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car park elsewhere. As regards a community hall, it is not clear whether the District Board has consulted the Director of Social Welfare who already has plans for community buildings throughout the urban areas. If by 'community hall' the District Board means a cultural centre, surely the newly opened Ko Shan theatre meets the need.
MR. YOUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, through you, that although there had been a case put up to justify using the open space for a car park, if there is a case for using this recreational open space for another form of recreation, say for instance, tennis instead of football, would that be against the policy of the Urban Council and would that be given some consideration?
MR. Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, that certainly would not be against the policy of the Council, but these plans were discussed and approved by the Recreation Select Committee some time ago. We have to have a balanced development of the various sports facilities required and I would stress that we cannot sit around and wait indefinitely before implementing the scheme. It is vital that as soon as the area is clear, we go ahead. There is only one mini-soccer pitch and one full-sized soccer pitch, and the space is just sufficient for that. That is why I think we should decide to go ahead to put in these facilities.
MR. PAO (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, if in future, the district board has other comments on the development of the Carpenter Road park, will the Urban Council give it consideration? And how is the Urban Council going to improve consultation with the District Board so as to meet the needs of the local community?
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Would you like to answer that, Mr. Lo?
MR. Lo (in English):—If you wish me to, Mr. Chairman. This particular development, of course, as I said in my answer, was actually started in 1979 before we had the District Board. Now we are at the stage of implementation for Stage I development, the one that is going to start next month, or very soon there would be really no possibility of changing it. But, for later developments, if the District Board put up a strong case for some other development as open space, of course, we would consider it provided that it is within a reasonable time span.
MR. C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I recall that near the Causeway Bay Magistracy, there is a certain space within Victoria Park being used as a car park which is supposed to be part of the Park. I cannot recall whether it was the Transport Department or a certain Government department which requested the use of that piece of land as a temporary car park.
In future, if we approve the provision of this soccer pitch and other facilities, there is still a need for the provision of car parks. Can we consider the site just mentioned which has been used as a temporary car park for about 10 years or so?
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mentioned which has been used as a temporary car park for about 10 years or so?
MR. Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as far as the parking lot next to the Victoria Park is concerned, I have been told authoritatively that it forms part of the park. I have been told equally authoritatively that it does not form part of the park. It is entirely outside it. So I am not really sure of the exact status of this particular area. As for providing parking spaces within the Carpenter Road development, if Mr. Chairman would like to look at the plan for it, there is really very little space apart from the football pitches, the rest garden and so on. I would suggest that a parking lot within this would not be feasible.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, cultural activities have a direct bearing on the work of the Urban Council, and the Kowloon City District Board indicated that they would like to have a community hall within their district. Of course, the community hall should be provided by the Social Welfare Department, but we also have the responsibility to promote cultural activities in Kowloon City. As mentioned by Mr. Lo, we have very little space there. But can we make use of the space earmarked as offices, expand it or make use of one storey as a cultural centre? It does not have to be large scale like the 3,000 capacity Ko Shan Theatre. We can have a small cultural centre with the seating capacity of about 500 to 600. I am sure that it will help to promote cultural activities in Kowloon City.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—The supplementary is really outside the scope of the question. But Mr. Lo, if you could concentrate on the recreation aspect of it, would you like to say anything with regard to the supplementary question?
MR. Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am not sure how I can answer that question. As far as I can gather, Miss YEUNG had suggested that in an office block somewhere, we put in cultural facilities. That really is a question to be answered by my Friend, the Honourable F. K. Hu who is absent. It is really out of the scope of my committee. It may be worthwhile considering, but I hardly think it's within the scope of the Recreation Select Committee. I am sorry I cannot answer that.
MR. YOUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, just now, Mr. Lo mentioned about the possibility of using an office block for cultural facilities. Can Mr. Lo confirm that when the Committee discussed the layout plan of the project, not far from the north of Carpenter Road, a piece of land had been earmarked as a certain type of cultural centre. Of course, it is outside the borders of Kowloon City.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—You are asking about the cultural matters.
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