TNAG-0691-FCO40-840-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 59

C.S. 166

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XCC(77)61

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island lies in its trees and vegatation, and unfortunately (as experience elsewhere has shown) uncontrolled use of the island by the public would almost certainly lead to their destruction by fire and to the spoiling of the country- side by litter. The buildings on the island require main- tenance and management, if they are not to fall into ruin.

3 The distance of the island from the urban area would make effective fire control impossible, and the collection of litter would be difficult. For these reasons, the Secretariat view was that, if the island was to be allocated for recreational purposes, it would have to be under the unified control of a single responsible organisation. Consequently, discussions were conducted with a major welfare organisation to see if this could be achieved. During these discussions it became clear that no organisa- tion would be likely to assume the responsibility for managing the island unless the full cost of establishing, maintaining and running it were met by the Government. Any agreement on these lines would certainly take a considerable time to negotiate.

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While many of these objections remain valid, it would be possible for the island to be used for controlled recreational purposes, that is to say used by organised groups coordinated by, for example, the Recreation and Sport Service. However, it is suggested that demands on the island for prisons purposes should outweigh the recreational considerations, which would be affected by the widely-felt public prejudice against the island as the site of the old leprosarium and by the difficulties involved in any form of joint use with prison institutions. Moreover, it will be clear from the map (Annex B) that the topography and the planned distribution of buildings on the island ensures that maximum use of suitable sites is planned which will thus exclude any other form of development.

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If it were decided that the Prisons Department should not retain the island, alternative sites will have to be found for the existing Treatment Centre for 1, 400 persons and for at least 2 further prison institutions, in the very near future. It would also delay the long term vacation of the valuable Victoria and Ma Hang prison sites. The addi- tional sites required could only be found in some other rural setting at the expense of amenity development there; prison institutions already occupy, or are scheduled to occupy, five sites on South Lantau, which is intended as a recreational area.

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