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which are locked up by that time. In this connection, I would like to ask if the Council has stipulated the exact time of closure for indoor games halls every day, and whether the staff are required to close all facilities before 11 p.m. If that is the case, is it possible to extend the opening hours for the convenience of hirers of the last session?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-The question is in two parts and I will answer each of them separately.
The first part of the question is whether the Council has stipulated the exact time of closure for indoor games halls and whether staff are required to close these facilities before 11 p.m.
All indoor games halls are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. These times are stipulated in the booking procedures and are posted in all our halls. We do sound a warning bell five minutes before the end of most sessions in order to alert players to clear the hall for the next session. This is laid down in the conditions of use to enable our staff to change equipment where necessary. For example, we may need to change the hall from a badminton court into a basketball court. Obviously, there is no need to do this at the end of the last session.
The last session ends at 11 p.m.-not before-and the halls close at 11.15 p.m. That gives the last users time to shower and change. If players have been asked to leave earlier, then that is a breach of regulations. The Department has instructed its staff that they should adhere to the proper times except in special circumstances.
The second part of the question is whether we might extend opening hours for the convenience of hirers using the last session.
Provided that staff adhere to the proper time-i.e. terminating the final session at 11 p.m. and closing the hall at 11.15 p.m. there should be no need for longer opening hours. As I have said, the Department will ensure that the proper times are observed.
3. MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):-The new public toilet located at Wu Nam Street, Aberdeen should have been completed but it is not yet open for public use. May I know the reasons for the delay in opening? In view of the high demand for such facilities, could the Council make arrangements for its early opening?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the opening of the new public toilet at Wu Nam Street, Aberdeen.
The new toilet at Wu Nam Street was substantially completed and handed over to the Department on 2 October 1990. Despite the handover, it could not be immediately opened to the public for use because of the need to rectify some minor defects. Whilst most of these defects were of a minor nature and could be rectified very quickly, however, there remained one major design problem. This was the discovery that the presence of a one metre high peripheral planter outside the toilet provided a possible footing to allow outsiders to have a view of the inside of the female toilet. The Architectural Services Department was thus asked to pursue permanent modification works in order to prevent any such possibility. However, such work would take several months to design and implement the necessary modifications, in order not to further delay the opening, the Department decided to adopt the interim measure of closing a few of the windows to ensure privacy of the female toilet. As a result, the toilet was opened to the public on 1 December 1990, a few days ago.
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask why was there such a defect in design, in other words, why was it possible for people to gain a view of the female toilet? Secondly, regarding the closure of several windows as an interim measure, will that actually affect the ventilation of the toilet and lead to people fainting or passing out in the toilet? Thirdly, what is exactly meant by permanent rectification measures and when will these be done?
(Mr. PAO Ping-wing arrived at 2.41 p.m.)
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):-The first question is why was there a design problem. I cannot answer this question on behalf of the Architectural Services Department because they are responsible for the design and the actual detailed design was not submitted to the Public Health Select Committee for discussion as a general practice. I think this design problem was probably because this planter surrounding the toilet was meant to beautify the external appearance of the toilet. But maybe the architect just through oversight had a planter built to such a height that would allow potential viewers or potential pedestrians to have a view free of charge inside the female toilet. The permanent rectification work now contemplated is to have some of the windows converted into louvre-type partitions and this would allow ventilation without allowing a direct view from outside. As regards the closure of a few windows and the ill effects on the ventilation, only a few windows are closed so there are still some windows to introduce fresh air. It was done as interim measures and also because of the winter season, I think the situation may not be as bad as it could have been if it were summer months.
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, if we want to have good ventilation and to open some of the windows, who will be responsible if there are Peeping Toms?
CHAIRMAN (in English):-This is a hypothetical question. You can answer it if you can.
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which are locked up by that time. In this connection, I would like to ask if the Council has stipulated the exact time of closure for indoor games halls every day, and whether the staff are required to close all facilities before 11 p.m. If that is the case, is it possible to extend the opening hours for the convenience of hirers of the last session?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-The question is in two parts and I will
answer each of them separately.
The first part of the question is whether the Council has stipulated the exact time of closure for indoor games halls and whether staff are required to close these facilities before 11 p.m.
All indoor games halls are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. These times are stipulated in the booking procedures and are posted in all our halls. We do sound a warning bell five minutes before the end of most sessions in order to
alert players to clear the hall for the next session. This is laid down in the conditions of use to enable our staff to change equipment where necessary. For example, we may need to change the hall from a badminton court into a basketball court. Obviously, there is no need to do this at the end of the last session.
The last session ends at 11 p.m.-not before-and the halls close at 11.15 p.m. That gives the last users time to shower and change. If players have been asked to leave carlier, then that is a breach of regulations. The Department has instructed its staff that they should adhere to the proper times except in special circumstances.
The second part of the question is whether we might extend opening hours for the convenience of hirers using the last session.
Provided that staff adhere to the proper time-i.e. terminating the final session at 11 p.m. and closing the hall at 11.15 p.m. there should be no need for longer opening hours. As I have said, the Department will ensure that the proper times are observed.
3. MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):-The new public toilet located at Wu Nam Street, Aberdeen should have been completed but it is not yet open for public use. May I know the reasons for the delay in opening? In view of the high demand for such facilities, could the Council make arrangements for its early opening?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the opening of the new public toilet at Wu Nam Street, Aberdeen.
The new toilet at Wu Nam Street was substantially completed and handed over to the Department on 2 October 1990. Despite the handover, it could not
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be immediately opened to public for use because of the need to rectify some minor defects. Whilst most of these defects were of a minor nature and could be rectified very quickly, however, there remained one major design problem. This was the discovery that the presence of a one metre high peripheral planter outside the toilet provided a possible footing to allow outsider to have a view of the inside of the female toilet. The Architectural Services Department was thus asked to pursue permanent modification works in order to prevent any such possibility. However, such work would take several months to design and implement the necessary modifications, in order not to further delay the opening, the Department decided to adopt the interim measure of closing a few of the windows to ensure privacy of the female toilet. As a result, the toilet was opened to the public on 1 December 1990, a few days ago.
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask why | was there such defect in design, in other words, why was it possible for people to gain a view of the female toilet? Secondly, regarding the closure of several windows as an interim measure, will that actually affect the ventilation of the toilet and lead to people fainting or passing out in the toilet? Thirdly, what is exactly meant by permanent rectification measures and when will these be done?
(Mr. PAO Ping-wing arrived at 2.41 p.m.)
MR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):---The first question is why was there a design problem. I cannot answer this question on behalf of the Architectural Services Department because they are responsible for the design and the actual detailed design was not submitted to the Public Health Select Committee for discussion as a general practice. I think this design problem was probably because this planter surrounding the toilet was meant to beautify the external | appearance of the toilet. But may be the architect just through the oversight have a planter built to such a height that would allow potential viewer or potential pedestrian to have a view free of charge inside the female toilet. The permanent rectification work now contemplated is to have some of the windows converted into louvre-type of partitions and this would allow the ventilation without allowing a direct view from outside. As regards the closure of a few windows and the ill effects on the ventilation, only a few windows are closed so there are still some windows to introduce as interim measures and also because of the winter season, I think the situation may not be as it could have been if it were summer months.
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, if we want to have good ventilation and to open some of the windows, who will be responsible if there are Peeping Toms?
CHAIRMAN (in English):-This is a hypothetical question. You can answer it if you can.
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