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The second follow-up question. There are bathing beaches used by the public both during the swimming seasons, such as Big Wave Bay Beach, where a lot of people wind-surf, but the toilets are closed during certain periods and cannot be used. Can we consider opening these toilets in winter as well for the convenience of the public?
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Lai. There are public toilets on some bathing beaches which are of the old design and being limited by the number of cubicles. They might not be able to cope with the utilization rate. Newly designed toilets have already taken this into account and are appropriately expanded.
As for the case of Big Wave Bay Beach, the toilets there are used not only by swimmers but also by wind-surfers. So there is a problem about using the toilets in winter. In normal circumstances, toilets inside changing rooms in non-swimming seasons are closed. In renovating the toilets on beaches with this sort of facilities, we should therefore consider providing two separate entrances so that even though the changing rooms are closed, the toilets will still open. This is something worth consideration and will be attended to by the Working Group.
Mr. Wong King-cheung (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman. I support the proposal you just put up for providing such an arrangement for new beach toilets. However, the policy on existing beach toilets also warrants revision because after closure, a lot of beaches are still used for activities such as sand-sculpturing, beach soccer etc and inconvenience is often caused to spectators and participants because the toilets there are closed. I therefore hope that the Chairman will make full use of the existing beach toilets. I am sure that although the beaches are closed, there are still staff on duty. The only thing is that there will be no more lifeguards. I consider that the toilets or changing rooms in the beach complexes should remain open in winter or non-swimming seasons.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): Good, in fact both recommendations are very good. The first one is to keep the toilets inside changing rooms of the beach complexes open in non-swimming seasons because the beaches are used not only by swimmers but also by wind-surfers and barbecue-goers. They might use the toilets and if they remain open, the problem will be solved.
The second one is about the toilets. I consider that the programme of public toilet renovation in future should also cover detailed improvements to public toilets on bathing beaches. At present, the programme is extended to the toilets in our cultural centres, markets and all the venues. It will further be extended to bathing beaches.
Mr. Lai Hok-lim (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman. I hope you will clarify the capacity in which you answered the question. Under Standing Order 12,
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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
579
The second follow-up question. There are bathing beaches used by the public both during the swimming seasons, such as Big Wave Bay Beach, where a lot of people wind-surf, but the toilets are closed during certain periods and cannot be used. Can we consider opening these toilets in winter as well for the convenience of the public?
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Lai. There are public toilets on some bathing beaches which are of the old design and being limited by the number of cubicles. They might not be able to cope with the utilization rate. Newly designed toilets have already taken this into account and are appropriately expanded.
As for the case of Big Wave Bay Beach, the toilets there are used not only by swimmers but also by wind-surfers. So there is a problem about using the toilets in winter. In normal circumstances, toilets inside changing rooms in non-swimming seasons are closed. In renovating the toilets on beaches with this sort of facilities, we should therefore consider providing two separate entrances so that even though the changing rooms are closed, the toilets will still open. This is something worth consideration and will be attended to by the Working Group.
Mr. Wong King-cheung (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman. I support the proposal you just put up for providing such an arrangement for new beach toilets. However, the policy on existing beach toilets also warrants revision because after closure, a lot of beaches are still used for activities such as sand-sculpturing, beach soccer etc and inconvenience is often caused to spectators and participants because the toilets there are closed. I therefore hope that the Chairman will make full use of the existing beach toilets. I am sure that although the beaches are closed, there are still staff on duty. The only thing is that there will be no more lifeguards. I consider that the toilets or changing rooms in the beach complexes should remain open in winter or non-swimming seasons.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Good, in fact both recommendations are very good. The first one is to keep the toilets inside changing rooms of the beach complexes open in non-swimming seasons because the beaches are used not only by swimmers but also by wind-surfers and barbecue-goers. They might use the toilets and if they remain open, the problem will be solved.
The second one is about the toilets. I consider that the programme of public toilet renovation in future should also cover detailed improvements to public toilets on bathing beaches. At present, the programme is extended to the toilets in our cultural centres, markets and all the venues. It will further be extended to bathing beaches.
Mr. Lai Hok-1.1M (în Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman. I hope you will clarify the capacity in which you answered the question. Under Standing Order 12,
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