HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and gentlemen, it is just 4 o'clock and I will proceed with the business of today's meeting.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 21st September, 1976 were confirmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Repeatedly over the years the Council has expressed grave concern over the terrible shortage of green areas and play amenities in urban Kowloon where there is heavy concentration of people. In particular, all those built-up districts north of Jordan Road and west of Nathan Road to the foothills are badly served. And, prospects of immediate improvement are bleak.
While steady progress may have been made meanwhile in the north-eastern part of the peninsula, yet existing public open spaces cannot be accepted as adequate in relation to numbers of people. Even worse, little of significance has been achieved on the western side.
From time to time the Government has been urged to use Service lands as the only ready-made solution. The decision to relinquish them was announced by the military authorities sometime ago. But, there is no positive evidence that the Government intends in turn to put them to public use for such community services as generally lacking. It seems curious that while title may have passed nominally to our civil authorities, yet the community is kept in the dark how such choice lands will be used for the common good. For the people it is a vital issue. Yet the Government tarries. Is there no policy, perhaps? Land lies idle while the people have nowhere to play. So, children use the streets perforce.
In most districts in western Kowloon the situation is depressing. It makes a mockery of town-planning. An observer might be forgiven for wondering whether there was the intention to achieve a balance of land use in the community interest. If so, it is not readily apparent.
Let us look specially at Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po and Lai Chi Kok. Open land for community recreation west of Nathan Road is scarce. Most of what are found can best be described as bits and pieces of land few and far between. Some, presumably not capable of being put to use for any other purpose, have been turned into amenity plots or diminutive play-areas.
At one time it appeared that there would be no other course but for the Government to engage in extensive resumption of private land for public purposes. This would aggravate the housing plight of many of our lower-income families and might disrupt their livelihoods. Certainly, there would be a hue and cry. In any case, public sympathy would be with the people. To be sure, it was never their fault. Why should they have to pay the price then? For the crass ignorance or cynical indifference of those who were then responsible for laying out these districts? Did they not think that the people who would one day live there would also need recreation and other essential community services?
It seems to me the Government must now resort to creating land from the harbour. In fact, Lai Chi Kok Bay is due to be reclaimed. The scheme has long been in planning and discussion. The public has been promised that there will be plenty of land for active recreation there. But will it be enough for the teeming hundreds of thousands of people living in northwest Kowloon, not only in public housing estates but also in private developments?
Still, Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok are far away. Also, the situation is worse. And, many hundreds of thousands of people live there too. Indeed, some parts are said to have the highest density in the world. All in all, there is only one practical solution. The Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter. It should be reclaimed as has been suggested. And, soonest possible. Also, cost what it may within reason. Of course, it will involve relocation of those who use it traditionally; but, suitable alternative arrangements can no doubt be made for them. When the lay-out of the reclamation is considered, let the opportunity not be lost to set right the heavy imbalance of land use. Ample areas should be developed for rest and recreation. In reality, it is urban Kowloon's last hope. For the sake of the people, let it not be dashed.
(Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN and Miss Cecilia L. Y. YEUNG arrived at this point.)
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of September 1976.
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