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MARCH 12, 1985

+EVEN, HOWEVER IF ADEQUATE DEFINITIONS COULD BE MORDED, IT WOULD APPEAR INAPPROPRIATE FOR SUCH CONTROLS TO DE EXERCISED BY THE COUNCIL.

+CONTROL COULD ONLY BE IMPOSED BY THE COUNCIL IN THE FORM OF ADDITIONAL STATUTORY LICENSING CONDITIONS UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URDAN SERVICES ORDINANCE.

*THAT ORDINANCE IS CONCERNED WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AND TO EXTEND ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO COVER THE SAFEGUARDING OF THE MORAL FIBRE OF YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD SEEM TO CONSTITUTE AN EXTENSION OF THE COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY AS FRAMED IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE AND EXTENSION OF THE COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY INTO AREAS QUITE OUTSIDE ITS HISTORIC AREAS OF CONCERN.+

ALIENATION OF UC FACILITIES SATISFACTORY

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THE PRESENT PROCEDURES FOR THE ALIENATION OF URBAN COUNCIL FACILITIES, INCLUDING OPEN SPACE, PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS, ARE SATISFACTORY.

THIS WAS STATED BY MR KENNETH LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE FECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE AT TODAY'S OPEN MEETING OF THE URBAN COUNCIL WHEN REPLYING TO MRS MARGARET LI'S QUESTIONS.

EXPLAINING THE PROCEDURES MR LO SAID: +EACH CASE IS CONSIDERED ON ITS OWN MERITS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE OVERALL INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC, THE EFFECT OF THE ALIENATION ON THE FACILITIES, THE SUITABILITY OF THE COMPENSATORY LAND GRANT, IF ANY, AND THE PERIOD OF THE ALIENATION.

+ IF THE COUNCIL IS SATISFIED THAT THE ALIENATION IS STIFIED, THEN THE REQUEST IS ALLOWED.+

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT, ANY ALIENATION THAT INVOLVES THE FELLING OF TREES OR THE LOSS OF GREENERY, WILL BE EXAMINED MOST CAREFULLY BY THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT AS FEW TREES AS POSSIBLE ARE LOST.

WHERE POSSIBLE, TRANSPLANTING OF THE TREES OR REPFOVISION OF THE GREENERY IS REQUIRED AS A CONDITION FOR THE ALIENATION.

THE EFFECT SUCH ALIENATION HAS ON KEEPING HONG KONG REEN IS THEREFORE KEPT TO A MINIMUM, MR LO SAID,

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