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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, may I say a few words? Originally I wanted to support Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN's Motion, so when the amended Motion was put forward I was a little bit bewildered so I abstained from voting. We have talked too much about our youth but we really have done very little for them. I say, done little for them, not with regard to this Council, this Council has done a great deal, I say other aspects of youth problems. I think in today's debate there was mention of education or other matters and I think if we solve the youth's problem we must tackle this problem from many sides. The youth problem cannot be solved by one method alone. While I am supporting the idea, I would say that recreational facilities alone are not sufficient to fight against juvenile delinquency. It lies on a more positive approach to our youth problem and such an approach is many-sided. Even where recreation is concerned, as I have said, one should have a more positive type of recreation but it is a good idea to look into Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's Motion. It will certainly have certain difficulties at the moment the present buildings are all of the capacity loading of only 80 lbs. If we want to use the upper floors of buildings for recreation, the loading capacity must be doubled, i.e. it must be at least 120 lbs. per sq. ft. I would urge the Government to look into this matter as soon as possible and to take action on our youth problem as soon as possible. Empty words do not serve a useful purpose. With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's idea. But I really am bewildered in what way I should support the Motion so I eventually voted for Mr. T. S. Lo's Motion, that is my explanation.
(Mr. R. H. LOBO left the meeting at this point).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: I do thank members for their support of this idea. Perhaps I might be able to add a few words of clarification for Mr. Hu in regard to the purpose of the Motion. Admittedly it was an idea. Like all new ideas we must approach it with a reasonable amount of circumspection, and for that reason I have expressed no objection to the amendment proposed by Mr. T. S. Lo who, like a good lawyer, would always want to be careful of whatever stand he takes. If, for instance, one thinks it is feasible, he has to be sure also that it is desirable and vice versa, but there probably could be a number of practical difficulties in old buildings, for instance, where the loading capacity might not be sufficient to have a youth recreation centre. Certainly in new buildings or buildings which Government, in advance, declares interest in renting on a long-term basis there are always possibilities of negotiating with a private landlord to have such premises available for the purposes of setting up a youth recreation centre and also in new resettlement estates or in resettlement estates which are being completed, I think there are tremendous possibilities there. I don't propose to go into the details of it. I am sure the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee is in a much better position to look into these possibilities.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
All I do say is that perhaps the idea might be somewhat novel but I am sure that the more we look into it the more we will find that the need is great and the Urban Council can do a tremendous amount of good by bringing youth recreation to the doorsteps of these young people wherever they are, not only to do that but also bring in participation of the people who live in these districts. I am sure that if we can make the people who live in crowded areas interested and enable them to participate in what is being planned for them and their children, the Urban Council will be doing a great amount of good which will also be generating among our young people a sense of loyalty to Hong Kong and a sense of identity and also a sense of community participation.
CHAIRMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, the Motion before Council is "Resolved that the Urban Council through its appropriate Select Committee explore the desirability and feasibility of acquiring space in multi-storey buildings in order to provide recreational facilities for youth living in the more heavily populated urban districts.”
The question was put.
The motion was carried with 17 votes for and 1 abstention.
ADJOURNMENT —— 5:39 P.M.
CHAIRMAN: That concludes the business of this meeting, Ladies and gentlemen, Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 2nd March, 1971 at 4 p.m.
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