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THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The answer to the first part of the question is that work on this playground is expected to start about the middle of this year. The work will include a children's playground, a shelter, two basket ball courts and two volley-ball courts. The answer to the second part is that there has been no change in the area set aside for the playground since 1961, when a small encroachment for a bus bay was more than offset by an enlargement at the south end of the site. The net increase made it possible to incorporate an additional volley-ball court.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
Will the Chairman please make representations to Government for the early release of all the land held by the Railway authorities in the urban area, not immediately required for their own purposes, in order to provide additional areas for recreational and other public amenities? Is the Chairman aware that some alienation of such land has apparently taken place postwar?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The answer to the first part of the question is that both Government and the Town Planning Board are already aware of the need to consider allocating for amenity development any railway land in the urban area which is not immediately required for railway purposes. Present indications are that only in the Hung Hom/Chatham Road area is any railway land likely to be surplus to railway needs. The Town Planning Board is at present considering the planning of this area and I am sure that they will take into account the Council's views on the need for additional land for amenity and recreational purposes.
In reply to the second part of the question, Government asks me to state that in recent years portions of the land administered by the Kowloon-Canton Railway have been set aside on temporary permits for such purposes as schools and garages.
MR. SALES:-And also shops, Mr. Chairman. May I have that minuted.
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask what kind of garages you were referring to multi-storey garages?
CHAIRMAN:-I am only aware of one, Sir—a private company's garage.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, as I raised this matter several years ago, has consideration of what should be done with the Railway land been in the minds of the Town Planning Board ever since, or has this matter been taken up anew recently?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Mr. Chairman, it has been in the minds of the Town Planning Board more or less permanently, long before Mr. Sales raised it.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, the corollary is evident. How long does it take to translate plans from the minds of the Town Planning Board into reality?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Sometimes, Mr. Chairman, it may take as much as 25 years.
MR. SALES: Is that in the minds of the Town Planning Board a very short period of time?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-It is neither long nor short.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, are conditions not aggravated in the interval?
CHAIRMAN:-I feel that that question, Sir, is straying rather far from the original question.
MR. SALES: Is it indeed, Mr. Chairman? I shall abide by your decision in that matter, but I would like my question to be pursued privately.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Do I understand from the supplementary questions and the answers which have been given, Mr. Chairman, that it is highly probable that the Kowloon Railway Station at the Tsim Sha Tsui junction will be removed within the next 25 years?
CHAIRMAN: I think your question is out of order, but I will try to provide you with an answer later if you wish.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask, Mr. Chairman, whether or not you do have that answer?
CHAIRMAN:-No, but I will look into the matter for you, Sir.
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Page 119 of 150
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THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
-
The answer to the first part of the question is that work on this playground is expected to start about the middle of this year. The work will include a children's playground, a shelter, two basket ball courts and two volley-ball courts. The answer to the second part is that there has been no change in the area set aside for the playground since 1961, when a small encroachment for a bus bay was more than offset by an enlargement at the south end of the site. The net increase made it possible to incorporate an additional volley-ball court.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
Will the Chairman please make representations to Government for the early release of all the land held by the Railway authorities in the urban area, not immediately required for their own purposes, in order to provide additional areas for recreational and other public amenities? Is the Chair- man aware that some alienation of such land has appar- ently taken place postwar?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The answer to the first part of the question is that both Government and the Town Planning Board are already aware of the need to consider allocating for amenity development any railway land in the urban area which is not immediately required for railway purposes. Present indications are that only in the Hung Hom/Chatham Road area is any railway land likely to be surplus to railway needs. The Town Planning Board is at present consider- ing the planning of this area and I am sure that they will take into account the Council's views on the need for additional land for amenity and recreational purposes.
In reply to the second part of the question, Government asks me to state that in recent years portions of the land administered by the Kowloon-Canton Railway have been set aside on temporary permits for such purposes as schools and garages.
MR. SALES: -And also shops, Mr. Chairman. May I have that
minuted.
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223
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask what kind of garages you were referring to multi-storey garages?
CHAIRMAN:-I am only aware of one, Sir-a private company's
garage.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, as I raised this matter several years ago, has consideration of what should be done with the Railway land been in the minds of the Town Planning Board ever since, or has this matter been taken up anew recently?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, it has been in the minds of the Town Planning Board more or less permanently, long before Mr. Sales raised it.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, the corollary is evident. How long does it take to translate plans from the minds of the Town Planning Board into reality?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Sometimes, Mr. Chairman, it may take as much as 25 years.
MR. SALES: Is that in the minds of the Town Planning Board a very short period of time?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-It is neither long nor short.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, are conditions not aggravated in the interval?
CHAIRMAN:-I feel that that question, Sir, is straying rather far from the original question.
MR. SALES: Is it indeed, Mr. Chairman? I shall abide by your decision in that matter, but I would like my question to be pursued privately.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Do I understand from the supplementary questions and the answers which have been given, Mr. Chairman, that it is highly probable that the Kowloon Railway Station at the Tsim Sha Tsui junction will be removed within the next 25 years?
CHAIRMAN: I think your question is out of order, but I will try to provide you with an answer later if you wish.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask, Mr. Chairman, whether or not you do have that answer?
CHAIRMAN:--No, but I will look into the matter for you, Sir.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.