SDC Paper No. 1/2020 (for information) Southern District Council Report from the Area Committees Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on the major items discussed during the Area Committees meetings. Items Discussed I. East Area Committee (EAC) Matters Discussed at the Meeting Held in September 2019 (a) Overgrown Weeds on Roadside (locations in the Vicinity of Stanley, Chung Hom Kok and Tai Tam) A member said that there were overgrown weeds on the roadside in the vicinity of Stanley, Chung Hom Kok and Tai Tam, affecting the safety of pedestrians, and the situation of Stanley Ma Hang Park had been particularly serious. Hence, the member requested that the relevant department should deploy additional cleansing workers to carry out the weed-cutting work at the aforesaid roads. 1 (b) Construction of Walkway along the Waterfront near Jumbo Pier Connecting Sham Wan and Ocean Court A member suggested at the last meeting that a walkway be constructed along the waterfront near Jumbo Pier connecting Sham Wan and Ocean Court. The relevant department responded that there was no plan yet to develop a walkway at the aforesaid location. (c) Proposed Addition of Crash Barriers to a Section of 46 Tai Tam Road (Lamp Post Nos. 38680-38682) At the last meeting, a member suggested adding crash barriers to a section of 46 Tai Tam Road (Lamp Post Nos. 38680-38682). The Transport Department (TD) responded that the effect of installing crash barriers at the aforesaid road section would not be significant, but TD would consider adding a “Slow” traffic sign to remind drivers to drive carefully. (d) Clearance of Fallen Trees Near Big Wave Bay Road (near Lamp Post No. 27667) A member requested at the last meeting that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) should deploy staff to clear the fallen trees near Big Wave Bay Road (near Lamp Post No. 27667). FEHD responded that the trees at the aforesaid location had been properly cleared. (e) Safety Advice for Dragon’s Back Hiking Trail, Shek O and Adding Safety Warning Signs in Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve A member suggested at the last meeting that the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) should add safety warning signs in the vicinity of the Dragon’s Back Hiking Trail of Shek O and Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve. AFCD responded that safety warning signs had been installed at some suitable locations of the Dragon’s Back Hiking Trail in Shek O. It would also consider adding warning signs in the Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve to remind visitors to beware of their own safety. 2 (f) Request Removal or Cancellation of Nam Long Shan Road Refuse Collection Point A member suggested at the last meeting that FEHD should implement the removal or cancellation of the Nam Long Shan Road Refuse Collection Point (RCP) as soon as possible. FEHD responded that in view of the fact that the public and organisations still had a need for the aforesaid RCP, FEHD decided to retain the RCP. A member said that he was persuading the affected organisations to withdraw their objecting views. If there was any progress, he would request FEHD to continue following up the above matter. (g) Requests for Improving the Design of NWFB No. 9 Bus Stop at Shek O Road and Introducing a Special Departure of NWFB Route No. 9 A member suggested at the last meeting that the design of the NWFB No. 9 Bus Stop (opposite to 21 Shek O Road) should be improved, and requested the introduction of a special departure of NWFB Route No. 9. TD responded that due to the constraint of the surrounding terrain, it was difficult to widen the footpath of the bus stop. Moreover, TD was discussing with the New World First Bus Services Limited the introduction of a special departure of NWFB Route No. 9, to be departed from Shau Kei Wan at 5:42 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays) and routed via Big Wave Bay. Any further progress would be reported to the EAC again. (h) Proposed Designation of a Road Section in Stanley as No Cycling Zone on Mondays to Fridays A member suggested at the last meeting that TD should designate a road section in Stanley as No Cycling Zone on Mondays to Fridays. TD responded that the condition of roads in Stanley was suitable for cyclists, and thus TD had no plan to set up a No Cycling Zone at the present stage. During the meeting, another member suggested that the road sections leading from Stanley and the Bays Area to Tai Tam Road should be designated as No Cycling Zone. TD was also requested to follow up the members’ proposals. 