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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN: -Ladies and gentlemen, before we proceed with the agenda, I would like to welcome back Mr. Lo on his return to Hong Kong and also Mr. Rowe after his illness, from which we hope he has fully recovered. (Applause).
I would also like to say—because of a number of recent articles appearing in the local press and attributing various misleading and inaccurate statements to me regarding the future scope of this Council—that, over the past two weeks, I have been pressed by reporters of local newspapers to make some statement about the deliberations of this Council on this matter. I have invariably taken the general line that I could not say more than I had said at the annual debate: this matter was still under consideration by the Council; progress was being made in this respect and Council's views would, I considered, shortly be finalised: I was sorry I could not be more helpful but it would be inappropriate for me or anyone else to discuss, with the press matters still under consideration by the Council and that the press would have to content themselves for a few weeks more.
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 7th January, 1969 were confirmed.
## PAPERS
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of January, 1969.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st October, 1968, to 31st December, 1968.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st October, 1968 to 31st December, 1968.
MR. A. de O. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, the statement that you made just now was listened to with great interest. You do not give the Unofficial Members a chance to condole with you. (Laughter).
May I, Sir, make a statement as Chairman of the City Hall Select Committee? I should like to make a statement at this time on the consideration that has been given to the proposed civic centre in Kowloon.
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The suggestion that a civic centre should be built in Kowloon was referred to the City Hall Select Committee when it was raised at the Urban Council meeting in May last year. Members supported the need for a civic centre in Kowloon which would permit the Council and people of this city to undertake cultural activities not possible at present due to limited facilities, and which would also make up for some of the present deficiencies in the City Hall which have become evident since the City Hall was first planned over ten years ago.
The tentative proposals are that the Kowloon civic centre should include:
(a) an auditorium and stage large enough to accommodate performance of opera, ballet and musical shows and major charity film shows,
(b) convention facilities including more lecture rooms and committee rooms,
(c) exhibition facilities with open space to double as additional area or a garden with emphasis on Chinese styling,
(d) facilities for large banquets,
(e) rehearsal rooms for both music and drama.
The facilities should be so designed as to provide both easy inter-connection to allow for joint usage and independent access for exclusive usage of any one unit.
The Committee is now engaged in collecting and compiling relevant data and information from similar complexes abroad and will present a report to the Council in due course.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a personal statement arising out of your statement that you made just now, that there seems to be some confusion in certain press statements over recommendations by the Elected Members of this Council and recommendations by the Urban Council as a whole. It is the latter that will be forwarded to the Governor, through the Colonial Secretary, at the Governor's request in a short while and to which you were referring. The former, of course, have already been made known through various speeches inside and outside this Council.
## QUESTIONS
(1) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
Can the Chairman advise in what manner is the Urban Council co-operating with the City District Offices to provide recreational activities for children and young people at the District level?
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