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TURSDAY, MAY 14, 1985
MR YOUNG SAID THE COUNCIL HAD REFERRED THE PROPOSAL TO THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE FOR COMMENTS BEFORE IT COULD CONSIDER SUCH A DEVELOPMENT FURTHER.
THE COMMISSIONER HAS REQUESTED THE VIEWS OF THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WHO IN TURN IS CONSULTING THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION.
+THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS KEEPING THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE INFORMED OF PROGRESS ON THIS
ISSUE AND WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL TO REPORT I WILL ENSURE THAT MR SULKE IS ADVISED,+ SAID MR YOUNG.
THE PROPOSAL TO SET UP +SPEAKER'S CORNERS+ WAS FIRST MADE BY MR SULKE LAST FEBRUARY WHEN HE CALLED ON THE COUNCIL TO SET ASIDE AREAS IN LOCAL PARKS FOR USE AS
SPEAKER'S CORNER, SIMILAR TO THE ONE IN LONDON'S HYDE PARK, IN ORDER TO HELP HONG KONG ENTER THE POLITICAL AGE AND HELP 'EXERCISE FREE SPEECH.
TREE STUDY TO BETTER CONSERVATION
***
THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A MAJOR STUDY OF OLD TREES WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CONSERVANCY ASSOCIATION AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
THIS WAS REVEALED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, MR HOWARD YOUNG, WHEN REPLYING TO QUESTIONS BY MR WALTER SULKE AT TODAY'S URBAN COUNCIL MEETING.
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE PLANNERS TO INCORPORATE TREES WHEN PLANNING DEVELOPMENTS.
TURNING TO THE CONTROVERSIAL BANYAN TREES IN STANLEY, MR YOUNG SAID THE SALE OF THE SITE ON WHICH THE TREES STOOD HAD BEEN DEFERRED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD WITH A VIEW TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD NOT NECESSITATE REMOVAL OF THE TREES.
/+THE PROSPECTS