Page 96 of 237
170
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN: --That is a very fair statement of the situation, Mr. SALES, and I would certainly like to think about it. As I say, there is a problem of getting staff in advance, training them, and then not having a job or facilities to which to post them. But let me think about this one.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, thank you very much, I would like to close the subject, but before doing so may I ask you whether you anticipate having a recurrence of the experience of the three swimming pools and the Goodman Corporation? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: -I would hope not, Mr. SALES, but I cannot guarantee it.
MR. SALES: Thank you, then your argument against my plan is not valid.
(3) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) Will the Director of Public Works please tell us when it is expected the railway station at Tsim Sha Tsui will be re-located?
(b) Will the Government consider retaining the clock tower?
(c) Will it be feasible to convert the main building for community use, say, as an exhibition hall or even a museum?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-
It is not possible to say when the Tsim Sha Tsui railway terminus will be re-located as this depends on decisions which have yet to be made about the new terminus at Hung Hom.
When the railway has been moved the ferry pier concourse is to be enlarged and will include the area at present occupied by the main building of the railway station. Consideration will be given to retaining the clock tower if it can be fitted into the layout of the present extended concourse. On present planning the rest of the building will have to go but conversion to an exhibition hall or museum would in any case be expensive and may not be completely satisfactory for either purpose.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, you may well rule this question out of order, I would if I were in your place. (Laughter). Does the Director of Public Works recommend that I look for another site in Kowloon to put the Hong Kong Museum?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
171
CHAIRMAN:-I think that is definitely out of order, Mr. Sales.
(Laughter).
(4) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) To what extent is Blackhead Hill, excluding the Signal Station, used at present?
(b) What is the actual area that has been developed?
(c) What buildings are there on the site?
(d) Would Government consider turning the site over to this Council for a park?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
Blackhead Hill at present is largely used by the Navigational Aids Section of the Marine Department which occupies an area of about 88,200 sq. ft. A typhoon signal mast belonging to the Royal Observatory is also sited there. The total area is approximately 92,800 sq. ft. (2.1 acres). The Marine Department has an office, workshops, staff quarters and a lighthouse there, occupying about 5,740 sq. ft. All except the lighthouse will be reprovisioned in the new Yau Ma Tei Slipway which is at present scheduled to be completed in October 1970. But the lighthouse and the signal mast will possibly have to be retained.
The whole site is zoned as Public Open Space on the approved Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Zoning Plan, and I have no doubt that, when the Marine Department occupy the new premises at the Yau Ma Tei Slipway, Government will be prepared to consider allocating the site designated as open space to the Urban Council, subject as I said before to the retention of the Marine Department lighthouse and the signal mast.
MR. SALES: --How soon after October 1970 will that area be made available to the Urban Council as public open space?
CHAIRMAN:-I would not like to say. I presume that there may be a question of considering whether the lighthouse and the mast have to go and where they can go. But I would like to think "very soon", and once the move of the Marine Department buildings has been completed, Government would think of allocating this space.
Page 96 of 237