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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
For the 12 months ending 31 March 1982, 82 projects were completed. For the 9 months ending 31 December 1982, 36 projects were completed, including: Admiralty Garden, Victoria Park Center Court, Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade and Shek Kip Mei Park Stage II. This brings to a total 525 projects having been completed since financial autonomy of the Council in 1973.
Other significant projects scheduled for completion in 1983 are: Aberdeen U.C. Complex, Ko Shan Road Park and Open Theatre, Hong Kong Coliseum. Lai Chi Kok Indoor Games Hall.
For 1983, it is anticipated that the following projects would be started: Sham Shui Po Swimming Pool Complex, Choi Hung Road Playground, further improvements to Kowloon Park, Aberdeen Sports Ground, Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground and Swimming Pool Complex, Lockhart Road U.C. Complex, New Western U.C. Complex, Kowloon City U.C. Complex, Museum of Teaware, Suzhou Garden, Kowloon Central Library and the New Mei Foo Sun Chuen Library. The Urban Council will also embark on two joint venture projects, one at Lower Lascar Row with the Hong Kong Housing Society, and one at Po On Road with the Housing Authority.
Last week, we witnessed the laying of the foundation stone of the Western U.C. Complex by the Vice-Chairman, Mr. H. M. G. Forsgate. This complex will incorporate on the lower floors market facilities consisting of 192 market stalls selling poultry, meat and fish and 305 mini stalls selling fruit, vegetables and other sundry goods; a cooked food centre of 22 stalls, district cultural facilities consisting of an auditorium, a recital theatre, rehearsal halls, music practice rooms, a painting studio, a small lecture hall and exhibition halls will be on the lower floors. The ninth floor of the complex will have office accommodation and rehearsal facilities for the four U.C. performing companies. The tenth floor will be used as a district library of 2,900 sq. meters. The eleventh floor will be the offices of the Western District Headquarters of the City Services Department. On the 12th and 13th floors, there will be an indoor games hall for basketball, volleyball and badminton and smaller halls for judo, archery, fencing, fitness training and 5 squash courts. Total costs on completion is expected to be $140 million. The concept of 'complex' evolved from Urban Council's desire to make full use of scarce urban land resources.
Meanwhile, other complexes are also under construction. The Sai Wan Ho Complex Phase I is scheduled for completion at the end of 1983, the To Kwa Wan Complex in early 1984, and the Ngau Chi Wan Complex in the middle of 1984.
There are also many other complexes under feasibility studies all over the urban areas. In fact, the Urban Council is planning to build 150 projects over the next 5 years at an estimated cost of $2,362 million. It is also anticipated that by 1986-87 the capital expenditure for that year alone will amount to $629 million.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Much has been said in this chamber over the last few years on the Council's achievements in capital works project, but none could have been achieved without the determination of the Council or the co-operation between the U.S.D. and the Building Developments Department, the Architectural Office together with the private consultants. Capital works projects take time to plan and even more time to implement. The forward momentum built up over the last few years must be maintained.
Here, I would like to echo the suggestion of our Vice-Chairman, and that is, the Council should now take advantage of the very keen prices offered by the construction industry and push ahead as quickly as possible with its development projects. If necessary, Council should explore alternate sources of financing these projects in addition to the conventional method of using current income. The citizens of Hong Kong have the right to expect a better quality of life, and we must not deprive them of that fulfilment.
Science Museum Sub-Committee
The good news is that the Chatham Road East site will be allocated to Council shortly to be used for the permanent Museum of Science and Technology and the Museum of History. Government has accepted the consultants' recommendations thus procedurally paving the way for the appointment of consultant architects. The bad news is financial constraints. Apparently, money is not available yet to even appoint the consultant, so the starting date for the permanent Museum is still somewhat uncertain. But, the Council on its own initiative is currently conducting a search for suitable temporary premises. The need is there as witnessed by the strong public support of all activities conducted by the Science Museum section.
Meanwhile, 15 Popular Science Lectures were presented during the year. I would like to give public recognition to the lecturers who so graciously and generously gave up their valuable time to conduct these lectures. For the coming year, a new series of lectures on Chemical Science will be launched. It is anticipated that the attendance figure will increase from 3,000 to 4,000. More lectures can still be given if suitable venues were available. The department is also being asked to find larger venues for the more popular lectures. It is not uncommon to have to turn away members of the public from the audience during the past year.
For 1983, plans are well in hand for the mounting of a major exhibition on general physics and applied science in November. This exhibition will last for three weeks and we are hopeful of attracting a large attendance.
On the publication front, the Science Museum sponsored the 6th Joint School Science Bulletin. Copies of the bulletin were distributed to schools, science societies and libraries.
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