should not provide separate facilities for the elderly people. Some persons in their forties seem to be very weak and fragile already and if you ask them to do some exercise with somebody in the sixties then they can't make it. So I still maintain the point that we should not provide facilities specifically for the elderly and the facilities should be flexible enough to cater for all ages. I wonder how many of our fellow Councillors can do push-up sixty times. I agree that we should provide good facilities which it can suit those who are weaker or stronger. Since those who are elderly people would not admit that they are old, so it is better for us to provide facilities which are suitable for all aged groups. It is inconvenient and difficult to differentiate the programmes catered for people aged 53 or 52. It is therefore preferable to let them decide which categories they belong instead of earmarking facilities specifically for the elderly.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):---Mr. CHAN in his reply says that it is not considered necessary to provide separate facilities for the elderly. We should discuss the issue if we hold different views from the department. Of course, some facilities are for all ages, however, there may be a greater demand from the elderly on specific kinds of facilities. In fact, we have discussed this at the Eastern District Board meeting. When the 5-year capital work programmes was discussed, it was agreed that the points would be taken up by the Council for there might be different requirements in different districts. Some might ask for more for the elderly because there is a shortfall. For instance, some facilities may not be easily accessible to the elderly. If we can provide facilities for the elderly taking into consideration the clement weather then they will really get to those places and take a rest and play chess or Tai Chi. Since special programmes have been provided for young people and also for children, perhaps we should once again review what we are providing for the elderly people so that we shall be able to have a balanced provision of facilities in different districts. I would like to ask could the Recreation Select Committee consider reviewing the situation?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese): The Recreation Select Committee will definitely be reviewing this. My view is that there should be more activities for those who are not so vigorous physically. We should maintain the activities provided for the young people and at the same time increase activities for the elderly. For instance, perhaps Urban Councillors can also go along to play chess in parks with elderly people whom Councillors could ask for a vote.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I wonder if the Recreation Select Committee will consider providing more toilets in parks and playgrounds because if there is a call of nature, elderly people can get to toilets quickly, which should be very close to facilities provided for them. Will this point be considered?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):—I think the Council has provided toilets on every floor of this Chamber because we are rather old now. This point of course will be considered.
5.
MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—I have recently been given to know that the new method of admission to swimming pools by sessions introduced by the Department is much appreciated by the swimmers. This has proved the efforts made by the Department in improving its services. However, I find that there are still some flaws that have been existing for a long time about the Urban Council swimming pools. For example, the surface of the passages along the pools, which are paved with ceramic tiles, is scorching to the feet in the burning sun. Could the Council make any improvement in this respect, e.g. by putting some plastic mats on the floor, or by spraying water frequently so as to keep the passages clean and to save swimmers the pain of walking on the iron-hot floor?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, this question asks whether the Council might find ways of alleviating the discomfort caused to bathers by the ceramic tiles used to pave the decks of the Council's swimming pools, perhaps by spraying water onto them or by putting plastic mats on the 'floor'.
To ensure the safety of users, the Council has paved the decks of most of its swimming pools with non-slip tiles. Unfortunately, these cannot dissipate heat as is desirable and this sometimes gives rise to the problems in question.
A possible remedy is artificial turf like that used at the outdoor pools in Kowloon Park. This disperses heat more effectively than the non-slip tiles, but it must be kept wet at all times, either by water dripping onto it from bathers or by spraying. Otherwise, it also becomes uncomfortably hot. A further problem with artificial turf is that it requires frequent and laborious cleansing because it is prone to bacterial and algae growth. Other pools have much larger floor areas than Kowloon Park and would therefore need more turf. That would be expensive to install and maintain.
Plastic mats are not recommended because they become slippery when wet. They tend to wrinkle and bubble, and can easily cause accidents.
Pool staff do spray the tiles when they are particularly dry and hot. But to do this on a regular basis would be a waste of resources because spraying is both labour intensive and time consuming.
