APPENDIX VII.
REPORT OF THE KOWLOON SUB-COMMITTEE.
The sub-committee, appointed at the meeting held on the 4th November, have made two tours of Kowloon with a view more to finding open spaces for rest and recreation than playing fields. We have come to the following general conclusions:-
(a) That there is not the same congestion in Kowloon as there is in Hong Kong, principally because the roads are wide and here and there are dotted oases of low buildings or even no buildings at all. Many of the intersecting roads terminate on the water front and these open ends do give a feeling of 'airiness' which is not so marked on the Hong Kong side.
(b) That small open spaces dotted over the peninsula are possible and desirable.
2. Dealing, firstly, with that portion of the peninsula south of Austin Road. we
recommend that the following spaces he kept clear for all time:—
(a) The triangular space bounded by Humphreys Buildings, Cameron Buildings
and Empress Lodge.
(b) The rectangular space bounded by Nathan Road, Granville Road, Car-
narvon Road, and Kimberley Road.
(c) At least a portion of the ground on which Chater Bungalow stands.
3. We also recommend that portions of the Railway Ground on the east side of the railway be utilised forthwith for public recreation grounds, the position having the ad- vantage of being near at hand. The tenure of these grounds could be short; at present large areas are doing no service at all. We should like the Naval representative to say whether these grounds could be adequately made use of by men of the China Squadron, the only thing wanting, to our minds, being a pier for direct access.
4. Secondly: YAUMATI DISTRICT. This is the most congested part of the Peninsula and needs particular attention.
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5. We think suitable areas can be found as follows:
(a) At the corner of Wai Ching and Saigon Streets perhaps 6,000 square feet. (b) Area bounded by Canton Road, Battery and Public Square streets. About one third of this area, in its centre, is taken up by a cheap Chinese Cinema theatre.
(c) West of Shanghai Street and South of Waterloo Road is a small area which
would be very suitable for a small playground.
(d) Between Argyle Street and Mongkok Police Station on Nathan Road is an area partly occupied by a dilapidated and unsightly building and enclosure which would make a good recreation ground.
6. Thirdly
HOMUNTIN.
Little is required in this backwater-the type of residences and the ground they occupy being ample for private enterprise to do what is necessary; but the small square should be tidied up at public expense and seats could be arranged at the base of the rail- way embankment on the east side..
7. Fourthly: KOWLOON TONG.
We believe areas are available here which could be appropriated for public re- creation on the northern side of the Estate. This should be done, but the district is open and well kept and calls more for a playing field than an open space such as we are chiefly dealing with.
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