162
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 91 of 241
163
in size and will contain the usual play equipment. In addition, there will be the usual service buildings and areas, including a car park, toilets, and refreshment kiosk.
The answer to the second part of the question is (I am afraid) that there is no very realistic way of saying how many people the park will accommodate. I have read somewhere that if all the people in the world stood shoulder to shoulder they could all get on to the Isle of Wight (which is 147 square miles). They wouldn't enjoy it. Much of the Wong Nai Chung Park area consists of water, of course, but it is intended to provide 30 boats for hire.
In reply to the third part of the question, I understand that the capacity of the car park has yet to be finally determined by the Architectural Office, but because of the terrain it seems unlikely that there will be space for more than some 15 normal-sized cars. Additional parking space would be fairly expensive.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, perhaps I did not put the second part of my question right in the planning, how many people can enjoy this area comfortably? I am sure that when something is planned, you must plan for a certain capacity. This room, for instance, accommodates 30 of us quite comfortably, but of course we can accommodate 600, if according to the way of accommodation that you've just set out.
CHAIRMAN: I think there is a difference in planning a room for a specific purpose and using a part of nature for something rather more ill-defined than, say, a council chamber. I am not sure that even the experts in the "parking" world can say that so many acres will deal adequately and comfortably with so many people. I think the tendency, particularly in urban areas, is the opposite way round. You look around and see what open space you've got and try and develop as much as you can reasonably with regard to all the other things—and hope that it won't be over-crowded when it is put in use. Now, I don't think anybody had got such a figure for the usage of Victoria Park, say, or Morse Park.
MR. NG: But Mr. Chairman, certainly there must be some sort of a nominal figure.
MRS. SYMONS: Mr. Chairman, may I ask this. Towards the end of your first paragraph, you mentioned that this new area will contain the usual play equipment, by that do you mean the stereotyped equipment, or adventure type of equipment? Now, this may well come back to the R and A Select Committee, in which case I will ask my question there, but it does seem to be in area which will provide something new in Hong Kong, and I for one would like to see the playground equipment of a more adventurous type.
CHAIRMAN: Speaking for myself, Mrs. SYMONS, I am with you one hundred percent, but I'm quite sure that this can be argued out, and I hope the right answer reached, in the Select Committee. I don't think the planning which has been done so far is, by any means, beyond recall.
MR. FORSGATE: Mr. Chairman, it is obvious from the facilities that will be made available that the car parking for 15 cars, in an area which is hopelessly badly served by public transport will be completely inadequate. There are going to be a lot of people very, very frustrated at weekends and public holidays. Could now, before it is too late, some effort be made, even if it appears expensive, to provide many, many more car parks than are indicated in your reply?
CHAIRMAN: I would like to think, Mr. FORSGATE, that even without Mr. NG's valuable question we would have become aware of this, and I am quite sure that the last has not been said or heard on this subject.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, I believe I have been quite insistent in asking a number of questions for two reasons—one is the car park—15 is certainly ridiculously low, and the second is toilets—I am sure that there is some figure for how many persons should be using one toilet. So, even in planning the toilets you must have some sort of a figure in mind about persons—you just don't decide on toilets blindly, and hope that it will accommodate everyone.
CHAIRMAN: I think, Mr. NG, there are figures used for toilets for general use in urban areas, in a built-up area. I think probably the figure is in fact slightly arbitrary for use in parks, but I am not in a position, without notice, to give you a direct answer to that.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, can this matter be referred to the Select Committee for further detailed discussion?
CHAIRMAN: I am sure it can.
MR. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, arising out of Mr. FORSGATE's supplementary about the inadequacy of the 15 car parking spaces, could some approach be made now to the China Motor Bus Company in regard to more adequate services to be provided at the time the park is opened?
CHAIRMAN: I am sure that is out of order, Mr. BERNACCHI, but yes. (Laughter).
Page 91 of 241
163
162