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the Shau Kei Wan area? Has the Department given consideration to building a roof-top playground on the proposed new Shau Kei Wan market; if not, can this suggestion be looked into?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
The Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee is only too well aware of the shortage of recreation facilities in Shau Kei Wan, which at present are restricted to one small children's playground at Kau Man Village and a few small sitting out areas. The problem is not one of lack of funds but simply the lack of suitable sites in this extremely congested area. We plan to provide a small but well-equipped children's playground at Aldrich Street during 1967. We should like to carry out further projects in Shau Kei Wan during 1967, but, as I have said, this all depends on sites being found. I can assure this Council that the Urban Services Department and the Public Works Department are trying to find suitable sites. I fear, however, that it will be difficult to make much headway in solving this problem without embarking on a comprehensive re-development plan for the area. I am told that this matter is already receiving the attention of the planners. There is an open ground there which this Council could put to good public use but it is at present leased to an organization in that locality.
I am grateful to Mr. RAFEEK, for suggesting that a playground be provided on the rooftop of the proposed new Shau Kei Wan Market. The feasibility of doing this will now be studied by the Departments concerned.
I am informed that the present population of Shau Kei Wan and Chai Wan is believed to be in the region of 184,000 so that Shau Kei Wan has certainly less than 150,000.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, could the Chairman of the Market Select Committee give an indication when this Shau Kei Wan market will be completed?
MR. WILFRED WONG:- The Market Select Committee has been most frustrated as far as this market's progress is concerned. To the best of my knowledge, the North Point Market is in Category B, but the Shau Kei Wan market has not been allocated to any category, but we will, as far as this Council is concerned, work very hard on the market programme. What happens after this is beyond the scope of this
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Council, but I would say that my estimate, if it takes four years for the North Point market to be built, is that it will probably be more than five years before the Shau Kei Wan market is built.
(8) Question by Mr. Henry H. L. Hu:-
Could the Chairman inform the Council what measures have been or will be taken to encourage the qualified voters to register for the next Urban Council Elections?
VICE-CHAIRMAN:- The eighth question on the agenda is a question by Mr. Henry H. L. Hu who is not present at the moment today.
The reply to his question is that the amending legislation extending the Urban Council franchise and revising the electoral registration procedure was enacted on 13th May, 1966, and the period prescribed for the registration of electors commenced on Monday, 16th May, 1966. On 13th May, an official press release was issued announcing the main changes brought about by the new legislation. On the same day, arrangements were made for the Registration Officer and a Cantonese-speaking member of his staff to be interviewed by radio commentators. At this interview, the practical effects of the new legislation were explained and details given of the various categories of persons who are eligible to register as voters and how they can go about it. These interviews were broadcast by the Colony's radio stations on the same evening. On Saturday, 14th May, 1966, a press conference, followed by a television interview, was held at the Information Services Department when the Registration Officer answered various questions asked by the press.
2.
Since the commencement of the registration period, every effort has been made to continue to explain and publicize the subject. Apart from answering enquiries from individual newspapers, Government has issued, at suitable intervals, 9 official press releases, whilst 9 further interviews by radio commentators were arranged and broadcast. In addition, Government published on 29th May, 1966, and 7th July, 1966, advertisements in the press listing the enfranchised categories in detail. The public were also reminded where registration forms could be obtained.
3. A circular, both in English and Chinese, to Government servants publicizing their eligibility for electoral registration
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