TNAG-0657-FCO40-806-Town-planning-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 39

8.

IV,

cont.

17.

The Director, Urban Services was charged with the conflicting respons „bility of delivering Your Excellency e majority of the Urban Council's apparent views on the matter. It was well known that the Heritage Society was collecting signatures for a petition.

on 24 May, 1977, Your Excellency's decision was released.

18.

However,

The Urban Council refused to meet the Heritage Society to

discuss these issues.

Annex. G

19.

A meeting was requested with Your Excellency but it was suggested that a meeting with the Secretary for the Environment was more appropriate.

20. The Secretary for the Environment informed the Heritage Society on 8 June, 1977, that drawings were not advanced enough to be looked at

and that detailed plans did not exist. He further said that the cost

of preservation of the K.C.R. building was not a material factor.

21.

The Urban Council meeting on 12 July, 1977, made it clear that the Urban Council was acting on the basis of the D.P.W./D.U.S. views

and not those of the public. Mr. Forsgate, Chairman of the Planning & Development Select Committee said "...he who pays the piper calls

the twe". But it is the tax and rate payers who pay the piper.

22.

IN SUMMARY THEREFORE:

(i) the argument that "the plans had gone too far to be altered"

has been used since a very early date when the sketches were

presumably even less advanced than the present sketches;

(ii) the actual composition of the Cultural Complex itself was under

discussion in a major way as late as this year, and is still

under discussion, and still not finalized.

(iii) changes in the sketch plans have been made;

(iv) there is considerable division of architectural opinion in the

Public Works Department, but it seems apparent that the view of

the Director, Public Works has prevailed over the Urban Council,

and over the public, and various relevant societies;

(v)

a decision should not be regarded as unalterable merely because

it will require furth planning by the partments concerned;

;