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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Sir, the need is so important that something must be done, and it is one thing to be aware of it and another thing to do something about it. With your indulgence Sir, I would request the Commissioner to please bring my remarks to the attention of the Director of Social Welfare.
COMMISSIONER for Resettlement:-Certainly.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you.
(6) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:-
It has been brought to my attention that the upper football pitch of the new Lion Rock Park could be advantageously used as a golf driving range, and if suitably netted and floodlit could be a welcome and profitable added amenity to this park, and perhaps could be reserved for this sport three or four evenings per week depending on demand. Could the Chairman please investigate the feasibility of this and, if feasible, take steps to have the necessary alterations made to provide for this excellent new amenity?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Each of the two upper level games areas at present marked out for football measures about 170 yards in length, which I am told may not be sufficient for a good driving range. Besides, the many thousands of underprivileged people living in the resettlement estates in the general neighbourhood have a far greater need of this open space for their recreation.
Even if the site were large enough I question whether we, as Urban Councillors, would be justified in recommending the inclusion of a major item for a golf driving range in the Government's Public Works Programme, when all available resources of time and money are required for projects which will benefit the community at large, more particularly the masses. I believe that for some time to come we shall need to concentrate on more Southern Playgrounds, more Macpherson Playgrounds, Chatham Road Playgrounds, more swimming pools and more Statue Squares. Perhaps in a few years' time we might think of projects which would cater to special sections of the community.
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DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I have a series of supplementary questions on this which I would like to ask Mr. SALES to clarify. The first one is he mentions here the question of the football pitches being marked out and measuring 170 yards in length. Is it a fact that these two football pitches are parallel to one another, or run alongside one another, so that in fact you would have 340 yards.
MR. SALES: Sir, may I say how much obliged I am to Dr. BELL for giving me the opportunity of expressing in public my thinking on the time, money and availability of land which should be used for public purposes. Now the games areas are at two different levels, both of them measuring about 170 yards, the first for a junior soccer pitch and the other for two soccer pitches. I would like to table these plans of the Lion Rock Park which, incidentally, Dr. BELL gave us the honour of opening not so long ago.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, that took a long time to answer me. I still would like to know if it is only 170 yards? Who informed Mr. SALES. He says he is told. Who told him that that might not be sufficient for a driving range?
MR. SALES:-Sir, the expert engaged by Government to advise this Council on such matters and, in addition, I would like to table for the information of Dr. BELL, the Encyclopaedia of Sports (Laughter) which also covers the subject. Perhaps Dr. BELL is aware that I am also by chance the Chairman of the Amateur Sports Federation of Hong Kong.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, please what does Mr. SALES mean by catering to special sections of the community?
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, I believe that Dr. BELL, as Chairman of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee, would be the first one to endorse that all open space which may be available near resettlement estates should be applied to the use of the residents in such estates who are in dreadful need of recreational facilities. Now these two areas do not lend themselves for golf driving ranges; we have established that fact, and I think Dr. BELL should be the first one to agree with me that any piece of land would certainly be put to better use if it were used by 22 persons at one time, than just a handful of people driving balls without giving the opportunity of spectator sport which a soccer match provides. Hundreds of people would enjoy a soccer match, but just a handful would benefit from driving a golf ball. I can well sympathize with Dr. BELL's desire to promote what she believes is a national game, but we must consider the interest of the masses first.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I am sorry in asking questions I abide by Standing Orders of this Council. I suppose in answering them Mr. SALES has the advantage over me in giving a dissertation for the benefit of the press who are over there (Laughter) I would also like
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