3 Matters discussed at meeting held in December 2019 (a) Roadside Weed-cutting in Stanley, Chung Hom Kok and Tai Tam Road At the last meeting, a member requested the Highways Department (HyD) and Ma Hang Estate Property Management Services Office to deploy additional manpower for cutting the weeds on the roadside in Stanley, Chung Hom Kok and Tai Tam Road. HyD and Ma Hang Estate Property Management Services Office said that weed-cutting work had been completed at the aforesaid road sections in mid October and early November 2019 respectively. (b) Proposed Repaving of Footpath and Addition of Fences at No. 9 Bus Stop at Shek O Road At the last meeting, a member suggested repaving the footpath for No. 9 Bus Stop at Shek O Road with addition of fences. In its reply to EAC, TD said that they were seeking advice from the relevant department at the present stage. Subject to endorsement of the proposal, the works would commence accordingly. (c) Proposed Designation of all Roads in Repulse Bay and the Road Section of Tai Tam Road leading to Stanley as No Cycling Zone during Peak Hours on Mondays to Fridays At the last meeting, a member suggested that all roads in Repulse Bay and the road section of Tai Tam Road leading to Stanley should be designated as No Cycling Zone on Mondays to Fridays. TD responded that the condition of the aforesaid road sections was suitable for cycling, and thus TD had no plan to set up a No Cycling Zone at the present stage. A member proposed that TD be requested again to consider designating the aforesaid road sections as No Cycling Zone during morning and afternoon peak hours on Mondays to Fridays. 4 (d) Request Removal or Cancellation of Nam Long Shan Road RCP A member enquired about the progress of the proposed removal or cancellation of Nam Long Shan Road RCP. Representative of FEHD responded that since a residential care home objected to the said proposal and there was still actual demand for the RCP, FEHD had no plan to remove or cancel the RCP at the present stage. Another member requested FEHD to provide the EAC with the daily amount of refuse collected by the RCP. He also hoped that FEHD would help liaise with the responsible person who objected to the proposal in order to seek the objector’s consent for disclosure of his/her personal data, such that the EAC members could persuade the relevant objector to withdraw his/her objecting views. (e) Traffic Problem in Stanley A member said that the 2019 Christmas Market held on 7, 8, 14 and 15 December 2019 had caused a substantial increase in traffic flow in Stanley on Saturdays and Sundays, and that the illegal parking problem of private vehicles was very serious. Hence, the Police was requested to deploy additional manpower during the 2019 Christmas Market held on 21 and 22 December 2019 in order to cope with the illegal parking problem. (f) Mosquito Problem in Tai Tam Tuk Village A member said that mosquito bleeding problem was serious in Tai Tam Tuk Village. FEHD was requested to deploy staff to carry out anti-mosquito work at the aforesaid location. (g) Traffic Congestion near the Junction of Pak Pat Shan Road and Tai Tam Road A member said that the traffic condition at the junction of Pak Pat Shan Road and Tai Tam Road was very congested during the peak hours every morning. The member concerned hoped that TD could work out a solution for improvement. 5 (h) Problem of Refuse Accumulation near the Hillside opposite to Redhill Plaza and along the Roads of Turtle Cove A member said that refuse had accumulated near the hillside opposite to Redhill Plaza and along the roads of Turtle Cove. FEHD was asked to deploy additional manpower and urge its outsourced cleansing contractors to enhance clearance. (i) Licensed Ferry Service between Aberdeen and Cheung Chau A member said that TD had received an application from Maris Ferry Service Limited, operator of the ferry service between Aberdeen and Cheung Chau, requesting to return the ferry service licence and terminate the ferry service of the aforesaid route on 31 December 2019. To attract operators to bid for the said ferry service, TD would relax the requirements for the ferry service, and invite tenders again in early December 2019. Members suggested that TD offer additional concessionary terms such as granting of subsidies for fuel expenses, so as to attract interested parties to bid for the operation of the ferry service. (j) Fun Party for the Elderly in Southern District East Area The “Fun Party for the Elderly in Southern District East Area”, organised by the EAC and sponsored by the Southern District Council and the Home Affairs Department, was successfully held on 11 December 2019 (Wednesday) at Hsin Kuang Banquet Hall, 3/F of Aberdeen Centre (Block 3) from 2:00 p.m.