CO129-572-5 King George V Memorial- progress report on fund 15-10-1937 - 17-2-1938 — Page 14

Enclosure No.1.

14

KING GEORGE V MEMORIAL FOR HONG KONG

Official Scheme.

1. His Excellency the Governor has been informed from many

quarters of a general desire that Hong Kong should possess a worthy

Memorial to His late Majesty, King George V.

2. In the United Kingdom the National Memorial, with royal approval, will take the form of Playing Fields throughout the country with

suitable commemorative entrance gates. Members of the fighting Services in this Colony are subscribing to this Home memorial, and

any civilians who desire to contribute are reminded that remittances

shold be a 'dressed to "The King George National Memorial Fund, The

Mansion House, London, E.C.4".

3. At the present time of economic depression it is unlikely that

sufficient money could be raised in this Colony for the purchase of

large areas for playing fields. The Executive Council has therefore

had under most careful consideration the preparation of a plan

hich, while identical in its main purpose and conception with the

Home Scheme, will carry with it an assurance of immediate practical

success and of popular acceptance.

4.

The scheme which has emerged is that Government should preserve for public parks with children's playgrounds two open spaces, one in Victoria and the other in Kowloon. Both the proposed areas

adjoin congested districts, and any possible doubts as to their potential recreative and hygienic value will be speedily dispelled by an evening visit to the existing Southern Playing Ground at

Wantsai.

5. The area selected for Victoria is the beautiful garden of the present Government Civil Hospital, which will no longer be required when the Queen Mary Hospital opens next year. The Maternity Block and Medical Officer's quarters can be demolished and there will then be room for three playgrounds and (if funds permit) for a paddling pool, without encr achment on the fine lawn that already

exists. The many lovely trees, which luckily escaped mutilation by the recent typhoon, would of course be preserved in any future

lay-out.