92
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Advantage has been taken of this extra time by the Project Architect to revise the layout plan of the whole of the Park to achieve a more rational spread of the various active and passive recreational developments. The revised master layout plan was presented to Council in June 1985 and was accepted by the Recreation Select Committee and Capital Works Select Committee.
We understand that the construction of the shop sites along Nathan Road will be completed some time towards the early part of 1986. The planning of the Extension to the Chinese Garden is proceeding with a view to starting work in mid 1986.
MR. L. H. KWAN (in Cantonese):-Two supplementary questions, Mr. Chairman. First of all, will the Urban Council allow commercial organizations to sell the shop sites and then delay our park extension project, is this appropriate? Secondly, if there is a delay of two years, will it not affect the building cost because there would be increase in the price of the material, etc. and we would have to spend money on the same project then?
MR. HOWARD YOUNG (in Cantonese): First of all, regarding the first part of your question, i.e. whether we would wait until these shop sites are sold before we start work; the extension of the park has been delayed because there is a common boundary and if we and they started work simultaneously there would be some difficulty. Whether the shop sites are sold is another issue altogether, but as long as construction work on the shop sites has been completed, then we can start work and need not wait until they are sold. As to whether the delay will cause any increase in building costs, there are pros and cons according to experience. In the past we have experienced delays where the eventual bill ended up to be less than what we at first envisaged. But if a private project caused delays to our project, there is no precedence on the question of whether we should ask for compensation.
MR. STEPHEN LAU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, several years ago, when Government agreed to having this site developed by the private developer, we were very worried about the fact that a delay in the project or improper development would affect the park and we were given an assurance then, that the plans would have to be agreed by the Council first and that there should not be any adverse effect on the park. As the shop sites are about to be completed, I would like to know whether we have paid attention to this aspect, i.e. whether they would affect the environment of Kowloon Park when completed?
MR. HOWARD YOUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, at that time, government said it would like to have the land sold by auction and the Urban Council objected to the decision, but our objection was overruled. Under such circumstances, the Recreation Select Committee and the Capital Works Select Committee carefully vetted the building plans of the shops sites to see firstly, whether the park would be affected and secondly, whether trees along Nathan Road would be affected. Our objection was based on the possible adverse effect on the environment and the concern that the banyan trees along Nathan Road would be affected. In the course of our consideration, we did pay attention to the design of the shops, whether the roof tops would be used for other purposes, and whether the exhaust system provided by the shops would be adequate. We had a detailed discussion on these matters. If you see the project as it is, you will note that there are solid roofs and this is what we insisted on then. We also insisted that the exhaust air should be displaced sidewards instead of affecting the park, therefore, Mr. LAU's question point had been discussed by the relevant select committees and due attention paid.
Page 61 of 195
93
4. MR. L. H. KWAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):--Is the sale of liquor restricted to certain hours of the day under the current policy of the Liquor Licensing Board? Under what circumstances will the sale of liquor be restricted to certain hours of the day?
MR. CHAN CHI-KWAN, Peter, CHAIRMAN OF THE Liquor Licensing Board, replied as follows (in Cantonese): The question relates to the control of the sale of liquor in liquor licensed premises and the question is in two parts. In the first part, Mr. KWAN asks whether the sale of liquor in liquor licensed premises is restricted to certain hours of the day under current policy. The short answer to this question is no. Under current Council policy and the provisions of the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations, Cap. 109, there is no time restriction prescribed in general governing the sale of liquor in liquor licensed premises.
In the second part of the question Mr. KWAN asks under what circumstances will the sale of liquor be restricted to certain hours of the day. Mr. KWAN may be aware that under the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor) Regulations the Liquor Licensing Board is empowered, when granting or renewing a licence, to impose special conditions in addition to the standard conditions specified in Form 2 of the Regulations. The Board has in the past imposed a special condition on certain liquor licensed premises restricting the sale of liquor in such premises to certain hours of the day.
Such instances are few and are invariably the result of the premises concerned having caused serious noise nuisances and/or disturbance to the annoyance of the nearby residents. In such cases, the Board only imposes such a condition after carefully considering the views of all concerned, namely the affected residents, the police and the District Officer concerned as well as the licensee/applicant and we conduct open meetings in this Chamber.
Out of 2 110 liquor licences, which does not include the club licences, now in force, only four are subject to such a condition-two prohibiting the sale of liquor between 12 mid-night and 8 a.m.; one between 12 mid-night and 10 a.m. and one between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Page 61 of 19