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Page 36
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese):—Mr. CHAN keeps harping on the point that future improvement would be made. In fact, in paragraph 5, the point that it is not considered necessary to provide facilities for the elderly people is incorrect because our population is ageing and the world figure is about 12% and in Hong Kong, it is about 14% already and will gradually rise to 15%. I think that the Recreation Select Committee should express concern to the elderly in future and to adjust the actual need accordingly. I wonder if the Select Committee will consider this point?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):-Persons who lodge complaints for the inadequacy of recreational facilities for the elderly people would not admit that they are elderly people. I think this is a rather good thing. I do agree that we should not provide separate facilities for the elderly people. Some persons in their forties seem to be very weak and fragile already and if you ask them to do some exercise with somebody in the sixties then they can't make it. So I still maintain the point that we should not provide facilities specifically for the elderly and the facilities should be flexible enough to cater for all ages. I wonder how many of our fellow Councillors can do push-up sixty times. I agree that we should provide good facilities which it can suit those who are weaker or stronger. Since those who are elderly people would not admit that they are old, so it is better for us to provide facilities which are suitable for all aged groups. It is inconvenient and difficult to differentiate the programmes catered for people aged 53 or 52. It is therefore preferable to let them decide which categories they belong instead of earmarking facilities specifically for the elderly.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):---Mr. CHAN in his reply says that it is not considered necessary to provide separate facilities for the elderly. We should discuss the issue if we hold different views from the department. Of course, some facilities are for all ages, however, there may be a greater demand from the elderly on specific kinds of facilities. In fact, we have discussed this at the Eastern District Board meeting. When the 5-year capital work programmes was discussed, it was agreed that the points would be taken up by the Council for there might be different requirements in different districts. Some might ask for more for the elderly because there is a shortfall. For instance, some facilities may not be easily accessible to the elderly. If we can provide facilities for the elderly taking into consideration the clement weather then they will really get to those places and take a rest and play chess or Tai Chi. Since special programmes have been provided for young people and also for children, perhaps we should once again review what we are providing for the elderly people so that we shall be able to have a balanced provision of facilities in different districts. I would like to ask could the Recreation Select Committee consider reviewing the situation?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese): The Recreation Select Committee will definitely be reviewing this. My view is that there should be more activities for those who are not so vigorous physically. We should maintain the activities provided for the young people and at the same time increase activities for the
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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65
elderly. For instance, perhaps Urban Councillors can also go along to play chess in parks with elderly people whom Councillors could ask for a vote.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I wonder if the Recreation Select Committee will consider providing more toilets in parks and playgrounds because if there is a call of nature, elderly people can get to toilets quickly, which should be very close to facilities provided for them. Will this point be considered?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):—I think the Council has provided toilets on every floor of this Chamber because we are rather old now. This point of course will be considered.
5.
MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—I have recently been given to know that the new method of admission to swimming pools by sessions introduced by the Department is much appreciated by the swimmers. This has proved the efforts made by the Department in improving its services. However, I find that there are still some flaws that have been existing for a long time about the Urban Council swimming pools. For example, the surface of the passages along the pools, which are paved with ceramic tiles, is scorching to the feet in the burning sun. Could the Council make any improvement in this respect, e.g. by putting some plastic mats on the floor, or by spraying water frequently so as to keep the passages clean and to save swimmers the pain of walking on the iron-hot floor?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, this question asks whether the Council might find ways of alleviating the discomfort caused to bathers by the ceramic tiles used to pave the decks of the Council's swimming pools, perhaps by spraying water onto them or by putting plastic mats on the 'floor'.
To ensure the safety of users, the Council has paved the decks of most of its swimming pools with non-slip tiles. Unfortunately, these cannot dissipate heat as is desirable and this sometimes gives rise to the problems in question.
A possible remedy is artificial turf like that used at the outdoor pools in Kowloon Park. This disperses heat more effectively than the non-slip tiles, but it must be kept wet at all times, either by water dripping onto it from bathers or by spraying. Otherwise, it also becomes uncomfortably hot. A further problem with artificial turf is that it requires frequent and laborious cleansing because it is prone to bacterial and algae growth. Other pools have much larger floor areas than Kowloon Park and would therefore need more turf. That would be expensive to install and maintain.
Plastic mats are not recommended because they become slippery when wet. They tend to wrinkle and bubble, and can easily cause accidents.
Pool staff do spray the tiles when they are particularly dry and hot. But to do this on a regular basis would be a waste of resources because spraying is both labour intensive and time consuming.
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