HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
It is most gratifying to note that members of this Council are taking much interest in constructing parks and playgrounds in all urban areas. As Chairman of the Parks, Playgrounds and Urban Amenities Select Committee, I always take pleasure in supporting motions to enhance urban amenities in general and to provide more parks and playgrounds in particular. For this reason I support Mr. Sales's motion.
MR. K. A. WATSON :-Mr. Chairman, as you are aware, I am almost always in agreement with almost everything that my friend Mr. Sales says, but I am getting a little perturbed by the growing tendency of selecting certain places and putting forward motions in this Council and asking us to debate them.
We are all, and I am sure the Legislative Council is also, aware that there are insufficient parks and open spaces in the congested areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon. It goes without saying that any vacant land, or land that may become vacant in the future, should be so utilized unless there are any other important uses for them. Now, where there is no argument about the merits of such action I feel that motions such as these focus undue attention on certain places and may embarrass the Select Committee which has, no doubt, a programme and a list of priorities. If, however, the subject is a controversial one and if there are grounds for opposition, then surely the question should first of all be put forward in the appropriate Select Committee where members would have the opportunity to discuss fully all the factors involved, factors which we are not likely to go into in any detail in a debate such as this. I don't want to give the impression that I am opposing the principle involved. I am merely querying whether this is the proper place to put forward these matters. I therefore propose to abstain from voting.
(Hon. S.C.A. left the meeting at 4.14 p.m.)
MR. SALES :--Mr. Chairman, I am obliged to the members of this Council who have spoken in support of this Motion and to those who indicated to me in private that they intend to support my first motion on the North Point Estate. Mr. Watson has also made his views known to me in private and I have endeavoured to explain to him the working of the Select Committee to which this motion refers. I wish I could share with Mr. Watson the abiding faith which he has in the initiative of the Government and also that of the Legislative Council. Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, as a member of the Parks, Playgrounds and Urban Amenities Select Committee I found it necessary to do some research for myself and as a result of my own trouble I have put forward proposals not only to this Council for action, where such proposals are called for, but also in particular to the Select Committee concerned.
The question was put.
The Motion was carried.
MR. A. DE O. SALES moved the following resolution :
"That this Council recommend to Government the inclusion of a park and a harbour promenade in planning the new lay-out of the lands adjoining Chatham Road now occupied by the railway."
He said: Much has been said in this Council about parks and playgrounds. Their shortage is deplored by all; their need is disputed by none. Thus, it follows that the suggestion to convert open land into a park or a playground, whatever its size or scope, should find a chorus of support which it did not in the last instance. Then, it stands to reason that I would seem to be actually preaching to the converted when I rise today to propose to this Council that we stake yet another claim for better living conditions for the common man in Kowloon.
It can perhaps be said that, apart from Whitfield Barracks and Gun Club Hill, the area adjacent to Chatham Road is about the only land in Kowloon proper which is still partly available for development. Rather than that the opportunity should go by default, let us advance our claim that at least a part of it be reserved for public use.
Kowloon needs more open spaces for the diversion and recreation of its residents. Here is a chance for us to go ahead and develop a park and lay out a promenade. Regardless of whether the railway station should be moved away or not, action could well be taken on the subject of this motion. It would not prejudice the railway decision at all because so many buildings are already standing on so much land there. This is proof abundantly clear that Government has not been deterred from the pursuit of other worthwhile objects by the railway issue.
Page 125 of 139
230
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 124 of 139
228
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
...
Page 125 of 139
229
...
0
1
of 139
Page 124 of 13
228
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
It is most gratifying to note that members of this Council are taking much interest in constructing parks and playgrounds in all urban areas. As Chairman of the Parks, Playgrounds and Urban Amenities Select Committee, I always take pleasure in supporting motions to enhance urban amenities in general and to provide more parks and playgrounds in particular. For this reason I support Mr. Sales's motion.
MR. K. A. WATSON :-Mr. Chairman, as you are aware, I am almost always in agreement with almost everything that my friend Mr. Sales says, but I am getting a little perturbed by the growing tendency of selecting certain places and putting forward motions in this Council and asking us to debate them.
We are all, and I am sure the Legislative Council is also, aware that there are insufficient parks and open spaces in the congested areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon. It goes without saying that any vacant land, or land that may become vacant in the future, should be so utilized unless there are any other important uses for them. Now, where there is no argument about the merits of such action I feel that motions such as these focus undue attention on certain places and may embarrass the Select Committee which has, no doubt, a programme and a list of priorities. If, however, the subject is a controversial one and if there are grounds for op- position, then surely the question should first of all be put forward in the appropriate Select Committee where members would have the opportunity to discuss fully all the factors involved, factors which we are not likely to go into in any detail in a debate such as this. I don't want to give the impression that I am opposing the principle involved. I am merely querying whether this is the proper place to put forward these matters. I therefore propose to abstain from voting.
(Hon. S.C.A. left the meeting at 4.14 p.m.)
MR. SALES :--Mr. Chairman, I am obliged to the members of this Council who have spoken in support of this Motion and to those who indicated to me in private that they intend to support my first motion on the North Point Estate. Mr. Watson has also made his views known to me in private and I have endeavoured to explain to him the working of the Select Committee to which this motion refers. I wish I could share with Mr. Watson the abiding faith which he has in the initiative of the Government and also that of the Legislative Council. Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, as
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
229
a member of the Parks, Playgrounds and Urban Amenities Select Committee I found it necessary to do some research for myself and as a result of my own trouble I have put forward porposals not only to this Council for action, where such proposals are called for, but also in particular to the Select Committee concerned.
The question was put.
The Motion was carried.
MR. A. DE O. SALES moved the following resolution :---
"That this Council recommend to Government the inclusion of a park and a harbour promenade in planning the new lay-out of the lands adjoining Chatham Road now occupied by the railway."
He said: Much has been said in this Council about parks and playgrounds. Their shortage is deplored by all; their need is disputed by none. Thus, it follows that the suggestion to convert open land into a park or a playground, whatever its size or scope, should find a chorus of support which it did not in the last instance. Then, it stands to reason that I would seem to be actually preaching to the converted when I rise today to propose to this Council that we stake yet another claim for better living conditions for the common man in Kowloon.
It can perhaps be said that, apart from Whitfield Barracks and Gun Club Hill, the area adjacent to Chatham Road is about the only land in Kowloon proper which is still partly available for development. Rather than that the opportunity should go by default, let us advance our claim that at least a part of it be reserved for public use.
Kowloon needs more open spaces for the diversion and rec- reation of its residents. Here is a chance for us to go ahead and develop a park and lay out a promenade. Regardless of whether the railway station should be moved away or not, action could well be taken on the subject of this motion. It would not prejudice the railway decision at all because so many buildings are already standing on so much land there. This is proof abundantly clear that Government has not been deterred from the pursuit of other worthwhile objects by the railway issue.
0
1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.