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to implement this recommendation to Government. For the sake of the people who live in Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town, I hope my friend will have more success in his endeavours to provide better urban amenities for this very overcrowded part of the Colony than I have had, because there is no doubt that its need is very great indeed as compared to other areas.
Mr. Chairman, according to one school of thought, reclaimed land is far too valuable for recreational purposes.
If we follow this line of thought, we should never see any open spaces in the heart of all major cities of the world, such, for example—I am sure Dr. BELL will bear me out—as Central Park in New York, Prince's Street Gardens in Edinburgh and Green Park in London, and many parks in Vancouver. By the same reasoning, Mr. Chairman, we should exclude, as Mr. KAN suggests, the Hong Kong Cricket Club ground which sits right in the centre of the Colony. If no such reclamation is contemplated—I only know this since Mr. SALES has changed his motion slightly—I suggest that the Director of Public Works should provide such facilities. But our planners seem to think otherwise. If we want to have developments such as envisaged by Mr. SALES' motion, we must have more powers for this Council, and, Mr. Chairman, the other alternative is to have some elected representation on the other two Councils. Unless the powers that be are responsive to our recommendations under the present system, I feel that, whatever motion this Council might pass, it is nothing more than just a pious hope and Dr. BELL's and Mr. SALES' previous motions have exemplified this view of mine, such as the one on Cape Collinson and Dr. BELL's motion on having another feminine member on this Council. I shall be very pleasantly surprised, Mr. Chairman, if this one does not join that distinguished group. (Laughter). In spite of the fact, Mr. Chairman, that we may have little prospect of obtaining more recreational areas for the Western District, I still continue to support Mr. SALES' motion. I hope that in days to come we may have the play-areas that we pray for.
MR. FUNG HON-CHU:-Mr. Chairman, I earnestly support the motion. I need not labour the great importance of open spaces where a crowded and confined population may find recreation or relaxation in pleasant surroundings. Nor need I emphasize the benefits of these amenities upon public health and in the reduction of juvenile delinquency.
Recreational spaces are obviously a necessity in Hong Kong because of the heavy pressure of population. Life in tenement districts is not enviable in most cities; but here the humble citizen fares worse than his counterpart in cities elsewhere. His children are especially to be pitied, because here vacant lots where children may play are scarce; streets have too much traffic and pavements are too narrow or cluttered to be used as playgrounds.
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These disabilities are especially true of Hong Kong's Western district at sea-level. This is the Cinderella district of the Island. It started badly off for amenities and has never been given much thought in this respect.
The Central Area Redevelopment Report by the Director of Public Works last month shows the density of residential population in the Western district to be the highest, 950 persons per acre, as compared with Wan Chai-Happy Valley district 680 persons, North Point 300, Shau Kei Wan 350 and Mid-levels 100 persons per acre. These figures are, of course, approximate only and subject to confirmation by the Census.
Just above the Western district is a wealthy residential area, with some large secondary schools and the University. There is a sharp contrast between the recreational facilities up there and the utter lack of them in the densely settled area below.
We are all aware of the difficulties of rectifying past neglects and short-sighted planning—or the lack of planning. But the clamour for open spaces has been loud for some years and is now getting even louder. Meanwhile whatever opportunities available for making such provisions have been too often ignored, leaving residents of the Western district to feel that no-one has had ears to listen.
Nor is any of us ignorant of the needs of administration, commerce and communications for wharves, stations, offices and what not. But in many cities throughout the world, there are nice open places in close proximity to the essential economic facilities. There is no reason why development should not be properly balanced. Let us never forget that some people have to spend the whole of their lives in slum conditions.
We all know that land is very valuable; but we cannot accept as final any statement that, because of this high value, no amenities such as recreational spaces are possible. The monetary value of land must be seen in correct perspective. More value or less value, the more fortunate districts have recreation grounds; and there is a moral obligation to make some available promptly in the Western district. It is recreation and relaxation that we must try to offer. We can at least make every effort to reserve and equip sitting-out areas and children's playgrounds, however small they may be. Mr. Chairman, I would strongly urge that the Government give these needs its most sympathetic consideration.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I rather suspect that during the years that Mr. SALES has been Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee he has been talking so much about the recreational needs for Kowloon that those Urban Councillors who live in Hong Kong have shamed him into talking about some of the needs of the residents on the Island.
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