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(b) Is the Chairman aware that many, if not most areas and districts have no facilities for playing indoor games which are readily available to the public? What steps, if any, are being taken or even planned to make good this deficiency?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"This concerns indoor stadia for Hong Kong and Kowloon regarding which I had to deal with questions as recently as December.
The motion to which you refer was a recommendation to Government for the provision of funds and a request to the Urban Amenities Select Committee for the production of suitable plans and estimates. Each stadium would cost at least one million dollars and would therefore have to be approved by Government for inclusion in the Public Works Non-Recurrent list. Approval in principle has not yet been given by Government for this project. We have thus been faced with the following difficulties-
(1) The location. Any buildings of this nature require well over an acre of land, and land is just not readily available in the more accessible portions of the Urban Area.
(2) Assessment of needs. There are already two excellent stadia, the War Memorial Centre in Southorn Playground and the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Kowloon, and statistics show that they are by no means used to full capacity particularly the latter, despite the very low charges, which vary from $0.50 upwards per evening depending on total gate receipts.
(3) The type of games which will be most popular and for which all facilities should be made available. Opinions differ widely.
(4) The need for extensive spectator accommodation in the light of inevitably increased capital cost.
As regards the locations, it was suggested that an area south of Causeway Bay Road in the vicinity of Queen's College would be appropriate for Hong Kong and the end of the old runway at Wong Tai Sin appropriate for Kowloon. It was even suggested that the old Royal Air Force hangar at Wong Tai Sin should be acquired. The Superintendent of Crown Lands has, however, been unable to make available these sites, as their development has not yet been finalised and is dependent on considerations of resettlement of squatters and of reprovision of the Armed Services.
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As regards assessments of need and popularity of particular games, there is still no reason to believe that pressure on the two existing stadia is increasing to an extent which warrants the early construction of additional facilities. In this connection, I would mention that Hong Kong University proposes within this year to erect a composite building for a variety of sports and that the experience gained will undoubtedly be of value to this Council. In addition there are indoor facilities for badminton and gymnastics at open air attractions of Hong Kong are not appreciated as much as they should be. Hong Kong's main problem after all is one of overcrowding and I am of the opinion that in the field of Urban Amenities it is far better to concentrate on open air activities than on leading people back once more indoors."
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I thank you for a very comprehensive reply, with most of which I agree. I wonder whether you have any interest to declare in the concluding paragraph of your letter. Are you an official of the Hong Kong Walking Association perhaps?
CHAIRMAN: --A keen walker, but not an official. No, no interest to declare.
MR. SALES: As you evidently advocate outdoor sports, how do you reconcile your predilection for walking with your action in "stampeding" the Urban Council in building squash courts in Hong Kong.
CHAIRMAN: Squash is an indoor game, but lasts only for half an hour.
MR. SALES: Other games also vary in time. Chacun à son goût. May I suggest that you strike out this paragraph where you are violently against indoor games, because you yourself practise one.
CHAIRMAN: Before we conclude this meeting, it falls to me on your behalf to bid farewell from this Council to three of its most distinguished members. I do so with the greatest personal regret, as I am only too conscious of their magnificent records of public service not merely on this Council but in many spheres of activity in the Colony.
Those who are leaving us are Kenneth Fung Ping Fan, Richard Lee and U Tat Chee. Between them they have served for twenty years on this Council and their conscientious attendance and sound advice and, I might add, their good fellowship, have contributed in great measure to the administration of urban affairs. I am afraid that one
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