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volunteers and clean-up campaigners. Would the Chairman agree that this is a suitable measure for Council participation?
DR. HUANG: We would welcome this, and I would like that other Select Committees would do similar things by visiting the various organizations, markets, cooked food stalls, etc., under their control.
(7) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
Has the Government reviewed the question of the 16 acres left in Whitfield Barracks and considered reversing its decision not to set it all aside for community use and as open space?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
The area to which Mr. SALES' question refers is zoned on the current Outline Use Plan for commercial/residential development.
A note on the plan indicates that the area is subject to further detailed planning to include schools, shopping centres, multi-storey car parks and one-tenth of the area for public open space. I also understand that while the actual acreage involved is 18.4, the intention at the moment is to allocate approximately 5 acres permanently to the Council as open space—in addition to which acre has already been allocated to the Council temporarily.
I have repeatedly stressed to the Secretariat and the Director of Lands & Survey Council's wish to acquire the whole of this site for community use and open space—my last memo on the subject being dated early September—but as far as I am aware the decision has not yet been reviewed. I am hopeful, however, that I shall be able to get the Government to reconsider the matter. I do not think that the present plan is immutable.
MR. SALES: Sir, I would like to congratulate you on your reply, in particular the sentiments in the last paragraph of your answer. Sir, may I seek clarification about the acreage which is retained by Government? My Select Committee has always been told, I think by the Public Works Department, that the remaining acreage was 16, now I see that it is 18.4. Am I to understand that Government has retained an extra 2.4 acres without telling the Select Committee in the first place?
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CHAIRMAN: No. I think, Mr. SALES, if you recall, at a previous meeting there was some confusion, shall we say, about the actual acreage, and this is my latest information. There is no question of additional acreage; just a revised figure.
MR. SALES: Thank you very much indeed.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, in regard to the three-quarter acre, how temporarily has that particular site been allocated?
CHAIRMAN: As far as I can make out, it is available for temporary development as a children's playground. Again, as far as I can make out, it is eventually to come to us permanently in the main development of Stage II of the park.
(8) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
(a) Has the Colonial Secretariat reached a decision on the Council's proposal to set up a Recreation Service?
(b) As it is believed that, because of inter-departmental conflict of views and interests, a compromise scheme might be put forward which would not accord with the Council's recommendations, would the Chairman consider starting a Recreation Service in the Urban Services Department so as to make full and effective use of our sports facilities for the direct benefit of the people?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
(a) The Colonial Secretariat and interested departments have not yet finalized their thinking on the Council's proposal but good progress is being made; and I would like to think that a decision will be taken soon on how to proceed.
(b) In the circumstances I would prefer to await the outcome of these deliberations before considering any firm proposal to set up a Recreation Service in the Urban Services Department.
MR. SALES: Sir, may I ask you to make fresh representations to the Colonial Secretary on this particular point, and when you do so to send him the text of my question. Question 8(b) in particular is of importance, because I was most favoured with certain information as to what is going on, and I was so alarmed that I put this question down, and so the text of the question is of particular importance to the Urban Council.
CHAIRMAN: This will be done, MR. SALES.
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