HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meetings held on 3rd and 5th November, 1970 were confirmed.
PAPER.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of November, 1970.
MR. A. de O. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, it is as Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee that I wish to make a statement on a subject about which Urban Councillors are very exercised at this time. It is about the location of the Museum. My Select Committee, of which you are a member, Sir, considered once more the use to which the Cricket Club ground should be put when it is handed over to this Council. The Select Committee reiterated the decision that it should be kept as open space and developed as a public garden. That, in fact, is in line with the decision made by the Government at the time that the announcement was made that the Cricket Club would be removed to another location on the Island. The Select Committee has repeated the request made previously that an application should be made to the Government for the allocation of that part of the old Naval Dockyard adjoining Murray Road-between that road and the flyover-so that that area too would be kept for public use as part of our City Centre. Should the Government agree with our request, Mr. Chairman, then the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee would be happy to have the Museum located there. Otherwise, the Select Committee has suggested, for the consideration of the Museum and Art Gallery Select Committee and the Government generally, that thought be given to the location of the main Museum in the remaining 16 acres of Whitfield Barracks with an Island Museum on a part of the Cricket ground adjoining Chater Road not exceeding about 10,000 square feet. That is the decision which I would like to have recorded today in the proceedings of our meeting.
QUESTIONS.
(1) & (2) Mr. D. J. R. BLAKER asked the following questions:-
The plan for the present City Hall complex was made public so that the public should have an opportunity to comment on it before detailed planning was completed. Will the Government adopt the same procedure in respect of the plan for the proposed Museum and Art Gallery building? Is the Government prepared to hold a public competition for the design for the proposed Museum and Art Gallery building?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
With your permission, Mr. BLAKER, I should like to take both your questions together the answer to each being the same.
I do not know. (Laughter).
Mr. BLAKER-Mr. Chairman, my questions asked whether the Government would, on the one hand, make the Museum plan public and on the other hand entertain the suggestion of a public competition. Have you, Mr. Chairman, asked the Government these two questions?
CHAIRMAN:-I am afraid not, Mr. BLAKER, because I think it must be obvious to all members, including yourself, that if I put these questions to Government, Government will want to know what the views of this Council are, as opposed to any suggestion from you personally. As you also know, this matter is again to be discussed at a future meeting of the Standing Committee, and certainly Government would not venture into this field without having recommendations from this Council.
MR. BLAKER:-The discussions amongst the Council are concerned with the precise location of a possible Museum. These questions, I suggest, are valid irrespective of the location of the Museum. They are not concerned with the location. Am I right then, Mr. Chairman, in believing that you are unwilling to entertain these questions?
CHAIRMAN:-At present, and until I have heard the views of Council generally, yes, Mr. BLAKER.
MOTION.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, we will now resume the debate on the motion "That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1971." To-day, Official Members will reply to the points raised by the Unofficials at the meetings held on 3rd and 5th November, 1970. The first speaker this afternoon is Mr. Paul Tsui, the Commissioner for Resettlement.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, we who are here together this afternoon have witnessed the events that have made Hong Kong what it is today and I hope all of us can rightfully feel that
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