229. Pending the start of work on the new City Hall, which is to be built here, the reclamation was roughly levelled for use as a car park. This has greatly relieved the parking situation in the Central District.
230. Sports Stadium Sookunpoo. The need for such a stadium has been long felt in Hong Kong, and the existing features of Sookunpoo Valley, which is almost a natural amphitheatre, are particularly suitable for this scheme. The floor of the valley is being levelled and will provide a full international size association football pitch surrounded by a 450 metre seven lane running track. Seating accommodation for 28,500 spectators in the first instance is being provided on terraces cut out of the sides of the valley. This is arranged in 33 sections, 10 of which were completed by the end of the year.
231. At the open end of the valley will be built the pavilion described in para. 134.
232. Entrance to the ground will be from a 20 feet wide periphery road on which will be situated the ticket offices and entrances leading to the different sections of the ground. The stream which flows down the valley will be dammed higher in its course to form a reservoir to supply water for watering the pitch, cleaning the terraces and flushing the toilets. The whole site including adequate car parks, occupies more than 16 acres.
233. Work commenced in July and, by the end of the year, 134,000 cu. yds. of earth, and 24,000 cu. yds. of rock, were excavated. Owing to the quantity of rock encountered during excavation, progress has been slower than was expected, but it is hoped that the ground will be available for use by January, 1955.
234. Pier At Ping Chau. Ping Chau, the centre of two of Hong Kong's minor industries, the making of matches and lime, has been handicapped in the past by the lack of proper landing and loading facilities. Ferries which call at Ping Chau
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