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CHAIRMAN: -Sir, I am prepared first of all to find out what are the facts on this question of $3 million over and above the $4 million mark. If the answer is in the negative I will make the representations to which you refer.
MR. SALES: -Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Mr. Chairman, I would like to seek further clarification from you in regard to the statement that a further $200,000 will be needed to complete the first stage concerning turfing and tree planting. Has this amount been allocated for the current fiscal year yet?
CHAIRMAN: -No, Sir. It has not.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Is there any particular reason why this has not yet been allocated, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN: The position is rather complicated and I don't intend to enlarge on the financing of this particular project, but it came to my notice when the Superintendent of Gardens applied for a release of funds for turfing and tree planting, that in the overall estimate of $4 million the detailed breakdown for the spending of that money did not include the sum of $132,000 which we wished to have this summer. If there had been no other consideration I should be able by now to say that an application for supplementary provision for that amount had been made. However, there has been this complicating fact of the generous American gift, and it seems probable that the best course of action is to spend that money, particularly, as I understand it, the American Government expects the money to be spent quite quickly, and then to go into the further financing at a later date. I have been informed that many of the estimates among the items in this project are rather vague, and that one is best advised to ask for additional funds towards the end of the project rather than at this stage. I regret that at the moment no decision has been taken whether or not to ask for supplementary provision for the turfing and planting, but I am inclined to think that we should not do so in the new circumstances.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -In any case, we can expect an assurance from the Department that the matter is being actively followed up?
CHAIRMAN: -You have my assurance, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -I would like to ask how much turfing and planting of trees is going on around the new swimming pool? Is it fairly extensive?
CHAIRMAN: -The turfing and planting that has taken place so far costing $230,000 amounts to about 12 acres, and it is some little distance away from the swimming pool. When I visited the swimming pool about eight weeks ago, there was no sign of any turfing and planting around the pool, nor should one expect that. The project was in a stage of construction: the tiling of the pool was not yet complete, the restaurant and the benches, or tiers on which spectators will sit, were not yet complete. It is my understanding that when the pool is completed and the surrounds tidied up, there will then be some amenity planting, but it is not part of this turfing and planting that we have been discussing.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Mr. Chairman, can I have your assurance that when the swimming pool is opened by His Excellency the Governor no impression will be created that the Urban Council is creating an Urban Council oasis in a Kowloon Tsai desert?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I thank you for your very comprehensive replies to my questions, and I presume also to say in reply to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's supplementary questions. I would like to put a final supplementary question to you if I may, and that is: Having regard to the donation from the United States Government, is it possible that the area of the Kowloon Tsai Park may be extended in consequence, so that more facilities may be provided where none exist in Kowloon?
CHAIRMAN: -Sir, in clarification, do you mean an extension of the boundaries of the present park or a separate area?
MR. SALES: -An extension of the boundaries, because there appears to be abundant land in the vicinity across the road called the Foothills Road.
CHAIRMAN: -That is a new, interesting, point, Sir, and I will see that it is looked into.
MR. CHAN SHU-WOON asked the following question:-
It was reported recently in the Press that many gambling agents utilized the stairs, corridors and even the shops in Wong Tai Sin Resettlement Estate to operate their illegal business known as "Tse Fa". Will the Chairman state:
(a) Whether this is true or not?
(b) If so, how many cases have been reported and dealt with?
(c) What measures will be taken to avert recurrence?
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CHAIRMAN: -Sir, I am prepared first of all to find out what are the facts on this question of $3 million over and above the $4 million mark. If the answer is in the negative I will make the representations to which you refer.
MR. SALES:-Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I would like to seek further clarification from you in regard to the statement that a further $200,000 will be needed to complete the first stage concerning turfing and tree planting. Has this amount been allocated for the current fiscal year yet?
CHAIRMAN:-No, Sir. It has not.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Is there any particular reason why this has not yet been allocated, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN: The position is rather complicated and I don't intend to enlarge on the financing of this particular project, but it came to my notice when the Superintendent of Gardens applied for a release of funds for turfing and tree planting, that in the overall estimate of $4 million the detailed breakdown for the spending of that money did not include the sum of $132,000 which we wished to have this summer. If there had been no other consideration I should be able by now to say that an application for supplementary provision for that amount had been made. However, there has been this complicating fact of the generous American gift, and it seems probable that the best course of action is to spend that money, particularly, as I understand it, the American Government expects the money to be spent quite quickly, and then to go into the further financing at a later date. I have been informed that many of the estimates among the items in this project are rather vague, and that one is best advised to ask for additional funds towards the end of the project rather than at this stage. I regret that at the moment no deci- sion has been taken whether or not to ask for supplementary provision for the turfing and planting, but I am inclined to think that we should not do so in the new circumstances.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In any case, we can expect an assurance from the Department that the matter is being actively followed up?
CHAIRMAN: -You have my assurance, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I would like to ask how much turfing and planting of trees is going on around the new swimming pool? Is it fairly extensive?
CHAIRMAN: -The turfing and planting that has taken place so far costing $230,000 amounts to about 12 acres, and it is some little dis- tance away from the swimming pool. When I visited the swimming
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i
pool about eight weeks ago, there was no sign of any turfing and plant- ing around the pool, nor should one expect that. The project was in a stage of construction: the tiling of the pool was not yet complete, the restaurant and the benches, or tiers on which spectators will sit, were not yet complete. It is my understanding that when the pool is com- pleted and the surrounds tidied up, there will then be some amenity planting, but it is not part of this turfing and planting that we have been discussing.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, can I have your assurance that when the swimming pool is opened by His Excellency the Governor no impression will be created that the Urban Council is creating an Urban Council oasis in a Kowloon Tsai desert?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I thank you for your very com- prehensive replies to my questions, and I presume also to say in reply to Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's supplementary questions. I would like to put a final supplementary question to you if I may, and that is: Having regard to the donation from the United States Government, is it possible that the area of the Kowloon Tsai Park may be extended in con- sequence, so that more facilities may be provided where none exist in Kowloon?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, in clarification, do you mean an extension of the boundaries of the present park or a separate arca?
MR. SALES-An extension of the boundaries, because there appears to be abundant land in the vicinity across the road called the Foothills Road.
CHAIRMAN:-That is a new, interesting, point, Sir, and I will see that it is looked into.
MR. CHAN SHU-WOON asked the following question:-
It was reported recently in the Press that many gambling agents utilized the stairs, corridors and even the shops in Wong Tai Sin Resettlement Estate to operate their illegal business known as "Tse Fa". Will the Chairman state:
(a) Whether this is true or not?
(b) If so, how many cases have been reported and dealt
with?
(c) What measures will be taken to avert recurrence?
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