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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Dr. P. F. Woo :- I rise to give my full support to Mr. Sales' motion. We are all aware that open air spaces are vital to the maintenance of health. The rapid increase in the Colony's population calls for a constant demand for more parks for recreation, and this is particularly true in the many densely congested districts. At present, on account of the shortage of public playgrounds, many schools have to face the difficulty of finding convenient open spaces to conduct the physical training exercises laid down as part of the school curriculum by the Education Department. The shortage of public parks is partly the outcome of the Government's policy to encourage building, for because of the high value set on land, every available inch of land is used for building purposes while the importance of open air playgrounds is ignored. Therefore, as a responsible body for maintaining health in the Colony, the Council has the duty to request Government to allocate land for public parks wherever suitable.
MR. SALES :- Mr. Chairman, I am indeed very appreciative of the fact that you have lent this motion your support and no doubt that of the Official Members of this Council. At the same time, I deplore the fact that this support should carry with it the warning that there would not be much space left for public use. In effect, it would seem to me that this motion becomes a pyrrhic victory for this Council.
I have examined the plans for King's Park. King's Park is neither a park, nor is it in any way connected with Kings and Royalty. The mere fact that it should be developed for public use would, I should think, move Government to reserve such open space as will remain to public use as a park for the recreation of the man in the street.
Far be it for me to object to the removal of the Army Hospital facilities from La Salle College. I can well understand the need for the Army to retreat to prepared positions. I only deplore that this retreat has not been made sooner. Nevertheless, there is that refugee camp and there are hillsides which can be developed for public use and I therefore, Mr. Chairman, move this motion which stands in my name.
The question was put.
The Motion was carried.
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MR. A. DE O. SALES moved :
"That the Parks, Playgrounds and Urban Amenities Select Committee be asked to investigate how best to use the lands adjoining the railway tracks in Kowloon as open areas for public use and to recommend to Government accordingly."
He said: In 1957, I put some questions on the future use of the railway lands in Kowloon. I did so partly to stake a claim for more open spaces under this Council's responsibility.
While the answers then given me seemed to imply that no final decision had been reached in several more important matters having a bearing on the subject, nonetheless, I now find to my surprise that in practice, the piecemeal development of the lands adjoining the railway tracks is proceeding.
If it is true that the master plan has not been finalized even now, it is all the more important that no interest be allowed to entrench itself meanwhile. The position in effect suggests an alienation of what is really public land for purposes evidently not altogether connected with the original assignment.
The proposal which I must now make to this Council, if I am not to be ruled out of order, is that, if there exists even a single vacant lot, we too must file our claim for it. In this connexion, let us remember the Abercrombie warning that there must be no delay in snatching at any such open space which may be available and reserving it for public use. For this purpose, we must ask the appropriate Select Committee to set in motion the machinery to determine how best to use such lands as may still be open to us.
It is clear, Mr. Chairman, that I have left much unsaid. It is my belief that, if I introduce this motion, as I am doing, in a form within the framework of the permissible, I would in any event attract attention to a problem which gives the impression that it has escaped the notice of the powers that be. In so doing, I am confident that positive action will follow.
MR. P. D. Au seconded.
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