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Page 224 of 485
4.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
199
MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN moved the following motion: 'RESOLVED that this Council formulates a policy to install air-conditioning system in all the newly constructed Urban Council markets; and also to study the conversion of the present ventilation system into air-conditioning system in certain existing Urban Council markets.'
He said (in Cantonese):—I move the motion standing in my name to call upon the Urban Council to formulate a set of new policies to install air-conditioning system in all newly-constructed markets and study the feasibility of converting the ventilation system into air-conditioning system in existing U.C. markets,
I don't know whether Mr. Chairman and Members often visit the market. No? I understand that poor ventilation in markets causes unpleasant smells such as those in the poultry stalls and fish stalls. In summer, body odours from the sweating crowd make you feel sick. The existing design of U.C. markets is more or less the same as that in the 60's and 70's which pays no attention to air-conditioning. Our society has become more advanced and many public places are now air-conditioned, but regretfully, our markets are not.
In fact, air-conditioned market is nothing new in Hong Kong. The Regional Council has built such markets but the Urban Council has not. At the last meeting of the Market Sub-Committee, Members agree that our newly constructed markets should be installed with air-conditioning systems. An air-conditioned market will provide a better working environment to the vendors and the customers will feel more comfortable shopping there. On top of that, environmental hygiene will be improved. Management work of such markets will also be easier for the Departmental officers as foul smell and filthy water will no longer be a problem. The enclosed design also enhances better law and order. Some people may think that air-conditioning will lead to increases in costs and rent, which will eventually be passed on to the customers. In fact, as society progresses, this facility can only be taken as an upgrading of our standard of living. If U.C. markets are air-conditioned, more customers will patronize stall-holders instead of unlicensed hawkers on the street. Higher competiveness and larger turnover will offset the increased costs. There are also people who argue that installation of air-conditioning system in markets is very expensive and may be opposed by existing stall-holders. In my motion, I did not say that all old markets should be provided with air-conditioning system but I called for a feasibility study to be carried out for converting ventilation system to air-conditioning. If stall-holders in a particular market think that conversion is unnecessary, the Council will not insist despite the fact that air-conditioning is the trend. So, Members please consider my point: provision of air-conditioning can improve our markets and upgrade the quality of life in the urban areas.
Mr. Suen Kai-Cheong (in Cantonese):—It is a fact that Hong Kong's quality of life is improving and the public have higher expectations of U.C. facilities. It is because of this that market facilities, which have a close bearing on everybody, are
Page 224 of 485
Page 224 of 485
Page 224 of 485
Page 224 of 485
4.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
199
MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN moved the following motion: 'RESOLVED that this Council formulates a policy to install air-conditioning system in all the newly constructed Urban Council markets; and also to study the conversion of the present ventilation system into air-conditioning system in certain existing Urban Council markets.'
He said (in Cantonese):—I move the motion standing in my name to call upon the Urban Council to formulate a set of new policies to install air-conditioning system in all newly-constructed markets and study the feasibility of converting the ventilation system into air-conditioning system in existing U.C. markets,
I don't know whether Mr. Chairman and Members often visit the market. No? I understand that poor ventilation in markets causes unpleasant smells such as those in the poultry stalls and fish stalls. In summer, body odours from the sweating crowd make you feel sick. The existing design of U.C. markets is more or less the same as that in the 60's and 70's which pays no attention to air-conditioning. Our society has become more advanced and many public places are now air- conditioned, but regretfully, our markets are not.
In fact, air-conditioned market is nothing new in Hong Kong. The Regional Council has built such markets but the Urban Council has not. At the last meeting of the Market Sub-Committee, Members agree that our newly constructed markets should be installed with air-conditioning systems. An air-conditioned market will provide a better working environment to the vendors and the customers will feel more comfortable shopping there. On top of that, environmental hygiene will be improved. Management work of such markets will also be easier for the Departmental officers as foul smell and filthy water will no longer be a problem. The enclosed design also enhances better law and order. Some people may think that air-conditioning will lead to increases in costs and rent, which will eventually be passed on to the customers. In fact, as society progresses, this facility can only be taken as an upgrading of our standard of living. If U.C. markets are air- conditioned, more customers will patronize stall-holders instead of unlicensed hawkers on the street. Higher competiveness and larger turnover will offset the increased costs. There are also people who argue that installation of air- conditioning system in markets is very expensive and may be opposed by existing stall-holders. In my motion. I did not say that all old markets should be provided with air-conditioning system but I called for a feasibility study to be carried out for converting ventilation system to air-conditioning. If stall-holders in a particular market think that conversion is unnecessary, the Council will not insist despite the fact that air-conditioning is the trend. So, Members please consider my point: provision of air-conditioning can improve our markets and upgrade the quality of life in the urban areas.
Mr. Suen Kal-Cheong (in Cantonese);—It is a fact that Hong Kong's quality of life is improving and the public have higher expectations of U.C. facilities. It is because of this that market facilities, which have a close bearing on everybody, are
Page 224 of 485
Page 224 of 485
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