1996 — Page 435

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

479

ensure that people can take advantage of the facilities. Of course, if we put in the motion the request for standards higher than the norm, Members may find it hard to interpret.

On the other hand, apart from complying with standards, we need to ensure better management of the standards. We should also go into the reasons why some of the Council facilities are still not up to standard. In fact, two ways to do so are possible, firstly, by setting out requirements in the Buildings Planning Standards and secondly, by adopting as we now do a design manual. The difference between the existing manual and the one to be suggested is that the former is for people to follow. People wishing to go beyond the manual can submit design plans to the Buildings Department for its committee to scrutinize. If, after a plan is approved by the committee, it is found to be not strictly followed and the applicant is asked to comply with the design manual and yet he is found not to be following advice or not doing well or the sort, such situations are not protected by law.

If regulations are set out in the Buildings Planning Standards, the Director of the Buildings Department will have the power of enforcement. For example, the Director can order for the clearance of illegal structures and declare it illegal for buildings not to have windows. So, I feel that long term assistance is necessary in order to achieve standards and to provide convenience to disabled persons. Apart from having a design manual, we should incorporate parts of the manual in the Buildings Planning Standards to make it effective. This way, a fraction of our 6 million people will be able to enjoy Council facilities and other public venues within private places. I support Mr. Li Wah-ming's motion.

Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the principle of equality affords fair and equal enjoyment of public facilities to the able-bodied and the disabled of all age groups, both genders and different social and economic levels. I do not think we need to discuss this principle in our civilized society of Hong Kong today.

Apart from providing multi-faceted cultural, entertainment and recreational facilities for our citizens, the Urban Council also provide us with recreational venues, cultural facilities and urban facilities like markets. As Council venues completed in the early days, or even those constructed in the last ten years, were not designed to cater to the needs of the disabled, they have experienced a lot of inconveniences. Let me cite an obvious example. In some old type Urban Council markets, the access roads are usually very narrow and wheelchair or clutch users have difficulty going through them. There are very often no special designs for escalators or lifts to facilitate people with physical or other disabilities. Visually handicapped or the blind and deaf have difficulty with floor numbers. Many disabled people are therefore forced to give up the use of such facilities.

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 479 ensure that people can take advantage of the facilities. Of course, if we put in the motion the request for standards higher than the norm, Members may find it hard to interpret. On the other hand, apart from complying with standards, we need to ensure better management of the standards. We should also go into the reasons why some of the Council facilities are still not up to standard. In fact, two ways to do so are possible, firstly, by setting out requirements in the Buildings Planning Standards and secondly, by adopting as we now do a design manual. The difference between the existing manual and the one to be suggested is that the former is for people to follow. People wishing to go beyond the manual can submit design plans to the Buildings Department for its committee to scrutinize. If, after a plan is approved by the committee, it is found to be not strictly followed and the applicant is asked to comply with the design manual and yet he is found not to be following advice or not doing well or the sort, such situations are not protected by law. If regulations are set out in the Buildings Planning Standards, the Director of the Buildings Department will have the power of enforcement. For example, the Director can order for the clearance of illegal structures and declare it illegal for buildings not to have windows. So, I feel that long term assistance is necessary in order to achieve standards and to provide convenience to disabled persons. Apart from having a design manual, we should incorporate parts of the manual in the Buildings Planning Standards to make it effective. This way, a fraction of our 6 million people will be able to enjoy Council facilities and other public venues within private places. I support Mr. Li Wah-ming's motion. Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the principle of equality affords fair and equal enjoyment of public facilities to the able-bodied and the disabled of all age groups, both genders and different social and economic levels. I do not think we need to discuss this principle in our civilized society of Hong Kong today. Apart from providing multi-faceted cultural, entertainment and recreational facilities for our citizens, the Urban Council also provide us with recreational venues, cultural facilities and urban facilities like markets. As Council venues completed in the early days, or even those constructed in the last ten years, were not designed to cater to the needs of the disabled, they have experienced a lot of inconveniences. Let me cite an obvious example. In some old type Urban Council markets, the access roads are usually very narrow and wheelchair or clutch users have difficulty going through them. There are very often no special designs for escalators or lifts to facilitate people with physical or other disabilities. Visually handicapped or the blind and deaf have difficulty with floor numbers. Many disabled people are therefore forced to give up the use of such facilities. Page 435 of 498 Page 435 of 498 Page 435 Page 436

