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Mr. KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English):- Mr. Chairman, I rise and I hope you will not rule me out of order in making a few remarks. Mr. Chairman, you with your usual modesty have refrained from making any mention of the fact that you have recently been re-elected unopposed in the election. May I on behalf of myself and other members of this Council, offer you our congratulations.
CHAIRMAN (in English):- Thank you, Mr. Lo.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of February 1983.
QUESTIONS
1. MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question (in English):- Residents of Shun Lee Estate are in urgent need of football pitches, and proposed using a piece of vacant land for the purpose. Since their project was delayed by counter proposals by the Urban Council to build a temporary football stadium there, may I know:
(a) What is the proposed opening date of the temporary football stadium?
(b) Who is responsible for delaying the project?
(c) Were the views of the Kwun Tong District Board Members sought when proposals resulting in delay of the project were made?
(d) As the land is required for permanent use in 1984, why can it not be used now by the youngsters of this estate before time runs out?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, Chairman of the RECREATION SELECT Committee, replied as follows (in English):- This question concerns the proposed temporary use of a piece of vacant land at Shun Lee Tsuen Road, Kwun Tong, and is in four parts.
The first part seeks information on the opening date of a temporary football stadium on this site; the second part presupposes that someone is responsible for delaying the provision of a football pitch on this site and asks who it is; the third part asks whether the views of the Kwun Tong District Board Members were sought when, and I quote, 'proposals resulting in delay of the project were made' unquote; and the fourth part asks why the site cannot be used now by youngsters of the Shun Lee Estate before time runs out and the land will be permanently developed.
In April last year, the Kwun Tong District Board approved a proposal to allocate $100,000 to provide, on a temporary basis, two football pitches: one for the Kwun Tong Junior Police Call; and one for the District Office on behalf of the Kwun Tong Sports Promotion Association. Later, the District Office and the Commissioner of Police withdrew their requirement and subsequently the Urban Council agreed to develop the site for general public use.
At the July 1982 meeting of the Recreation Select Committee, Members were informed of the District Board's proposal and decided that the Urban Council should participate jointly with the District Board in the temporary development.
Since that time, meetings have been held between the various Government departments involved and other interested parties (i.e. representatives from the Kwun Tong Junior Police Call and the Kwun Tong Sports Promotion Association) to discuss the development of this site.
The site is at the top of a hill slope and geotechnical investigation has therefore been necessary. Nevertheless, Engineering Conditions and formal allocation of the land to Council have now been completed. A layout plan and project estimate will shortly be submitted to the relevant Select Committees for approval. The estimated cost is certain to be far in excess of the $100,000 which the District Board originally allocated for it and is more likely to be in the region of $300,000.
It is proposed to construct two mini-soccer pitches and a basketball court on the site, with the strip of land overlooking the slope fenced off for public safety. In answer to the first part of the question, it is hoped that the two mini-soccer pitches and basketball pitch will be completed in 4 to 6 months' time.
In answer to the second part, no one is responsible for any delay in the project as it has, of necessity, taken some time to draw up Engineering Conditions and obtain land allocation. This is standard procedure irrespective of which body is to carry out the development.
In answer to the third part, the Chairman of the Environmental Improvement Committee of the District Board has been kept fully informed of the revised proposal and his Committee decided in December 1982 that the site should be developed solely by the Urban Council.
Finally, in answer to the fourth part of the question, as the site stands at the moment, it would be dangerous to allow the public to make use of it. Every effort has been made to process the development as quickly as possible. It is hoped that work can commence in about 8 weeks' time.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):- Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Mr. Lo for the answer which is very encouraging, and would like to ask if he would make sure to press on with the project because of the shortage of playing fields in that particular area.
MR. Lo (in English):- We certainly will try to do so, Mr. Chairman.
(Miss Cecilia L. Y. YEUNG arrived at this point.)
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