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MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, the Urban Council will try its very best to assist the District Boards. It would be better if the District Boards can fund some of the maintenance expenses. We shall have to look at our own resources when District Boards come up with good projects. If resources permit, we shall assist. If we do not have enough funds, perhaps we can ask the Central Government to give us a greater share of the rates.
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, what I mean is: could the District Boards include some money in their own budgets and re-imburse the maintenance work done by our staff who are experts for the work but we do not have adequate financial provisions?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, well, if this is a suggestion, I am sure the Director of Urban Services who is sitting behind would definitely instruct his staff in putting across this message at the District Board meetings. We are, of course, attempting to work together in order to improve the environment and conditions in various districts. If we have sufficient resources, we are quite ready to subsidize them.
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, the problem does not lie on the fact that assistance should be provided to them or not, but rather District Boards simply go ahead with and finish certain projects and we have to be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep, cleansing, watering so on and so forth. In view of the fact that District Boards just go ahead with the projects and they do not have the necessary resources for subsequent maintenance and since the sitting-out areas for the elderly and rest gardens built by the District Boards are rather dirty, perhaps the Urban Council which is responsible for improving environment should take up the responsibility to clean up the areas. As far as I know, USD district staff have helped to do the job in the past.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—I don't think it is a question. I think Mr. Lam was answering the previous supplementary on behalf of Mr. Peter CHAN.
4.
MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):— It is recently noted that children sometimes run into play equipment accidentally while playing in UC parks/gardens because individual sets of the equipment are very close to one another. I would like to know how the Council decides the number of sets of the play equipment to be installed in a park/garden? If there is any specified distance set between 2 sets of the equipment? What are the safety standards for the play equipment? Could I also be enlightened on the following points:
(a) Are these sets of play equipment installed in parks/gardens designed by professionals who also supervise the installation work so as to ensure that these facilities conform to safety standards?
(b) Will the Department inspect the existing play equipment to check the safety standards in order to avoid recurrence of the above mentioned accidents?
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(c) Are these sets of play equipment inspected regularly by professionals? How long does it normally take for the damaged equipment to be repaired or replaced?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows (in English):—Mr. Chairman, the question concerns the Council's play equipment. The first part asks about spacing and safety standards. The second is about installation and inspection.
In deciding the number of sets of play equipment to be installed in a park or garden, the Department takes into account the dimensions and safety margins of the sets of equipment against the area available for housing them.
Safety standards for each piece of play equipment are recommended by the manufacturer and the Department ensures that these are complied with. These standards and guidelines include clearances of between 1.5 and 2 metres around pieces of equipment. Members can rest assured that all play equipment installed in the Council's parks or gardens conforms with these recognized standards. To further enhance safety in play, the Council has an ongoing programme of upgrading its playgrounds and installing safety matting.
Play equipment chosen for the Council is designed by reputable overseas manufacturers and, in most cases, supplied by them direct. The equipment is installed either by the Architectural Services Department, or by the agent authorized by the manufacturers. In either case, the Architectural Services Department ensures that the installation and safety measures are up to the standards set by the manufacturers.
Play equipment is regularly inspected by our departmental staff. Inspections are done in accordance with the Department's guidelines derived from the safety checklist of the National Playing Fields Association of the United Kingdom. Visual examinations are carried out every other day and checks for hidden faults (such as metal fatigue) are carried out once every four days.
Once faults are identified, the equipment is roped off immediately and a warning notice is displayed. Repair work usually starts within two weeks of the faults being identified, and is completed quickly. If any damaged equipment is found to be beyond economical repair, it is removed and replaced as soon as possible, and generally within three months.
In the past 12 months, the Department has received only 1 letter of complaint and there have been only 5 cases of minor injury reported. None of these cases were attributed to the design or maintenance of play areas and no claims have been lodged with the Department. We therefore consider our house is in good order in this respect. Nevertheless, we will continue to be vigilant in the interests of the public.
