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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
I am informed by the Commissioner for Resettlement that as far as his Headquarters are concerned, recommendations have been made to the Colonial Secretariat on staffing of the reception desk there. These recommendations are now under consideration.
With regard to resettlement estates, the Resettlement Department Training Unit recently ran a series of brief courses dealing with courtesy to the public. These courses were attended by approximately 4,000 of the junior staff of the Department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, over what period of time were these courses mentioned in the last paragraph attended by these 4,000 junior staff?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I am afraid I cannot answer that, I do not know.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Could some information on what these brief courses comprise be supplied to me, Mr. Chairman?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- Certainly, Mr. Chairman, I will give Mr. CHEONG-LEEN particulars.
(15) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:-
I understand there is a lot of vacant land in the western area of Hong Kong Island. Is there any plan to build a public park in that area? Could the Chairman also inform the Council of the feasibility of such a plan?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
Mr. Hu will recollect that I asked a somewhat similar question at the last meeting, when we were informed that in the heavily populated areas of Sheung Wan, Sai Ying Pun and Kennedy Town there is, at present, an item in Category A of the Public Works Programme for the development of a swimming pool of 3.5 acres in Kennedy Town; an item in Category B of the programme for the development of a 3.7 acre park at Pok Fu Lam Road, and that plans are being prepared for the development for recreational purposes of the roof of the Kennedy Town Service Reservoir which covers 1.2 acres. We were also informed that an area of some 14 acres between Pok Fu Lam Road and Smithfield had been reserved as public open space.
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Projects planned in the remaining area of Mr. Hu's ward area which stretches along the coast to the south side of Hong Kong include a proposed sports ground at Aberdeen which will cover an area of 14.7 acres. This project is now in Category A of the Public Works Programme. There is also an item in Category C of the programme for the development of a public park on a site of 7 acres at Brick Hill. Furthermore, the Department has recently written to the Crown Lands Office enquiring into the possibility of land being made available at the Sandy Bay reclamation for recreational purposes, and has also asked for the allocation of the entire sea-front beside the Wah Fu Estate from Kellet Bay to Waterfall Bay for development as public open space.
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Hu's reference to "a lot of vacant land in the western area" is indeed true, but it must be appreciated that much of this land consists of steep hillsides such as Mount Davis. Some of this land is unsuitable for development, even though it may be used for unorganized recreation.
I would also like to mention that a zoning plan for the heavily populated western district is being prepared by the Public Works Department and sites are being acquired for urban renewal. Recreation needs will be taken into consideration in the preparation of this plan, but I cannot at present give any details of the sites which may become available or say how much land may be designated for public open space.
Mr. Hu can rest assured we will keep the situation under review.
MR. HU:- Mr. Chairman, I am satisfied not only with the answer given to us by Mr. SALES, but also with everything that Mr. SALES has said. But I would like to express the hope that there will be a public park, like Victoria Park in the Eastern area, in the Western area. I note that Mr. SALES has said there is an item in Category 'C' of the programme for the development of a public park on a site of 7 acres at Brick Hill. I only want to express the hope that this park can be built as soon as possible.
MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, I would like to table this map of Mr. Hu's ward showing the recreation areas that have been set aside. Mr. Hu might wish to advise the Recreation & Amenities Select Committee if there are any other possibilities for development.
MR. BERNACCHI:- Mr. Chairman, a recent study group in the United Kingdom made a recommendation that there should be at least a small
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