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private housing which has been running at a rate which will accommodate a further 90,000, (from which should be deducted private accommodation lost to the community as a result of exclusion orders granted in respect of protected premises) it should bring about a substantial improvement in our living standards.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, before I ask a supplementary question, I would like to take this opportunity of congratulating Government on increasing the figure of low-cost housing accommodation to be provided for the next couple of years from 70,000 to 90,000 in just the space of a few months. I would like to seek clarification, Sir, on what is meant by a continuation of the programme, since I gather that as from 1965 the number of flats, which will be provided by the Housing Authority, will be reduced by two-thirds over what will be provided over the next two years?
CHAIRMAN:- I would like to have time to consider your question.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- I have a very high regard for the manner in which you co-operate with the Unofficial Members, Mr. Chairman. I would be very happy to agree to that. May I also ask you, Sir, whether you are aware that legislation as regards overcrowding is not being implemented by this Council because of the very serious overcrowding in the Colony?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- I should be grateful if you would draw the attention of Government to my comments.
CHAIRMAN:- I will, Sir.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) Will the Chairman please state when it is expected that the Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool will be ready for use by the public?
(b) Having regard to the fact that the decision to have such a pool built was taken even before 1958, will the Chairman please give the reason for the considerable delay?
(c) Will the Chairman also disclose the expected completion dates for other recreational facilities in that Park?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Since authority was given in December 1960 to proceed with excavation and construction of the Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool, work has proceeded satisfactorily. Excavation started in June 1961 and the main contract for construction was signed on 30th March, 1962. I am informed by the private architects in charge of this project that the Pool will be completed by the end of this year, that is, six months from now. It will be opened to the public on 1st March, 1963, the normal opening date after the cold season.
2.
3.
4.
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Firm proposals for a swimming pool at Kowloon Tsai as big as, if not bigger than, the Victoria Park Swimming Pool, were first made in September 1957 by a Select Committee of this Council, and in June 1958 approval was given for the employment of private architects on a combined project including both a swimming pool and a park. The project was given a priority of category A(ii) in the 1958/59 estimates. The private architects were therefore appointed in July 1958.
In August 1958 the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club kindly offered to donate $2 million for the swimming pool. The architects' preliminary sketches and estimates were received in May 1959 and approved by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and by the Urban Amenities Select Committee in July. The architects were therefore instructed to proceed with the preparation of final sketch plans. These sketch plans were received in March 1960, following prolonged correspondence and consultation over difficulties in ensuring an adequate water supply for the Pool and over additional items in the schedule of accommodation, such as squash courts and bowling greens recommended by the Urban Amenities Select Committee. In June 1960 the department was informed that the Finance Committee of Legislative Council had decided that only work on the swimming pool should be undertaken in the financial year 1960/61 and that work on the surrounding park should be deferred. One factor which led to this decision was the knowledge that the military authorities would relinquish their Boundary Street Sports Ground which had running tracks and other facilities also approved for Kowloon Tsai Park.
5. In October 1960 the architects were instructed to proceed with working drawings for the swimming pool and ancillary buildings and in December 1961 bills of quantities were finally completed. Tenders for the construction of the swimming pool and ancillary buildings were received in January of this year and showed that they would cost $.77 million more than the $2 million donated
Page 64 of 150
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Page 63 of 150
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private housing which has been running at a rate which will accommodate a further 90,000, (from which should be deducted private accommodation lost to the com- munity as a result of exclusion orders granted in respect of protected premises) it should bring about a substantial improvement in our living standards.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, before I ask a supplemen- tary question, I would like to take this opportunity of congratulating Government on increasing the figure of low-cost housing accommoda tion to be provided for the next couple of years from 70,000 to 90,000 in just the space of a few months. I would like to seek clarification, Sir, on what is meant by a continuation of the programme, since I gather that as from 1965 the number of flats, which will be provided by the Housing Authority, will be reduced by two-thirds over what will be provided over the next two years?
CHAIRMAN: -I would like to have time to consider your question.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-1 have a very high regard for the manner in which you co-operate with the Unofficial Members, Mr. Chairman. I would be very happy to agree to that. May I also ask you, Sir, whether you are aware that legislation as regards overcrowding is not being implemented by this Council because of the very serious over- crowding in the Colony?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I should be grateful if you would draw the attention of Government to my comments.
CHAIRMAN: --I will, Sir.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) Will the Chairman please state when it is expected that the Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool will be ready for use by the public?
(b) Having regard to the fact that the decision to have such a pool built was taken even before 1958, will the Chairman please give the reason for the considerable delay?
(c) Will the Chairman also disclose the expected completion
dates for other recreational facilities in that Park?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Since authority was given in December 1960 to proceed with excavation and construction of the Kowloon Tsai Swim- ming Pool, work has proceeded satisfactorily. Excavation
2.
3.
4.
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started in June 1961 and the main contract for construc- tion was signed on 30th March, 1962. I am informed by the private architects in charge of this project that the Pool will be completed by the end of this year, that is, six months from now. It will be opened to the public on 1st March, 1963, the normal opening date after the cold
season.
Firm proposals for a swimming pool at Kowloon Tsai as big as, if not bigger than, the Victoria Park Swimming Pool, were first made in September 1957 by a Select Com- mittee of this Council, and in June 1958 approval was given for the employment of private architects on a com- bined project including both a swimming pool and a park. The project was given a priority of category A(ii) in the 1958/59 estimates. The private architects were therefore appointed in July 1958.
In August 1958 the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club kindly offered to donate $2 million for the swimming pool. The architects' preliminary sketches and estimates were received in May 1959 and approved by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and by the Urban Amenities Select Committee in July. The architects were therefore instructed to proceed with the preparation of final sketch plans. These sketch plans were received in March 1960, following prolonged correspondence and consultation over difficulties in ensuring an adequate water supply for the Pool and over additional items in the schedule of accom- modation, such as squash courts and bowling greens recommended by the Urban Amenities Select Committee. In June 1960 the department was informed that the Finance Committee of Legislative Council had decided that only work on the swimming pool should be under- taken in the financial year 1960/61 and that work on the surrounding park should be deferred. One factor which led to this decision was the knowledge that the military authorities would relinquish their Boundary Street Sports Ground which had running tracks and other facilities also approved for Kowloon Tsai Park.
5. In October 1960 the architects were instructed to pro- ceed with working drawings for the swimming pool and ancillary buildings and in December 1961 bills of quanti- ties were finally completed. Tenders for the construction of the swimming pool and ancillary buildings were received in January of this year and showed that they would cost $.77 million more than the $2 million donated
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