TNAG-0657-FCO40-806-Town-planning-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 5

C.S. 166

CONFIDENTIAL #

XCC(77)89

Copy No. Page 3

34

of 40

on grounds of historic interest, architectural quality, landmark significance and cultural value, other issues are also raised.

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The petition suggests that an independent inquiry should be convened, to obtain the open and frank view of all the parties concerned and of the general public in order to facilitate sensible and informed replanning of the tip of Tsim Sha Tsui. The petition contends that the Cultural Complex can be replanned and resited elsewhere, so that the former Kowloon-Canton Railway station building can be preserved. It maintains that the planning of the Cultural Complex is not so far advanced as to prevent more imaginative replanning of this part of Tsim Sha Tsui. The petition further suggests the retention of the Marine Police Station buildings and the preservation of the knoll on which they are perched and advocates the resiting of the public transport terminus elsewhere away from this site as shown on the latest Plan LK1/56. Finally, the Society considers that the planning process ought to be revised to ensure the greater participation of the public at various stages of town planning.

Need for an early completion of the Cultural Complex

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There is a growing demand for the type of cultural activities performed in the Hong Kong City Hall. During the past few years the City Hall has generally been receiving at least twice as many applica- tions for bookings as it can accept. Furthermore, the present concert hall and theatre at the City Hall are inadequate for certain types of production. There is, therefore, a pressing need to provide additional and better facilities. The Government therefore considers that a new Cultural Complex should be built at Tsim Sha Tsui as soon as possible.

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Planning for this Cultural Complex is at an advanced stage. The design of a cultural complex on this important site must provide buildings which are practical, pleasing and dignified. The design which has been adopted was accepted by the Government and the Urban Council after considerable discussion and consideration of alternative designs. It would be totally changed by the retention of the former railway station building. It is the view both of the Government and of the Urban Council that a scheme which included this building would provide for a less pleasing and less practical cultural complex. Moreover, it will take another one-and-a-half to two years to redesign the complex, if such a substantial change were felt to be necessary. The Government considers that delays of this order cannot be accepted and that every effort should be made to complete the new facilities by the end of 1980.

CONFIDENTIAL

機密