Page 123 of 146
202
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
have said that they would repair defective roads within two weeks and the matter has been discussed in the District Boards. Perhaps if Mr. Lau can inform me about the particular situation on a particular street, I would be very happy to forward the information to the relevant department so that repairs can be carried out speedily.
3. MRS. GRACE HO asked the following question (in English):-What effects would the Mass Transit Railway Island Line have on the Urban Council capital works programme?
MR. LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL WORKS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):--This question concerns the effect of the Mass Transit Railway Island Line on the Urban Council's capital works programme.
In March 1981, the Urban Council was informed that 16 sites in which it has an interest would be required in connection with the construction of the M.T.R. Island Line. These sites fall into two main groups, those which have been earmarked for Urban Council projects but have not yet been allocated to the Council and those on which there are existing Urban Council facilities which will have to be removed either temporarily or permanently.
In view of the number of sites involved, I do not propose to describe each of them in detail and information on them is contained in the paper which has been tabled.
In the case of the first group, i.e., sites which have been earmarked for Urban Council projects but not allocated, the effect will, in general, be that projects have had to be deferred for periods up to four years. Although it is not possible to forecast the extent of inflation during the next few years, it seems likely that the cost of these projects will be substantially increased.
In the case of the second group, i.e., sites on which Urban Council facilities have already been provided, the effect of the construction work will be, in some cases that facilities have to be demolished and provided elsewhere and, in others, the Mass Transit Railway Corporation will reinstate the facilities on the original site when construction work has been completed. In one case, namely the Sai Wan Ho market, the existing market and hawker bazaar will be required for the construction of a M.T.R. station and concourse which is due to commence in the middle of this year. The Urban Council has agreed to enter into a joint venture with the Mass Transit Railway Corporation to re-develop the site on completion of construction work and a modern Urban Council Complex will be included in the development. This will accommodate a market, offices, recreation facilities, an auditorium and other cultural facilities. Phase I of this will be completed in 1983 and phase II is scheduled for completion in 1986. This site will also contain domestic accommodation to be constructed by the M.T.R.C. in a multi-storey development over the Urban Council Complex. The Council's share of the cost of this development is estimated to be of the order of $74 million and the Council's capital works programme has had to be adjusted to provide funds for this major development which will, in fact, take place earlier than originally planned.
Urban Council Projects affected by the Mass Transit Railway Island Line Group I-Sites earmarked for Urban Council projects but not yet affected (a) An open space at Lambeth Walk in Central the development of which would have to be deferred for four years from March 1981 until 1985. Prior to March 1981, this site has been used by the M.T.R.C. in connection with the Modified Initial System.
(b) An open space site east of Murray Road multi-storey carpark in Central has been permanently alienated to the M.T.R.C. for a multi-storey development. The intention is that a public open space will be provided at podium level instead.
(c) An open space site at Harcourt Road in Central on which development would have to be deferred for four years from June 1981 for use by the M.T.R.C.
(d) A vacant site at the junction of Hennessy Road and O'Brien Road which has been cleared of its old toilet and bathhouse and earmarked for development as a refuse collection point, public toilet and bathhouse has been permanently alienated to the M.T.R.C. since June 1981. The U.C. facilities will be reprovisioned in the comprehensive multi-storey re-development on a larger site located to the east of the football pitch at Southorn Playground.
(e) Development of an open space site at Wanchai Reclamation would have to be deferred for four years from August 1981 to 1985. Prior to August 1981, the M.T.R.C. has been using this site as a works area for the Modified Initial System. This site will continue to be used for the H.K. Island Line Scheme.
(f) An open space site near the junction of Fortress Hill Road and King's Road in North Point which had been zoned for open space development will be permanently alienated to the M.T.R.C.
(g) A site at Moreton Terrace earmarked for two tennis courts will have to be alienated for four years from July 1981 to 1985 for a works area. The M.T.R.C. will provide two temporary tennis courts in 1985 on the original site.
(h) A number of sites on the Aldrich Bay Reclamation intended for district open space and local open space use is affected. Part of the area has not however been reclaimed. Detailed proposals concerning provisioning of open spaces in this area will be discussed in due course with the Government.
Page 123 of 146