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CHAIRMAN:
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Before we start to-day's business, I should like to welcome Mr. CHEONG-LEEN back from his travels, though he is not with us yet. My remarks also go to Mr. BERNACCHI who unfortunately is unable to be with us.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th September, 1960, were confirmed.
PAPER.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of September 1960.
QUESTIONS.
DR. P. F. Woo, with the permission of the Chairman, asked the following question on behalf of Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN:
"A number of Kowloon residents have suggested that the Kowloon City Roundabout should be converted into a small park/rest garden as soon as possible:
(a) Will the Chairman please state what is being planned by the Urban Services Department to implement this suggestion?
(b) Can the Chairman give a tentative date for the conversion of the Roundabout into a park/rest garden?
(c) Will the Chairman give his firm assurance that everything possible will be done to have this suggestion implemented and completed in 1961, bearing in mind that our tourist traffic is increasing and every step should be taken to improve the approaches to the airport?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
"These questions concern the Kowloon City Roundabout.
(a) The problem of the unsightly approaches to Kai Tak Airport and in particular of the necessity to improve the Kowloon City Roundabout has been continuously
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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before Members for a number of years and was again raised only recently at the June meeting of this Council.
In 1958 the possibility of developing a Chinese-style garden on the Kowloon City Roundabout was mentioned, but nothing tangible has been possible in this connexion until very recently, owing to the need for the layout of the various islands at this junction to be finalized before any detailed planning could be started.
At the beginning of 1959, a layout plan for the entire junction was circulated for the information of Members, who were however informed that the plan was tentative and liable to amendment. Since then, various other plans have been produced by the Public Works Department but, in May of this year, Roads Office layout plan of the Roundabout was accepted in principle by the Roads Planning and Improvements Committee, and on the basis of this plan, a layout of the main central island was prepared by the Superintendent of Gardens. This was shown to the Urban Amenities Select Committee at their meeting on 16th September and envisages that
(i) the central island will be linked by sub-way to the Argyle Street Playground;
(ii) the Chinese-style garden will have two pavilions and a bridge over a pond--all of traditional pattern.
(b) Unfortunately, the development of this central island and with its link to the adjacent playground must be done (c) as part and parcel of the main development scheme for this junction. I am advised by the Hon. Director of Public Works that it is hoped to have planning of this project (which is in Category B(i) of the Public Works Non-Recurrent Programme) sufficiently advanced as to enable it to be submitted for approval in December of this year to the Public Works Sub-Committee. If funds are then made available, construction could commence in 1961, but you will appreciate that in the circumstances I cannot give the firm assurance which you seek. You may rest assured however that as far as the Department is concerned, everything will be done to ensure that there is no delay in the finalization of plans for the garden.
וי
Page 73 of 118
18
Page 73 of 118
130
CHAIRMAN:
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Before we start to-day's business, I should like to welcome Mr. CHEONG-LEEN back from his travels, though he is not with us yet. My remarks also go to Mr. BERNACCHI who unfortunately is unable to be with us.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th September, 1960, were confirmed.
PAPER.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services
Department for the month of September 1960.
QUESTIONS.
DR. P. F. Woo, with the permission of the Chairman, asked the following question on behalf of Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN: —
"A number of Kowloon residents have suggested that the Kowloon City Roundabout should be converted into a small park/rest garden as soon as possible:
(a) Will the Chairman please state what is being planned by the Urban Services Department to implement this suggestion?
(b) Can the Chairman give a tentative date for the conversion of the Roundabout into a park/rest garden?
(c) Will the Chairman give his firm assurance that everything possible will be done to have this suggestion implemented and completed in 1961, bearing in mind that our tourist traffic is increasing and every step should be taken to improve the approaches to the airport?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
"These questions concern the Kowloon City Roundabout.
(a) The problem of the unsightly approaches to Kai Tak Airport and in particular of the necessity to improve the Kowloon City Roundabout has been continuously
!
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
131
before Members for a number of years and was again raised only recently at the June meeting of this Council.
In 1958 the possibility of developing a Chinese- style garden on the Kowloon City Roundabout was mentioned, but nothing tangible has been possible in this connexion until very recently, owing to the need for the layout of the various islands at this junction to be finalized before any detailed planning could be started.
At the beginning of 1959, a layout plan for the entire junction was circulated for the information of Members, who were however informed that the plan was tentative and liable to amendment. Since then, various other plans have been produced by the Public Works Department but, in May of this year, Roads Office layout plan of the Roundabout was accepted in principle by the Roads Planning and Improvements Committee, and on the basis of this plan, a layout of the main central island was prepared by the Super- intendent of Gardens. This was shown to the Urban Amenities Select Committee at their meeting on 16th September and envisages that
(i) the central island will be linked by sub-way
to the Argyle Street Playground;
(ii) the Chinese-style garden will have two pavilions and a bridge over a pond--all of traditional pattern.
(b) Unfortunately, the development of this central island and with its link to the adjacent playground must be done (c) as part and parcel of the main development scheme for this junction. I am advised by the Hon. Director of Public Works that it is hoped to have planning of this project (which is in Category B(i) of the Public Works Non-Recurrent Programme) sufficiently ad- vanced as to enable it to be submitted for approval in December of this year to the Public Works Sub- Committee. If funds are then made available, con- struction could commence in 1961, but you will appreciate that in the circumstances I cannot give the firm assurance which you seek. You may rest assured however that as far as the Department is concerned, everything will be done to ensure that there is no delay in the finalization of plans for the garden."
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.