5. MR. DANIEL WONG KWOK-TUNG asked the following question (in English): The holder of a fixed pitch newspaper hawker licence No. 005506 who,
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):-—Mr. Chairman, the Urban Council will try its very best to assist the District Boards. It would be better if the District Boards can fund some of the maintenance expenses. We shall have to look at our own resources when District Boards come up with good projects. If resources permit, we shall assist. If we do not have enough funds, perhaps we can ask the Central Government to give us a greater share of the rates.
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, what I mean is: could the District Boards include some money in their own budgets and re-imburse the maintenance work done by our staff who are experts for the work but we do not have adequate financial provisions?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, well, if this is a suggestion, I am sure the Director of Urban Services who is sitting behind would definitely instruct his staff in putting across this message at the District Board meetings. We are, of course, attempting to work together in order to improve the environment and conditions in various districts. If we have sufficient resources, we are quite ready to subsidize them.
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the problem does not lie on the fact that assistance should be provided to them or not, but rather District Boards simply go ahead with and finish certain projects and we have to be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep, cleansing, watering so on and so forth. In view of the fact that District Boards just go ahead with the projects and they do not have the necessary resources for subsequent maintenance and since the sitting-out areas for the elderly and rest gardens built by the District Boards are rather dirty, perhaps the Urban Council which is reponsible for improving environment should take up the responsibility to clean up the areas. As far as I know, USD district staff have helped to do the job in the past.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—I don't think it is a question. I think Mr. Lam was answering the previous supplementary on behalf of Mr. Peter CHAN.
4.
MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):— It is recently noted that children sometimes run into play equipment accidentally while playing in UC parks/gardens because individual sets of the equipment are very close to one another. I would like to know how the Council decides the number of sets of the play equipment to be installed in a park/garden? If there is any specified distance set between 2 sets of the equipment? What are the safety standards for the play equipment? Could I also be enlightened on the following points:
(a) Are these sets of play equipment installed in parks/gardens designed by professionals who also supervise the installation work so as to ensure that these facilities conform to safety standards?
(b) Will the Department inspect the existing play equipment to check the safety standards in order to avoid recurrence of the above mentioned accidents?
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(c) Are these sets of play equipment inspected regularly by professionals? How long does it normally take for the damaged equipment to be repaired or replaced?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the question concerns the Council's play equipment. The first part asks about spacing and safety standards. The second is about installation and inspection.
In deciding the number of sets of play equipment to be installed in a park or garden, the Department takes into account the dimensions and safety margins of the sets of equipment against the area available for housing them.
Safety standards for each piece of play equipment are recommended by the manufacturer and the Department ensures that these are complied with. These standards and guidelines include clearances of between 1.5 and 2 metres around pieces of equipment. Members can rest assured that all play equipment installed in the Council's parks or gardens conforms with these recognized standards. To further enhance safety in play, the Council has an ongoing programme of upgrading its playgrounds and installing safety matting.
Play equipment chosen for the Council is designed by reputable overseas manufacturers and, in most cases, supplied by them direct. The equipment is installed either by the Architectural Services Department, or by the agent authorized by the manufacturers. In either case, the Architectural Services Department ensures that the installation and safety measures are up to the standards set by the manufacturers.
Play equipment is regularly inspected by our departmental staff. Inspections are done in accordance with the Department's guidelines derived from the safety checklist of the National Playing Fields Association of the United Kingdom. Visual examinations are carried out every other day and checks for hidden faults (such as metal fatique) are carried out once every four days.
Once faults are identified, the equipment is roped off immediately and a warning notice is displayed. Repair work usually starts within two weeks of the faults being identified, and is completed quickly. If any damaged equipment is found to be beyond economical repair, it is removed and replaced as soon as possible, and generally within three months.
In the past 12 months, the Department has received only 1 letter of complaint and there have been only 5 cases of minor injury reported. None of these cases were attributed to the design or maintenance of play areas and no claims have been lodged with the Department. We therefore consider our house is in good order in this respect. Nevertheless we will continue to be vigilant in the interests of the public.
5. MR. DANIEL WONG KWOK-TUNG asked the following question (in English): The holder of a fixed pitch newspaper hawker licence No. 005506 who,
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