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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
"For the improvement of the facilities for children at Victoria Park, has the Chairman considered:-
(a) opening another children's playground section at the southeastern corner of the park; and
(b) keeping a representative collection of birds and small animals in the park, possibly somewhere near the artificial hill?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :-
"This concerns the provision of additional children's playground and a small menagerie in Victoria Park.
I have not so far considered improving the facilities at Victoria Park on the lines suggested but I am quite prepared to refer your suggestion to the appropriate Select Committee."
MR. SALES: --May I ask a supplementary question?
CHAIRMAN: --Yes.
MR. SALES: Firstly I would like to say that I believe we are stretching Standing Order 13 when we allow Mr. Cheong-Leen's question 3(b). You will recall that he introduced a motion on zoos not so long ago and I consider question 3(b) to be the thin end of the wedge as far as the zoo is concerned, and I would respectfully suggest that you commend this to the appropriate Select Committee.
CHAIRMAN:-I am sorry, I don't quite gather. Commend what? Your comments on Standing Orders or Mr. Cheong-Leen's question?
MR. SALES: The attempt by stealth by my friend Mr. Cheong-Leen to introduce a zoo into Victoria Park. As to Mr. Cheong-Leen's avian attitude of mind, may I ask you to commend it also to the Bird Watching Society of which one of our Official members is such an eminent member?
CHAIRMAN:--A pleasure.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I say something in clarification? Sales is also in stealth trying to develop my question into a debate. I don't believe that I made any reference to a menagerie in my question. I asked whether it would be possible for the Select Committee to consider having birds and some animals in Victoria Park somewhere near the artificial hill. The types of birds I had in mind are those which are at present in the Botanical Gardens.
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MR. SALES: Would Mr. Walton like to express an opinion on the types of birds we should have?
CHAIRMAN: -Vultures! (Laughter).
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question :-
"Will the Chairman explain the delay that has taken to convert the major traffic islands of Nathan Road and also those at the junction of Taipo and Castle Peak Roads into rest gardens? In view of the traffic hazards and their great popularity at night, will he take the appropriate steps to speed up their conversion?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows: —
"This concerns traffic islands in Nathan Road. When last year Mr. Hilton Cheong-Leen and yourself asked Council questions regarding traffic islands, I was able to reply to you that I was already in touch with the Public Works Department and the Traffic Branch of the Police regarding improvements to the islands you now name. The position is as follows:
(i) rough layout plans for the islands at the junction of Nathan Road/Gascoigne Road were prepared as long ago as July of last year. These plans had first to be cleared with other interested Departments including the Roads Office who advised that tentative plans were being prepared which would considerably increase the area at this junction available for open space. These tentative plans were received in October last year. Urban Services Department layout plans were then revised and submitted, in November, to all concerned including the Traffic Office, which has since come forward with counter-proposals for this area. No final decision has yet been made regarding the eventual layout at this junction, and I regret that I am not in a position to say either when it is likely that this decision will be taken or when it will be possible to implement the final plan.
(ii) in October of last year, a layout plan for the traffic islands at the junction of Castle Peak and Taipo Roads was approved by Select Committee. Since then, estimates have been received from Public Works Department of the cost of laying out these islands and various problems arising from the plans
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