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that were emitting excessive smoke, the police would have to do something about it.
DR. BELL: Since it is a health hazard, Mr. Chairman, isn't it really an onus on the Medical and Health Department to make the public aware of the hazard. I hope that through the Press today that some publicity will be given to this health hazard. I might also suggest, Mr. Chairman, if you will permit me to, that the Vice-Chairman should refer this matter to the new Transport Committee which has been set up, because I think that public transport is very much involved with this, rather more public transport than private transport.
(7) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
By 1971, the Hong Kong Government expects to have a resettlement population of 1.6 million, or one-third of the population at that time. Does Government have any plans to improve between now and 1971 the recreation facilities, playground equipment and other amenities in existing and future resettlement estates so that by 1971 the provision of these amenities will be as good as those found in current Housing Authority and Government low-cost housing estates?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
The public recreation facilities already existing or due to be completed this financial year in Resettlement Estates include 10 mini-football pitches, 53 basketball and volley-ball courts, and 19 children's playgrounds. In addition the residents of Resettlement Estates are served by many parks and playgrounds which the Council has made a point of providing within easy walking distance, including for example Choi Hung Road Playground, the several playgrounds at Kowloon City, Kowloon Tsai Park, Fa Hui Park and Po On Road Playground. Expenditure on public recreation facilities in the urban area during the past 4 years has amounted to about $12 million, of which I think that it might be found that the residents of Resettlement Estates have benefited, roughly speaking, by about $5 million, or, say, 40%.
Taking into account the Community Centres run by the Social Welfare Department, and the various recreation facilities provided by voluntary agencies, the residents of the 11 older Resettlement Estates are generally far better served
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than most of the urban population. Indeed, taking recreation facilities of all kinds, I do not believe that the residents of these Resettlement Estates are significantly worse off in this respect than the residents of Housing Authority or Government Low Cost Housing Estates. There are however 4 new Resettlement Estates, Tin Wan, Yau Tong, Sau Mau Ping and Tsz Wan Shan, which have no public recreation facilities as yet. The department is aiming at having some playgrounds completed in all of these estates within the next 9 months.
Turning to the future, it is the Urban Council's policy to pay special attention to the provision of adequate public recreation facilities in the new high density residential districts in which most Resettlement Estates are situated. Within the Estates themselves we expect, by 1971, to provide up to about 250 new playgrounds, rest gardens and other local neighbourhood facilities. We are exploring the possibility of siting playgrounds on the roofs of the 16 storey buildings in Resettlement Estates. Consideration is also being given to the provision in each new Estate of a three or four storey Community Recreation Centre. Besides the local estate facilities to which I have just referred, it is the Council's policy to provide an ever increasing number and variety of major district facilities, which will of course serve the residents of any Resettlement Estate (or Housing Authority Estate) situated within that district. These district facilities will include swimming pools, grass playing fields, athletic running tracks, parks, spectator sports, and so on. Victoria Park, Fa Hui Park and Kowloon Tsai Park are three such projects. The next one, on which construction work is due to start this year, is the new Ta Kwu Ling Park. This covers an area of 44 acres between Wong Tai Sin and Wang Tau Hom Resettlement Estates. It will include 10 grass playing fields, children's play facilities, basketball courts and ornamental gardens. Another such project is scheduled for an 11 acre site adjoining Kwun Tong Resettlement Estate. This is at present planned to include a swimming pool, a football ground with spectator stands, floodlit mini-football pitches, roller skating and other children's play facilities.
Time does not permit me to say more about the many projects which we are now planning, but I take this opportunity of affirming this Council's intention of doing all in its
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