HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 4th February, 1964, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:-
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of February 1964.
QUESTIONS.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) To what extent does the Urban Services Department collaborate with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry in re-afforestation and also in preventing the cutting of trees and the destruction of plant life generally?
(b) Is there a permanent programme of re-afforestation to prevent erosion and to improve the landscape?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The Agriculture and Forestry Department and the Urban Services Department keep in close touch, particularly on technical matters, and help each other from time to time, for example by exchanges of seeds and young plants. But since the Agriculture and Forestry Department operates essentially in rural areas off main roads while the Urban Services Department operates mainly in built-up areas, there is in practice a fairly clearcut geographical dividing line between their respective spheres of operation, and there is as a result little in the way of collaboration.
The answer to the second part of the question is that the Agriculture and Forestry Department does have a long-term policy of re-afforestation and protection in the more rural areas. Priority is being given to reservoir catchments, with the result that most of the work has been carried out in the New Territories. Within the built-up areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon, the Urban Services Department is now embarking on limited protective tree planting schemes in the case of hillsides set aside as public open space in town planning layouts. The first such scheme for Lo Fu Ngam Park was approved recently by the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
MR. SALES: May I take it, Sir, that a Chairman by any other name would still have to answer supplementary questions?* (Laughter). Mr. Chairman, would you be willing to make representations for the development of the catchment areas as parks as well, without equipment, perhaps with the exception of the ubiquitous bench which our Committee is trying to put everywhere?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, Sir. I take it that you are referring principally to the development of parks in the New Territories. I think that impinges on your next question.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I do not hear quite clearly at this end of the table but it seems to me that you are answering questions which are outside the scope of this Council. May I ask you the reason for this partiality towards the Appointed Members?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I am not answering questions outside the scope of the Council. I was agreeing to refer Mr. SALES' observations to Government.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I clarify the position? I framed the question by asking whether you would be willing to make representations.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) Because of the steep increase in urban population and the consequent development of urban Crown land for housing and other purposes, this Council must inevitably expect that Government will preserve more open land for public recreation in the New Territories, so will you please make appropriate representations in this regard?
(b) Will you also advise Government that it is the view of this Council that the areas in the New Territories which have been set aside as parks and playgrounds should be properly developed as such and not gradually lost to the public by sale for private development?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The growth of our urban population and the consequent expansion of the built-up areas, coupled with rising standards of living, makes it almost inevitable that people
* The reference was to a report in the "Hong Kong Tiger Standard" on 3rd March, 1964, that Mr. G. M. TINGLE Would be facing a barrage of questions in the Urban Council.
Page 186 of 194
354
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
355
6 of 194
Page 186 of 194
354
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 4th February, 1964, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:-
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services
Department for the month of February 1964.
QUESTIONS.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) To what extent does the Urban Services Department collaborate with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry in re-afforestation and also in preventing the cut- ting of trees and the destruction of plant life generally?
(b) Is there a permanent programme of re-afforestation to
prevent erosion and to improve the landscape?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The Agriculture and Forestry Department and the Urban Services Department keep in close touch, particularly on technical matters, and help each other from time to time, for example by exchanges of seeds and young plants. But since the Agriculture and Forestry Department operates essentially in rural areas off main roads while the Urban Services Department operates mainly in built-up areas, there is in practice a fairly clearcut geographical dividing line between their respective spheres of operation, and there is as a result little in the way of collaboration.
The answer to the second part of the question is that the Agriculture and Forestry Department does have a long- term policy of re-afforestation and protection in the more rural areas. Priority is being given to reservoir catch- ments, with the result that most of the work has been carried out in the New Territories. Within the built-up areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon, the Urban Services Department is now embarking on limited protective tree planting schemes in the case of hillsides set aside as public open space in town planning layouts. The first such scheme for Lo Fu Ngam Park was approved recently by the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
355
MR. SALES: May I take it, Sir, that a Chairman by any other name would still have to answer supplementary questions?* (Laughter). Mr. Chairman, would you be willing to make representations for the development of the catchment areas as parks as well, without equip- ment, perhaps with the exception of the ubiquitous bench which our Committee is trying to put everywhere?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, Sir. I take it that you are referring principally to the development of parks in the New Territories. I think that impinges on your next question.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I do not hear quite clearly at this end of the table but it seems to me that you are answering questions which are outside the scope of this Council. May I ask you the reason for this partiality towards the Appointed Members?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I am not answering questions outside the scope of the Council. I was agreeing to refer Mr. SALES' observations to Government.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I clarify the position? I framed the question by asking whether you would be willing to make representa- tions.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) Because of the steep increase in urban population and the consequent development of urban Crown land for housing and other purposes, this Council must inevitably expect that Government will preserve more open land for public recreation in the New Territories, so will you please make appropriate representations in this regard?
(b) Will you also advise Government that it is the view of this Council that the areas in the New Territories which have been set aside as parks and playgrounds should be prop- erly developed as such and not gradually lost to the public by sale for private development?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The growth of our urban population and the consequent expansion of the built-up areas, coupled with rising standards of living, makes it almost inevitable that people
* The reference was to a report in the "Hong Kong Tiger Standard" on 3rd March, 1964, that Mr. G. M. TINGLE Would be facing a barrage of questions in the Urban Council.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.