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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN : --Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
Before proceeding with the Agenda, I would like to welcome back from leave Mrs. SYMONS, Mr. SALES, Mr. P. F. CHAN, Mr. MACKENZIE and Mr. ROWE. I hope they all enjoyed themselves.
MR. A. de O. SALES:-Sir, may I welcome you back and hope that you are in good voice today.
CHAIRMAN:--I would hope so, Mr. SALES.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 3rd August, 1971, 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 August, 1971.
MR. A. de O. SALES: Sir, may I have your permission to make a statement as Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Select Committee.
This Council has proposed to the Government the building of a Civic Centre in Kowloon, possibly at the Hung Hom Reclamation. Before we did so, an inquiry was sent overseas to find out the experience of a number of cities which put up such cultural centres in the last ten years or so and the Cultural Affairs Select Committee together with the management also examined carefully our own experience since the City Hall was built nearly ten years ago. Nevertheless, to further satisfy the Colonial Secretariat, the Urban Council conducted a local survey in May 1971. A questionnaire, to gauge the likely usage to which the Kowloon Civic Centre might be put, was drawn up and 4,350 copies issued to City Hall hirers. 601 returns were received, representing 13.82% of the forms sent.
The probable usage of the proposed facilities in the Kowloon Civic Centre indicated by the survey is as follows:
(a) For the 3,000 seat auditorium-1,457 functions per year, i.e. about three times the maximum capacity.
(b) For the 20,000 sq. ft. Exhibition Hall-386 weeks per year, i.e. about seven times the maximum capacity.
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(c) For the 50,000 sq. ft. outdoor exhibition area—153 weeks per year, i.e. about three times the maximum capacity.
(d) For the 2,000 sq. ft. Lecture/Rehearsal Room--9,645 hours per year, i.e. 2,411 hours per year for each of the four rooms proposed.
(e) For the 500 sq. ft. Conference Room-7,565 hours per year, i.e. 1,891 hours per year for each of the four rooms proposed.
The conclusion that can be drawn from this survey is that the proposed Civic Centre will almost certainly be used to its maximum capacity right from the start. This is an important point to bear in mind.
The Cultural Affairs Select Committee submitted to the Government a preliminary schedule of accommodation, so as to indicate the size, scope and purpose of the project. The Civic Centre will be a place for holding cultural activities of all kinds as well as for meetings and exhibitions, with associated restaurant facilities. The 3,000-seat auditorium (double the capacity of the City Hall Concert Hall) will make the visit of overseas orchestras, ballet companies, etc. financially viable, with a possible reduction in ticket prices, which will be of benefit to the cultural life of the community and the education of the young in particular. The Civic Centre will therefore serve the needs of our people, young and old, for education and entertainment. It will also accommodate medium-sized conventions for 2,000---3,000 delegates, while those with 10,000 delegates or more can use the Indoor Stadium at Hung Hom for their plenary sessions and the Civic Centre facilities for their business meetings.
A Civic Centre in Kowloon may well produce substantial revenue; a full study of recurrent cost and expected revenue is being undertaken by the City Hall management.
I earnestly hope that the Government will soon give its approval to this most worthwhile project so that planning may proceed forthwith, if it is the Government's intention to raise the quality of life of the people of Hong Kong. It can also be said, without fear of contradiction, that there is very wide community support for this project.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, I wish to make the following comments as Chairman of the Local Administration Select Committee.
A meeting of the Select Committee took place on 31st August last to receive a report on planning arrangements for introducing simultaneous interpretation in Chinese and English at the monthly Urban Council Meetings.
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