1960 — Page 56

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has had to be done largely by the uninitiated such as myself pending the appointment of a Manager with effect from 1st August.

If progress has not been made all along the line, this must surely be the fault of the City Hall (Policy) Select Committee on which there are four elected, four appointed and only one official member namely myself. Govern- ment has made available ample funds to cover all reason- able facilities for the building and, if those funds have not been spent to the fullest extent, no blame can fairly be attached to Government or the Department. I, for instance, have endeavoured to champion the need to acquire certain musical instruments in order to give local musicians, notably orchestral players, a measure of assistance. There have been differences of opinion over the restaurant in the Assembly Rooms. I have always favoured an efficient cafeteria with low overheads, large turnover, price control and good value for money, which will not frighten away the average resident and user of other facilities in the City Hall. Most, if not all, Members however seem to favour a restaurant on more luxurious lines with no price control but possibly with a snacketeria elsewhere or a circulating café trolley thrown in for good measure to redress the balance of prices.

There have thus been differences of opinion but these have been healthy phenomena, which demonstrate the interest that the City Hall has aroused. I am the first to welcome arguments and the expression of views and I can assure you that Members of the City Hall (Policy) Select Com- mittee are cordially invited to bring to my attention any aspects of the City Hall, which have not yet been discussed."

MR. SALES: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is certainly an excellent reply. May I suggest that you are far too modest when you say that you are uninitiated in these matters. As a matter of fact, I was so impressed by the expertise which you revealed in matters musical that I should like to suggest that you are an expert in that field. May I ask you a supplementary question, Mr. Chairman? Will the City Hall have all its facilities ready for public use at the time when that building is going to be opened?

CHAIRMAN: -All the amenities are being planned with a view to their being ready at the appropriate time.

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MR. CHEONG-LEEN : --Just one supplementary question, Chairman. In your second paragraph, you say that "if progress has not been made all along the line, this must surely be the fault of the City Hall (Policy) Select Committee". Having such an excellent Chairman as yourself, chairing that Select Committee, are you satisfied that progress has not been made all along the line?

CHAIRMAN: Has not or has been?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Shall I put it in a more positive way. Are you satisfied that progress has been made all along the line?

CHAIRMAN: I am satisfied that a good measure of progress has already been made.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, on your modesty in the second paragraph of your reply.

DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:

"Will the Chairman confirm that this Council intends to utilize only that area south of Oaklands Path, where it cuts across St. Stephen's Girls' College permit area, for the purpose of development of the area as a Public Park?"

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

"This question concerns West End Park, a pre-war gazetted park, which is sandwiched between Robinson Road and Park Road. Lyttleton Road passes through it. It is not greatly used and probably most residents of the Colony are unaware of its existence.

Between Lyttleton Road and Park Road there is an area of about 55,000 sq. ft. which could well be included in the Park in order to retain an air funnel down to Bonham Road. The area in question has been on permit at a small rental for 30 or 40 years to St. Stephen's Girls' College. About a fifth of this area has been developed by the school as a Basket Ball Pitch and the remainder is a garden, which is used to a limited extent by the sixty or so boarders.

The Public Works Department would favour grant of the playground proper i.e. about 10,000 sq. ft. to the school as an extension by Private Treaty but consider that the balance of the arca should ultimately be included in the Park so that it will be available to the general public rather than exclusively to the girls of St. Stephen's.