TNAG-0317-FCO40-353-Policy-of-housing-and-resettlement-in-Hong-Kong-problem-of-s-1971 — Page 43

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. A. de O. SALES: Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the Commissioner for Resettlement for the answers to my three questions. They have served to prove the point I set out to make. As I understand the Commissioner is not well, I will refrain from asking supplementary questions. Only the absolutely necessary ones were put today and I hope he gets well very soon.

(4) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-

What plans, if any, does the Council have for organizing

holiday camp activities for children?

MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-

Holiday camps for children are organized on behalf of the

Urban Council by the Hong Kong Boys Scouts Associa- tion, with the cost of these camps being paid for out of the Council's vote for public recreation activities which amounts to $350,000. Last year, 19 such four-day camps were held during July and August for some 4,000 children at a cost of $100,000.

A proposal for the Council's 1971-72 public recreation activi- ties is being prepared for consideration by the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee at its next meeting according to standard procedure. It is intended that holiday camps will be part of this year's programme as well.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, has the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee considered on any previous occasion apply- ing to Government for land in the New Territories so that it could operate a holiday camp all the year round for children in the urban areas and also in the New Territories?

MR. A. de O. SALES: -Sir, the Urban Council is always more than happy to go into the New Territories. We are prevented from so doing by Government policy. If you would like us to apply for areas in the New Territories to establish such camps and other recreation facilities we would be very happy to do so in the public interest.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Could the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee do look into this possibility, Mr. Chairman?

MR. A. de O. SALES: Sir, we have looked into this possibility many times. It is a question of Government being willing to let the Urban Council go into the New Territories. Do you think Government is likely to agree?