Sessional_Paper_1923 — Page 131

King's Park Reservation,

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Road on the East (until recently regarded as a quasi-European Reservation and still largely occupied by Europeans), and there is a probability that yet further purchases will be made in the same District for the housing of refugees from China. Moreover the demand on housing accommodation in Kowloon has recently been considerably increased by the recent compul- sory removal (owing to housing shortage) from the Island of Hongkong to Kowloon-

(1) of married employees in H. M. Naval Yard.

(2) of Portuguese from Belilios Terrace and elsewhere and their

families.

* 118. The Chairman and Mr. Bailey, after carefully exploring the whole of the Kowloon lands to the south of the range of hills behind the Kowloon Peninsula, have come, without any doubt whatever, to the conclusion that the Government ought, under the circumstances above detailed, to reserve as an European Reservation (subject to the Military requirements referred to in paragraph 120) the whole of the foothills surrounding and forming part of King's Park on the West, North and East side, and also the hilly area immediately adjoining such foothills, which adjoining area is situate between King's Park and the Railway on the East and between King's Park and Nathan Road on the West. Mr. Bailey and the Chairman have carefully gone over this land, and have come to the emphatic conclusion that this is an absolutely ideal site for the purpose suggested, and they have no hesitation whatever in recommending to the Government that it be used for building residences for those of British Race, that the land be sold without auction at a cheap. price to applicants approved of by the Governor in Council, and that the conditions of sale require that the buildings to be erected shall only be occupied by and sold to such persons of British race as are approved of by the Governor in Council. It is difficult, without a survey, to estimate exactly how many houses could be built, with garden space around them, on the hilly amphitheatre referred to, but it is believed that fully, 100 houses could be erected.

119. The suggestion which is being made as to a portion of the foothills of King's Park being used for residential purposes is not a new one, and has even in the past been advocated by the Government, as appears from the fol- lowing extract from the Report of Proceedings of the Public Works Committee, consisting of the Director of Public Works (Mr. W. Chatham), the Colonial Treasurer (Mr. R. O. Hutchison) Mr. Pollock, Mr. Lau Chu-pak, Mr. Ho Fook, Mr. E. V. D. Parr, and Mr. S. H. Dodwell, held in the Council Chamber on the 5th February, 1920:-

"As regards European houses, provision had been made in the current year's Estimates for the erection of a number of such houses on that portion of King's Park which lies to the eastward of the Rifle Range. The area in question was at present waste land, being covered with trees and undergrowth. The houses were intended, primarily, for the accommodation of members of the Civil Service or of the Naval and Military Establishments. After discussing various suggestions, the Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that, in order to provide additional sites for European houses, the Rifle Range should be removed and the slopes of the hills bounding King's Park and also any portions of the Park itself, in addition to that already referred to, which are not utilized in connection with the Golf Course, should be rendered accessible by roads and disposed of as building sites."

* 120. We have recently received information that there is some likelihood that the eastern side of the range of hills encircling King's Park, e.the side next to the Railway, may be required for quarters for the Officers of the Regiment, to be stationed at Gun Club Hill and their wives. Whilst fully recognizing that the Military have first claim we would most strongly recom- mend the Government to now reserve the Western and Northern part of such circle of hills for British civilian residents in the manner suggested above.