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to do so, and, with respect, I do not consider that this is properly a matter which should engage the attention of the Urban Services Department--and certainly not at this stage.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Two supplementary questions, Mr. Chairman. These are short ones as we are going to have a long meeting. One concerns a matter which has already aroused the interest of the Urban Services Department. You will agree that particular interest has been shown in the suggestion for a symphony orchestra. It is the type of subject which can most certainly be of direct importance to the City Hall and the City Hall Manager.
CHAIRMAN: ---To a certain extent I agree. I would point out, Sir, that there was a writer in the 19th Century called Samuel Smiles, who wrote a successful and popular book called "Self-Help." It extolled (as its title implies) the Victorian virtues of independence and self-reliance, which, in these less austere times, we seem to be in some danger of neglecting. I think, Sir, that it would be some recognition of these virtues if a body such as the Arts Council---if one is set up--were to go into this question of the cost and the organizing of a local symphony orchestra.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I could not agree with you more, Sir, that an Arts Council should be spontaneous by way of development. With regard, however, to the symphony orchestra, it is a question which I raised a year ago. I am not happy about the reply and I would ask that this matter be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the City Hall (Policy) Select Committee.
CHAIRMAN: --I would have no objection to referring this matter to the Select Committee.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
In previous years, several Council members have made reference to the traffic islands (a) opposite Alhambra Building in Nathan Road, and (b) at the Castle Peak/Taipo Roads Roundabout which are used particularly during the summer months for sitting out purposes and for kite-flying by residents and their children living nearby; will the Chairman please advise:
(i) If these traffic islands are to continue being used as sitting-out areas, what steps are being taken to put in additional improvements, such as benches, etc.? (ii) If it is the view of the traffic authorities that these islands are traffic hazards if used as sitting-out areas,
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5,
how soon will it be possible for the Public Works Department to fence off the islands in the public interest?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :-
The traffic islands at the junction of Gascoigne Road and Nathan Road, opposite the Alhambra Building, are due to disappear in their present form when this section of Nathan Road is reconstructed. I understand that the work will probably start in this financial year, in which case it would seem to be hardly worthwhile considering recreational use of the islands. The new arrangement for the junction will provide a large island in a different position, with a pavement running through it.
As regards the traffic islands at the junction of the Castle Peak and Tai Po Roads, discussion is at present in progress with the Public Works Department and the traffic branch of the Police Force on the most satisfactory method of treatment. Again, this junction is due to be redesigned. Since there are already proposals for a rest garden on the west side of Tai Po Road, stretching northwards from the Garden Bakery, it may be more satisfactory in the long run to fence off the new traffic islands completely.
I will gladly refer the question of the use of these traffic islands to the Urban Amenities Select Committee for consideration, if you so wish.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I will leave it to the member from Kowloon, Mr. SALES, to ask supplementaries.
MR. SALES: -May I oblige Mr. CHEONG-LEEN? My supplementary through you, Mr. Chairman, to our colleague, the Director of Public Works, is: By the answer that you have just given us, does he mean in effect that Nathan Road is going to be dug up even more than it has been so far?
CHAIRMAN: The information which I gave to you, Sir, came from the Public Works Department and I have nothing further to add to it.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Is silence the most appropriate answer on this occasion?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I ask whether there is any further answer to my supplementary question?
CHAIRMAN: --I think you must conclude, Sir, that no further answer will be forthcoming.
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to do so, and, with respect, I do not consider that this is properly a matter which should engage the attention of the Urban Services Department--and certainly not at this stage.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Two supplementary questions, Mr. Chairman. These are short ones as we are going to have a long meeting. One concerns a matter which has already aroused the interest of the Urban Services Department. You will agree that particular interest has been shown in the suggestion for a symphony orchestra. It is the type of subject which can most certainly be of direct importance to the City Hall and the City Hall Manager.
CHAIRMAN: ---To a certain extent I agree. I would point out, Sir, that there was a writer in the 19th Century called Samuel Smiles, who wrote a successful and popular book called "Self-Help." It extolled (as its title implies) the Victorian virtues of independence and self- reliance, which, in these less austere times, we seem to be in some danger of neglecting. I think, Sir, that it would be some recognition of these virtues if a body such as the Arts Council-if one is set up --were to go into this question of the cost and the organizing of a local symphony orchestra.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I could not agree with you more, Sir, that an Arts Council should be spontaneous by way of development. With regard, however, to the symphony orchestra, it is a question which I raised a year ago. I am not happy about the reply and I would ask that this matter be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the City Hall (Policy) Select Committee.
CHAIRMAN: --I would have no objection to referring this matter to the Select Committee.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
In previous years, several Council members have made refer- ence to the traffic islands (a) opposite Alhambra Building in Nathan Road, and (b) at the Castle Peak/Taipo Roads Roundabout which are used particularly during the summer months for sitting out purposes and for kite-flying by residents and their children living nearby; will the Chairman please advise:
(i) If these traffic islands are to continue being used as sitting-out areas, what steps are being taken to put in additional improvements, such as benches, etc.? (ii) If it is the view of the traffic authorities that these islands are traffic hazards if used as sitting-out areas,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
5,
how soon will it be possible for the Public Works Department to fence off the islands in the public interest?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :-
The traffic islands at the junction of Gascoigne Road and Nathan Road, opposite the Alhambra Building, are due to disappear in their present form when this section of Nathan Road is reconstructed. I understand that the work will probably start in this financial year, in which case it would seem to be hardly worth-while considering recreational use of the islands. The new arrangement for the junction will provide a large island in a different position, with a pavement running through it.
As regards the traffic islands at the junction of the Castle Peak and Tai Po Roads, discussion is at present in progress with the Public Works Department and the traffic branch of the Police Force on the most satisfactory method of treatment. Again, this junction is due to be redesigned. Since there are already proposals for a rest garden on the west side of Tai Po Road, stretching northwards from the Garden Bakery, it may be more satisfactory in the long run to fence off the new traffic islands completely.
I will gladly refer the question of the use of these traffic islands to the Urban Amenities Select Committee for consideration, if you so wish.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I will leave it to the member from Kowloon, Mr. SALES, to ask supplementaries.
MR. SALES: -May I oblige Mr. CHEONG-LEEN? My supplementary through you, Mr. Chairman, to our colleague, the Director of Public Works, is: By the answer that you have just given us, does he mean in effect that Nathan Road is going to be dug up even more than it has been so far?
CHAIRMAN: The information which I gave to you, Sir, came from the Public Works Department and I have nothing further to add to it.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Is silence the most appropriate answer on this occasion?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I ask whether there is any further answer to my supplementary question?
CHAIRMAN: --I think you must conclude, Sir, that no further answer will be forthcoming.
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