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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Is it possible to give this plan top priority and implement such a scheme as soon as possible instead of 2 to 3 years as disclosed, in view of the large number of local residents now using our only two available public swimming pools?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
I am glad of this opportunity to make a statement about the provision of more swimming pools for Hong Kong and Kowloon.
The Urban Council's long term Swimming Pool Programme is taking shape rapidly. I can say that by 1975, if all goes well and if the necessary finance is obtained, we expect to have 11 major public swimming pool projects completed in the urban area, together with several small teaching pools in districts where sites cannot be found for large swimming pool projects. When this programme is completed, and we are determined that it shall be done as quickly as possible, there will be sufficient teaching pools to enable about 96,000 children to be taught to swim each year in properly organized classes, which means, of course, that every child will then have the chance of learning to swim. Recreational swimming pools will be available in these projects for about 10 million persons each year, which would for example allow for 20 visits each summer by half a million people. These projects will also give Hong Kong facilities for championship training and competitive swimming which may be expected to compare most favourably with similar facilities in other countries, so paving the way for Hong Kong to win its rightful place in world aquatics.
This ambitious programme is based on a new type of swimming complex which was approved by the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee in April this year after studying the first 18 months' operation of Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool. Depending on the location and site, each of these new swimming complexes will normally comprise a 57-metre main pool suitable also for competitive swimming, a separate diving pool, a 50-metre pool for general bathing, 3 teaching pools, which will also serve children, a children's water play area, and paddling pools for young toddlers. Except for the diving pool, the depths of water will everywhere be less than 6 feet 6 inches in the interests of safety.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
So far as possible, each of these complexes is being planned to accommodate up to 5,000 bathers at one time, the layout being so arranged that swimming lessons, children's bathing, family bathing, competitive swimming, and diving may take place simultaneously in safety and comfort. Complexes of the required size will occupy a site area of about 150,000 square feet and have a total water surface of about 35,000 square feet. The changing accommodation will be capable of handling crowds at a rate of more than 1 person per second, or about twice as fast as at Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool.
The Government Architect has now completed feasibility studies for the first 3 of these swimming complexes, and these will be referred to the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee at its meeting on 16th September. These 3 projects will be sited as follows: at Kennedy Town to serve the western district of Hong Kong, at Lei Cheng Uk to serve the residents of Sham Shui Po, and at Kwun Tong to serve the residents of the nearby resettlement and housing estates. The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club has already promised donations of $8 millions towards the cost of these 3 swimming complexes, and we all share their wish to see this money spent as quickly as possible. Everyone concerned is already giving the highest possible priority to these projects. Teams of architects are now working on them, and I am assured that, if it is physically possible to complete them in less than 2-3 years, this will be done.
I should like to conclude by mentioning briefly 6 additional sites for major swimming complexes which are now being studied by the Urban Council and Urban Services Department. These are at Boundary Street to serve Mong Kok District, near Public Square Street to serve Yau Ma Tei District, on the site of the present Whitfield Barracks to serve Tsim Sha Tsui, at Tai Wan to serve Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan, at Harcourt Road to serve Wan Chai and Central District, and finally a project to serve Chai Wan and Shau Kei Wan. I can assure you, Sir, that we attach the same high degree of priority to our Swimming Pool Programme as to our programmes for the construction of children's playgrounds and recreation grounds, which are proving so successful.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, although it is very nice to hear that there are such comprehensive schemes for our swimming pools complexes, they will take a long time to build. They may take two to
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