HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
As I said in answer to a question in September last year, the Department has requested the inclusion of an item in the Public Works Programme for 1972-73. I am pleased to say that such an item, entitled "New Museum in Tsim Sha Tsui", has been included in Category C so that it may be examined in more detail prior to up-grading.
In reply to part (b) of the question, I presume Mr. NG is concerned that the public should be made aware of the use of the site in question for a museum. As Members are aware, the site recommended by the Council is at present zoned for open space on the Statutory Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Zoning Plan. Any revision of the present plan to permit the building of a museum on this site will require the approval of the Governor-in-Council and, subject to such approval, would have to be gazetted so as to allow for public objections. The answer to part (b) is, therefore, "Yes".
In answer to parts (c) to (e), if and when a decision is taken to proceed with the construction of a museum on this site, the whole project from the approval of the Schedule of Accommodation to the completion of construction might be expected to take approximately six years, but, provided a decision is taken sufficiently early, it would be possible to commence work on the sketch plans and to take action to upgrade the project to Category A of the Public Works Programme before the actual moving of the railway terminus. It is estimated that the completion of working drawings, the preparation of Bills of Quantities and the carrying out of tender procedure will take approximately two years and thus, given early agreement to the use of this site for a museum, it may be possible to start construction immediately the existing railway terminus is vacated. This is currently expected to take place in 1975 and thus it would be prudent to accept the earliest possible date for completion as 1977. It must be stressed that these dates are very much in the nature of an estimate of possible timing and are entirely dependent on the date of Government's decision to proceed with this project.
With regard to the last part of the question, the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee of this Council agreed to allocate two former barrack buildings in Kowloon Park for use as a temporary museum, for the development of its educational services and local history sections. An item for conversion work has been included in Category D of the Public Works Programme for 1972-73.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, thank you for a very comprehensive answer. May I just ask is there an error made in the estimation of time?
MR. LO: You mean an error as regards time?
MR. NG: Yes.
MR. LO: Well, it is all very tentative. I do not know whether the Director of Public Works can say any more. I do not know whether he can say if any dates can be given. The earliest possible date is entirely dependent on Government's decision and so on. I do not think it can be more than tentative.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, the estimated date is approximately five years from now. Could I say the estimation could be 50% out? Mr. Chairman, are you ruling this question out of order?
CHAIRMAN: A hypothetical question, Mr. NG.
MR. BERNACCHI: The Chairman of the Museum and Art Gallery Select Committee has said that the earliest possible date for completion is 1977, could it be as late as 1980?
MR. LO: I sincerely hope it will not be as late as that.
(2) MR. PETER P. K. NG asked the following question:
(a) Is the Chairman aware that refuse and debris are accumulating at nearly all times of the day at Queen's Road Central right at the junction of Graham Street in front of the Golden City Restaurant?
(b) If the Chairman is aware of the situation can he advise this Council what effective measure he is taking to abate such nuisance?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
The location referred to was an authorized refuse collection point and of course refuse collected there daily. A recent rearrangement of traffic in the area has made it possible to dispense with this point and route refuse to another one in Stanley Street.