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Page 435 of 498 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 479 ensure that people can take advantage of the facilities. Of course, if we put in the motion the request for standards higher than the norm, Members may find it hard to interpret. On the other hand, apart from complying with standards, we need to ensure bbetter management of the standards. We should also go into the reasons why some of the Council facilities are still not up to standard. In fact, two ways to odo so are possible, firstly, by setting out requirements in the Buildings Planning Standards and secondly, by adopting as we now do a design manual. The difference between the existing manual and the one to be suggested is that the former is for people to follow. People wishing to go beyond the manual can submit design plans to the Buildings Department for its committee to scrutinize. If, after a plan is approved by the committee, it is found to be not strictly followed and the applicant is asked to comply with the design manual and yet he is found not to be following advice or not doing well or the sort, such situations are not protected by law. If regulations are set out in the Buildings Planning Standards, the Director of the Buildings Department will have the power of enforcement. For example, the Director can order for the clearance of illegal structures and declare it illegal for buildings not to have windows. So, I feel that long term assistance is necessary in order to achieve standards and to provide convenience to disabled persons. Apart from having a design manual, we should incorporate parts of the manual in the Buildings Planning Standards to make it effective. This way, a fraction of our 6 million people will be able to enjoy Council facilities and other public venues within private places. I support Mr. Li Wah-ming's motion. Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the principle of equality affords fair and equal enjoyment of public facilities to the able-bodied and the disabled of all age groups, both genders and different social and economic levels. I do not think we need to discuss this principle in our civilized society of Hong Kong today. Apart from providing multi-faceted cultural, entertainment and recreational facilities for our citizens, the Urban Council also provide us with recreational venues, cultural facilities and urban facilities like markets. As Council venues completed in the early days, or even those constructed in the last ten years, were not designed to cater the needs of the disabled, they have experienced a lot of inconveniences. Let me cite an obvious example. In some old type Urban Council markets, the access roads are usually very narrow and wheelchair or clutch users have difficulty going through them. There are very often no special designs for escalators or lifts to facilitate people with physical or other disabilities. Visually handicapped or the blind and deaf have difficulty with floor numbers. Many disabled people are therefore forced to give up the use of such facilities. Page 435 of 498 Page 435 of 498 Page 435Page 436

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Page 435 of 498

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

479

ensure that people can take advantage of the facilities. Of course, if we put in the motion the request for standards higher than the norm, Members may find it hard to interpret.

On the other hand, apart from complying with standards, we need to ensure bbetter management of the standards. We should also go into the reasons why some of the Council facilities are still not up to standard. In fact, two ways to odo so are possible, firstly, by setting out requirements in the Buildings Planning Standards and secondly, by adopting as we now do a design manual. The difference between the existing manual and the one to be suggested is that the former is for people to follow. People wishing to go beyond the manual can submit design plans to the Buildings Department for its committee to scrutinize. If, after a plan is approved by the committee, it is found to be not strictly followed and the applicant is asked to comply with the design manual and yet he is found not to be following advice or not doing well or the sort, such situations are not protected by law.

Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the principle of equality affords fair and equal enjoyment of public facilities to the able-bodied and the disabled of all age groups, both genders and different social and economic levels. I do not think we need to discuss this principle in our civilized society of Hong Kong today.

Apart from providing multi-faceted cultural, entertainment and recreational facilities for our citizens, the Urban Council also provide us with recreational venues, cultural facilities and urban facilities like markets. As Council venues completed in the early days, or even those constructed in the last ten years, were not designed to cater the needs of the disabled, they have experienced a lot of inconveniences. Let me cite an obvious example. In some old type Urban Council markets, the access roads are usually very narrow and wheelchair or clutch users have difficulty going through them. There are very often no special designs for escalators or lifts to facilitate people with physical or other disabilities. Visually handicapped or the blind and deaf have difficulty with floor numbers. Many disabled people are therefore forced to give up the use of such facilities.

1996 — Page 435

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