Page 181 of 194
344
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
There are several good local candidates for this honour, among our numerous flowers and flowering trees and shrubs. Two native species which spring readily to mind are the Red Hong Kong Camellia (Camellia Hongkongensis) and the Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia Blakeana). Both were first discovered on Hong Kong Island, the Red Hong Kong Camellia by Lt. Colonel Eyre in 1849, and the Hong Kong Orchid Tree by the fathers of the Mission Etrangeres at Pok Fu Lam at the beginning of this century. Both are in flower at the moment and I have thought it timely to have bowls of them placed on the table here this afternoon for your inspection.
If Members agree, I would suggest that this matter might be discussed in due course in the Standing Committee of the Whole Council before a recommendation is made to Government.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, you may like to put on record that when I refer to Hong Kong I include Kowloon as well.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I notice that you have consulted various organizations, but the particular Select Committee that is most concerned with tree planting and so on is not mentioned at all. Is it your intention to set aside the opinion of Urban Councillors in the Urban Amenities Select Committee?
CHAIRMAN:- I must confess, Sir, that I had not thought it necessary to bring the Urban Amenities Select Committee into this particular matter, which struck me as being one of pure aesthetics. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I regret that I cannot agree with you that the choice of a flower need be an aesthetical matter. I should have thought that perhaps the choice might be after the person who has been so eager about it. A flower that is found in profusion near Happy Valley, the Hiltonian Cactus, which is most confusing at other times, might be an appropriate choice. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: — Mr. Chairman, if Mr. SALES is so eager about it, may I suggest that it be referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) Because car-parking facilities will be available to the public in the new Ocean Terminal, will you please let this Council know whether the intention to build a car-park at Canton Road has been given up?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
345
(b) If so, can Government assure this Council that it will not auction off for private development that valuable piece of land but reserve it for some other public use?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
In view of the decision to include public car parking facilities in the Ocean Terminal, Government has already decided not to go ahead with the planning of a multi-storey car park on this site at the present time. The long-term future use of this lot and other land in the vicinity depends upon approval of the Outline Development Plan of Tsim Sha Tsui which is still in a preliminary drafting stage prior to public exhibition. It is not therefore possible to give any indication at this stage of Government's future long-term use of this land.
MR. SALES :- Thank you very much.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
(a) May I once again ask you whether Government has agreed to the representations this Council has made for at least a good part, if not the whole of the land relinquished by the Services at Causeway Bay to be kept as an open space?
(b) If no decision has yet been taken, will you advise Government that this Council is strongly of the opinion that the opportunity must not be lost to re-develop that area as an extension of Victoria Park?
(c) Is Government aware that road development and other traffic requirements have already cut down, and in the future will even more greatly reduce the size of the Park?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
As Members know, two areas of land were occupied by the Services at Causeway Bay. The first comprised six acres adjoining Moreton Terrace and has recently been released by the Army. It is now under temporary occupation mainly for lorry parking and is intended for sale in the future.
The second piece of land comprises the former Royal Naval Sports Ground which measures 5.2 acres and contains a soccer pitch, 5 concrete tennis courts, a changing room and lavatories. In 1961 it was allocated on a temporary basis...
Page 181 of 194
Page 181 of 194
344
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
There are several good local candidates for this honour, among our numerous flowers and flowering trees and shrubs. Two native species which spring readily to mind are the Red Hong Kong Camellia (Camellia Hongkongensis) and the Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia Blakeana). Both were first discovered on Hong Kong Island, the Red Hong Kong Camellia by Lt. Colonel Eyre in 1849, and the Hong Kong Orchid Tree by the fathers of the Mission Etrangeres at Pok Fu Lam at the beginning of this century. Both are in flower at the moment and I have thought it timely to have bowls of them placed on the table here this after- noon for your inspection.
If Members agree, I would suggest that this matter might be dis- cussed in due course in the Standing Committee of the Whole Council before a recommendation is made to Government.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, you may like to put on record that when I refer to Hong Kong I include Kowloon as well.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I notice that you have consulted various organizations, but the particular Select Committee that is most concerned with tree planting and so on is not mentioned at all. Is it your intention to set aside the opinion of Urban Councillors in the Urban Amenities Select Committee?
CHAIRMAN: -I must confess, Sir, that I had not thought it necessary to bring the Urban Amenities Select Committee into this particular mat- ter, which struck me as being one of pure aesthetics. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I regret that I cannot agree with you that the choice of a flower need be an aesthetical matter. I should have thought that perhaps the choice might be after the person who has been so eager about it. A flower that is found in profusion near Happy Valley, the Hiltonian Cactus, which is most confusing at other times, might be an appropriate choice. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: —Mr. Chairman, if Mr. SALES is so eager about it, may I suggest that it be referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) Because car-parking facilities will be available to the public in the new Ocean Terminal, will you please let this Council know whether the intention to build a car- park at Canton Road has been given up?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
345
(b) If so, can Government assure this Council that it will not auction off for private development that valuable piece of land but reserve it for some other public use?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
In view of the decision to include public car parking facilities in the Ocean Terminal, Government has already decided not to go ahead with the planning of a multi-storey car park on this site at the present time. The long-term future use of this lot and other land in the vicinity depends upon approval of the Outline Development Plan of Tsim Sha Tsui which is still in a preliminary drafting stage prior to public exhibition. It is not therefore possible to give any indication at this stage of Govern- ment's future long-term use of this land.
MR. SALES :-Thank you very much.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
(a) May I once again ask you whether Government has agreed to the representations this Council has made for at least a good part, if not the whole of the land relinquished by the Services at Causeway Bay to be kept as an open space?
(b) If no decision has yet been taken, will you advise Govern- ment that this Council is strongly of the opinion that the opportunity must not be lost to re-develop that area as an extension of Victoria Park?
(c) Is Government aware that road development and other traffic requirements have already cut down, and in the future will even more greatly reduce the size of the Park?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
As Members know, two areas of land were occupied by the Services at Causeway Bay. The first comprised six acres adjoining Moreton Terrace and has recently been released by the Army. It is now under temporary occupation mainly for lorry parking and is intended for sale in the future.
The second piece of land comprises the former Royal Naval Sports Ground which measures 5.2 acres and contains a soccer pitch, 5 concrete tennis courts, a changing room and lavatories. In 1961 it was allocated on a temporary
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