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Chairman direct the staff to write for information concerning this swimming pool-cum-bathhouse, and when the information is available could it be forwarded to the relevant Select Committee for consideration? CHAIRMAN:-I would be glad to, Sir, if you would provide further particulars.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask whether you would be prepared to recommend to the appropriate Select Committee that when these multi-storey bathhouses, which are so reminiscent of Imperial Rome, are built in Hong Kong they be termed "Hiltonian Baths"? (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, since they are urban amenities, I would have no objection to their being called "Salesian Baths" (Laughter).
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, I defer to the fact that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN put on the purple toga first.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I give Mr. SALES the right of reply.
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In reply to the second part of the question, no decision has yet been made as to whether Murray Building (the official name for the old Officers' Mess building) will be retained as a permanent building. Meanwhile arrangements are in hand for the building to be used temporarily to house another Government department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, as a matter of information, may I ask a question in respect of section 2 of your reply? Who is going to move into this building? Which department of Government and when are they going to move in?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I would like to have time to collect information for a reply later.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Is there any particular secrecy about giving an answer, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN:-I can merely say that I do not know the answer.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
(a) Will the Chairman please state what representations have been made by the Department to acquire from Government the former Officers' Mess building in Murray Barracks to be developed as a Hong Kong art gallery and museum?
(b) Will the Chairman also inquire from Government as to its intentions concerning this building?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
In reply to the first part of the question, the possibility of acquiring this building was previously raised at a meeting of the City Hall (Policy) Select Committee held in December 1961 when Members, having noted the recommendation of the Town Planning Board on their report on the Central Area Re-development that the old Officers' Mess in Murray Barracks be retained for a suitable purpose, requested that when the matter came up for consideration an opportunity be given to examine the possibility of using the building as an extension to the Museum and Art Gallery or to the Library. As a result, the Department wrote to the Colonial Secretary in December 1961, giving these views and asked that this recommendation be borne in mind,
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
Will the Commissioner for Resettlement please advise:
(a) Whether the squatter areas on the hills overlooking Causeway Bay are regularly patrolled by the Squatter Patrol; if so, how often are patrols made daily?
(b) Whether in addition to the Squatter Patrol, the Police regularly visit these areas; if so, how often daily?
(c) How many cases of drug addiction or peddling within these areas were brought to the attention of the Police in the 3-month period April-June 1962 by the Squatter Patrol?
(d) How many cases of narcotic addiction or peddling within these squatter areas were brought to the Courts in the same period?
(e) How soon action can be taken to clear these squatter areas, in view of the very many reports of a flourishing drug traffic operating there, much to the dissatisfaction and annoyance of residents living nearby?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
This question concerns Squatter Control on the very steep hillsides above Causeway Bay. This is an area where there has been little development on account of the rugged terrain. Though visible from the north, the area is particularly difficult of access and I doubt very much whether many people in this room have explored it on the ground.
Page 74 of 150
Page 74 of 150
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Chairman direct the staff to write for information concerning this swimming pool-cum-bathhouse, and when the information is available could it be forwarded to the relevant Select Committee for consideration? CHAIRMAN:-I would be glad to, Sir, if you would provide further
particulars.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I ask whether you would be prepared to recommend to the appropriate Select Committee that when these multi-storey bathhouses, which are so reminiscent of Imperial Rome, are built in Hong Kong they be termed "Hiltonian Baths"? (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:Mr. Chairman, since they are urban amenities, I would have no objection to their being called "Salesian Baths" (Laughter).
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I defer to the fact that Mr. CHEONG- LEEN put on the purple toga first.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -I give Mr. SALES the right of reply.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
133
In reply to the second part of the question, no decision has yet been made as to whether Murray Building (the official name for the old Officers' Mess building) will be retained as a permanent building. Meanwhile arrangements are in hand for the building to be used temporarily to house another Government department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, as a matter of information, Who is may I ask a question in respect of section 2 of your reply? going to move into this building? Which department of Government
and when are they going to move in?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I would like to have time to collect information for a reply later.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Is there any particular secrecy about giving
an answer, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN:-I can merely say that I do not know the answer.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question :-
(a) Will the Chairman please state what representations have been made by the Department to acquire from Govern- ment the former Officers' Mess building in Murray Barracks to be developed as a Hong Kong art gallery and museum?
(b) Will the Chairman also inquire from Government as to
its intentions concerning this building?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
In reply to the first part of the question, the possibility of acquiring this building was previously raised at a meeting of the City Hall (Policy) Select Committee held in December 1961 when Members, having noted the recom mendation of the Town Planning Board on their report on the Central Area Re-development that the old Officers' Mess in Murray Barracks be retained for a suitable purpose, requested that when the matter came up for consideration an opportunity be given to examine the possibility of using the building as an extension to the Museum and Art Gallery or to the Library. As a result, the Department wrote to the Colonial Secretary in December 1961, giving these views and asked that this recommendation be borne in mind,
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question :-
Will the Commissioner for Resettlement please advise:
(a) Whether the squatter areas on the hills overlooking Causeway Bay are regularly patrolled by the Squatter Patrol; if so, how often are patrols made daily? (b) Whether in addition to the Squatter Patrol, the Police regularly visit these areas; if so, how often daily?
(c) How many cases of drug addiction or peddling within these areas were brought to the attention of the Police in the 3-month period April-June 1962 by the Squatter Patrol?
(d) How many cases of narcotic addiction or peddling within these squatter areas were brought to the Courts in the same period?
(e) How soon action can be taken to clear these squatter areas, in view of the very many reports of a flourish- ing drug traffic operating there, much to the dis- satisfaction and annoyance of residents living nearby? THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:--
This question concerns Squatter Control on the very steep hillsides above Causeway Bay. This is an area where there has been little development on account of the rugged terrain. Though visible from the north, the area is partic- ularly difficult of access and I doubt very much whether many people in this room have explored it on the ground.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.