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(a) There was a playground in the vicinity of the area next to the old Rediffusion site prior to the Second World War. It had very little equipment and this disappeared during the occupation. It is not intended to re-establish this playground on the Hennessy Road frontage but to replace it by a playground on the site adjoining the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association Training Centre.
(b) Consideration is being given to the removal of the Urban Services Departmental vehicles from the site next to the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association Training Centre to a nearby area to enable that site to be converted into a playground.
(c) It is too early to give a definite reply to this matter but the possibility of a temporary vehicle park within the Naval lands will be considered."
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -I congratulate you on your answer and on your conscientiousness in checking on such an "important point" as the length of the distance between the Rediffusion site and Southorn Playground but I should point out that there is a long walk and a short walk and I took the long walk via the waterfront, and it is 10 minutes. I have no supplementary questions, Mr. Chairman. I leave the field to Mr. Sales.
MR. SALES:-Thank you, Mr. Cheong-Leen. May I ask-the first part of your answer-was the clocking done during office hours or out of office hours?
CHAIRMAN: Out of office hours on a Public Holiday.
MR. SALES: No overtime was paid?
CHAIRMAN: -No overtime.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
"(a) I understand that Brick Hill Camp in Aberdeen has been tentatively earmarked as a training centre for the Hawker Control Force, and that protracted negotiations have been proceeded between Government and the military authorities for the release of this site; since the recommendation to establish a Hawker Control Force was made nearly two years ago and recruitment is proceeding apace, is the Chairman fully aware that the acquiring of this site for the training of the Hawker Control Force is a matter of urgent necessity?
(b) What steps have so far been taken to bring this matter to the attention of the proper authorities?
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(c) What further steps does the Chairman contemplate taking for the immediate transfer of the site to the Urban Council?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"I am fully aware that the acquisition of Brick Hill Camp is a matter of some urgency and Government is very conscious of the importance of establishing a Hawker Control Section as early as possible. I am hopeful that agreement will be reached in the very near future with the Military Authorities regarding the handing-over of this Camp. There is nothing more which can usefully be done at present but I can assure you that Government is pressing the Army to release the Brick Hill site as soon as possible."
MR. BERNACCHI : Would the Chairman disclose whether the difficulty is merely a question of the Army arrangements in moving out or is there any financial question involved, that is to say in respect of purchasing the camp from the Army and the price at which the Army wishes to sell.
CHAIRMAN: -I can answer right away that there is no difficulty in the Army moving out because the Army moved out a long time ago and there is nobody but a watchman there.
MR. BERNACCHI:-When you say the Army is being pressed to release the site as soon as possible, is that purely a question of releasing the site or does it involve a question of negotiations as to purchase?
CHAIRMAN: It involves negotiations as to purchase.
MR. BERNACCHI :—And I take it, Sir, that the negotiations have not yet reached fruition. There is no agreement as to purchase price.
CHAIRMAN:-There is no agreement yet but...
MR. SALES: May I clarify whether the delay which is being experienced over the Army giving up the site may have been prompted by the fact that the Army may also wish to undertake hawker clearance work in Hong Kong instead of the Unit?
CHAIRMAN: -I am afraid that is a bit farfetched.
MR. SALES: It is a very serious question.
CHAIRMAN:-No.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
"(a) Would the Chairman be good enough to make a statement assessing the results of the first phase of the "Keep Your City Clean" Campaign?
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Page 81 of 107
146
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(a) There was a playground in the vicinity of the area next to the old Rediffusion site prior to the Second World War. It had very little equipment and this disappeared during the occupation. It is not intended to re-establish this playground on the Hennessy Road frontage but to replace it by a playground on the site adjoining the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association Training Centre.
(b) Consideration is being given to the removal of the Urban Services Departmental vehicles from the site next to the Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association Training Centre to a nearby area to enable that site to be converted into a playground.
(c) It is too early to give a definite reply to this matter but the possibility of a temporary vehicle park within the Naval lands will be considered."
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -I congratulate you on your answer and on your conscientiousness in checking on such an "important point" as the length of the distance between the Rediffusion site and Southorn Play- ground but I should point out that there is a long walk and a short walk and I took the long walk via the waterfront, and it is 10 minutes. I have no supplementary questions, Mr. Chairman. I leave the field to Mr. Sales.
MR. SALES:-Thank you, Mr. Cheong-Leen. May I ask-the first part of your answer-was the clocking done during office hours or out of office hours?
CHAIRMAN: Out of office hours on a Public Holiday.
MR. SALES: No overtime was paid?
CHAIRMAN: --No overtime.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
"(a) I understand that Brick Hill Camp in Aberdeen has been tentatively earmarked as a training centre for the Hawker Control Force, and that protracted negotiations have been proceeded between Government and the military authori- ties for the release of this site; since the recommendation to establish a Hawker Control Force was made nearly two years ago and recruitment is proceeding apace, is the Chairman fully aware that the acquiring of this site for the training of the Hawker Control Force is a matter of urgent necessity?
(b) What steps have so far been taken to bring this matter to
the attention of the proper authorities?
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147
(c) What further steps does the Chairman contemplate taking for the immediate transfer of the site to the Urban Council?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"I am fully aware that the acquisition of Brick Hill Camp is a matter of some urgency and Government is very conscious of the importance of establishing a Hawker Control Section as early as possible. I am hopeful that agreement will be reached in the very near future with the Military Authorities regarding the handing-over of this Camp. There is nothing more which can usefully be done at present but I can assure you that Government is pressing the Army to release the Brick Hill site as soon as possible."
MR. BERNACCHI : Would the Chairman disclose whether the difficulty is merely a question of the Army arrangements in moving out or is there any financial question involved, that is to say in respect of purchasing the camp from the Army and the price at which the Army wishes to sell.
CHAIRMAN: -I can answer right away that there is no difficulty in the Army moving out because the Army moved out a long time ago and there is nobody but a watchman there.
MR. BERNACCHI:-When you say the Army is being pressed to release the site as soon as possible, is that purely a question of releasing the site or does it involve a question of negotiations as to purchase?
CHAIRMAN: It involves negotiations as to purchase.
MR. BERNACCHI :—And I take it, Sir, that the negotiations have not yet reached fruition. There is no agreement as to purchase price.
CHAIRMAN:-There is no agreement yet but . . .
MR. SALES: May I clarify whether the delay which is being experienced over the Army giving up the site may have been prompted by the fact that the Army may also wish to undertake hawker clearance work in Hong Kong instead of the Unit?
CHAIRMAN: -I am afraid that is a bit farfetched.
MR. SALES: It is a very serious question.
CHAIRMAN:-No.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
"(a) Would the Chairman be good enough to make a statement assessing the results of the first phase of the "Keep Your City Clean" Campaign?
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