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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
I remember that at the annual conventional debate in January 1976 I pointed out sports grounds in various parts of the New Territories had not been repaired for a long time and were in urgent need of improvement. And, up to now the sports ground on the peak of Cheung Chau still has not been completed. Construction work is progressing at a snail's pace. It is hoped that Government review and speed up construction so that this sports ground would be completed and open for public use as soon as possible. A standard running track also be provided for this sports ground additional facility so as to satisfy the islanders' need for recreational and sports activities.
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I have also mentioned about the Tai O Sports Ground in Lantao. For the past ten years, people of Tai O have been without a standard sports ground or a running track. As a result, accidents occurred and school children were injured in athletic meet events and sports activities organized by the 19 primary schools and 2 secondary schools of the area. Parents are dissatisfied and are reluctant to let their children take part in such activities. Who is to blame then? I have before urged Government to give priority to the provision in Tai O of a more well-equipped sports ground and a running track, but Government has turned a deaf ear to me. It has been three years since, but things remain unchanged. I wish to reiterate the proposal I made at the annual conventional debate held in January 1976, that is, Government should actively consider building a sports ground and a running track in Tai O, Lantao and make decision as soon as possible so that the actual construction work could begin at an early date.
As far as I know, there are over 2,000 school children in each and every aided primary school in the public housing estates and none is equipped with a playground. I earnestly hope playgrounds and carparks would immediately be provided in these schools so that school environment would be improved and the school children would have a proper place for recreational activities and assembly purpose. These facilities should be available in schools, and Government should pay particular attention to it. For a district such as Kwun Tong which has a population of over 700,000, there should be more opportunities for its residents to engage in worthwhile activities for relaxation of both body and mind. I feel that there is a genuine need for Government to build in this district a sports ground and a running track up to the modern standard. We know that over-crowded living condition is the cause of many of our social problems. But we can hope recreational and sports activities would channel the people to a more civilized and healthy way of life, thereby bringing joy and happiness to individuals as well as the whole community.
Hong Kong has at present a population of over 4,600,000, the majority of which in the urban area. Therefore, country parks equipped with barbecue pits and wooden chairs for resting purpose should be developed at suitable sites in the suburban areas so as to provide recreational grounds for the
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public. There is a stretch of hills behind Fung Ying Sin Koon at Fanling-Sheung Shui, known locally as Mong Tak Shan in Tin Sum Village, which has become a favourite jogging ground for quite a number of Fanling and Sheung Shui morning walkers. On Sundays and public holidays the place is filled with visitors from town. It is indeed a good pleasure ground and should therefore be turned into a country park so that people in their leisure can come to relax. I do hope that the overall plan for turning this spot into a country park would soon be made and that the park would be completed and ready for use at an early date.
Regarding the question of demolishing factories and residential premises to make way for the Mass Transit Railway and the question of resiting these factories and people, I feel that when a construction project of this magnitude is involved, such questions are inevitable. However, the right of these people should be protected too, otherwise disputes between Government and the people will be unavoidable. I must point out here that under the present Government policy, the people affected are not only the residents of the 7 buildings at Sai Lau Kok, Tsuen Wan and the 22 factories in North Tsuen Wan, but also the operators of the more than 3,000 factories which are facing the date of demolition in various parts of Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. Just to say that it is impossible to provide resite can never solve the problem.
I have long suggested that if Government must resume a piece of land, it should adopt the house-for-house and shop-for-shop exchange policy and let the affected landlord choose freely a unit with the same area and on the same floor as before. The landlords should be paid removal and decoration fees and compensated for the losses suffered for having to suspend work for removal to take place. They should also be recouped for the time, energy and travelling expenses spent in running about to look for suitable premises so that they would not suffer any slightest loss or inconvenience. Only by doing so could Government hope to win over the people completely. I consider that industrial production plays a decisive role in Hong Kong, and therefore Government should adopt a more positive policy in safeguarding the right of local factories. This should be more beneficial to Hong Kong's future economy than going out of its way to make appeals to the Japanese businessmen. Let's hope that the authorities will think this over.
Finally, on the question of Urban Council election while the world is clamouring for democracy and freedom of election, to show that there is democracy in Hong Kong, there is only the Urban Council having 12 elected seats. From the absolute democracy point of view, such a political system is far behind that of the democratic countries in Europe and America. Compared with the political system in Britain, there is still a world of difference. Though the kind of democracy which exists in Hong Kong does not meet all what the people wish for, yet it is better than having no democracy at all.
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