Page 195
62
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
be done more successfully. But because of the financial constraints I am sure Mr. CHAN, who is not a member of the Food Hygiene Select Committee but a member of the SCWC, would understand and perhaps we will look into this problem.
8. MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU asked the following question (in Cantonese):- Over many years there have been proposals for the Council to be given the extensively remaining wooded areas of Victoria Barracks for public park purposes. Could I please know the latest position on this matter and if Government has formally allocated the land to the Urban Council?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—The question asks for the latest position on the long outstanding proposal for the Council to be given the extensive remaining wooded areas of the former Victoria Barracks site for public park purposes and whether Government has formally allocated the land to the Urban Council.
A master development plan of the Victoria Barracks Recreation and Leisure Area was approved by Council in November 1985. Since then, the consulting architects have been working on the preparation of more detailed designs. The layout plans together with the cost estimates for individual items will be ready for submission to Council for approval in November 1986. It is expected that construction will commence in mid 1988.
The land has not yet been formally allocated to the Urban Council but the Secretary for Lands and Works confirmed at a Legislative Council Meeting in April this year that the temporary usage of most of the buildings in the Victoria Barracks could be terminated at six months' notice and the whole site could be released for development in accordance with the envisaged programme.
MR. LAU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask why is it that we have to wait 3 years before work can commence? Secondly, before the construction commences, can the land be given to the UC first because if the trees or the wooded areas are not managed, then it will become rotten and it will be detrimental to our image?
MR. WONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, if the trees are not attended to, I do not think they will rot and we will have natural resources coming from the sky in the form of rain and they will certainly grow. In the past 100 years we have not heard that the Government would employ staff to administer the land. As to why we have to wait for 3 years, as I have said, the plan will only be submitted for approval this November and it is near the end of the financial year, then we will have to do the tendering exercise and everything else. 3 years is not too long to wait.
9.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 195
63
MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU asked the following question (in Cantonese):- The Urban Council controls most of the open spaces within the urban area and I have noticed that at almost every meeting of the Recreation Select Committee Council is asked to give up one or more pieces of this valuable public open space, permanently or temporarily. In fact, we are frequently presented with proposals which have gone beyond the preliminary stage and there is thus little that the Council can do to protect the interest of the public who use these open spaces.
Could I be assured that the most vigorous representation has been made to Government explaining that Council administered land is just not available for other purposes unless there are overriding public needs for its alienation?
MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—The question asks for assurance that when the Council is requested to give up valuable public open space either permanently or temporarily, the most vigorous representation is made to Government explaining that Council-administered land is just not available for other purposes unless there are overriding public needs for its alienation.
A simple register of alienation of public open spaces has been kept at the request of the Recreation Select Committee since 1 April 1985. This was last presented to the Recreation Select Committee for information on 13 November 1985. The records indicate that land is alienated mainly to facilitate road improvements, construction of public utilities and redevelopment of housing projects. In the case of permanent alienations, alternative sites have been normally provided in exchange and for the year ended 31 March 1986, there was a total net gain of 5.99 hectares of land as a result of these exchange and alienation arrangements.
In each case, the request for alienation is closely examined by the Recreation Select Committee, bearing in mind the progress of any project planned for the site. The request will only be approved when the Recreation Select Committee is fully satisfied that there are genuine overriding public needs for the alienation.
10. MR. TONG KAM-BIU asked the following question (in Cantonese):—At the Council's last meetings, the Chairman reported that ways were being studied to improve the Council's corporate image. May I know the rationale behind this decision, and what developments have taken place?
DR. THE HONOURABLE KIM Y. S. CHAM, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-In some respects the Council is a 'new' one; new in the sense that it has a new Chairman, a new Vice Chairperson, new Chairpersons of six of its Select Committees, and five new elected members. It follows on that there has been much new thinking within the Council in the past few months, some of which has focussed on the need to give greater publicity to what the Council has done and is doing within its spheres of special responsibility on behalf of the Hong Kong urban community. It has
Page 195