1964 — Page 104

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN:-The matter has first to be considered by the Urban Amenities Select Committee.

(2) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-

Is the Chairman able to tell this Council whether the newly- formed land at Wong Nei Chong Gap will be reserved as public open space? If so, when will it become available to this Council?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

No decision has been taken yet on the use to which this land is to be put. However, I should like to confirm that, if Government decides that any part of the land should be reserved permanently for recreational use, the Director of Education and the Urban Council will be consulted before there is any question of granting the land for other than public use.

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, is Government not seized with the importance to use an administrative phrase that I have heard before in this Council that it is necessary to provide the people of the Island also with some up-to-date recreational facilities in keeping with the proportion of 10% of open space for any given area that might be developed in the Colony? (Pause). Mr. Chairman, may I frame my question more bluntly? Will Government also provide the people of the Island with some recreational facilities, which in fact are very much needed?

CHAIRMAN:-I would say that Government will continue to endeavour to provide recreational facilities for the people of the Island as far as it is able to do so.

MR. SALES: Is this area not in fact most suitable for that purpose, being relatively well located?

CHAIRMAN: --It might well be, Sir. Have you any particular observations which you would like me to convey to Government?

MR. SALES: Yes, Mr. Chairman. I would certainly be thankful if you would represent to Government that some sports in Hong Kong are not at all served by adequate recreational facilities for the practice of these particular branches of sport, so this is an opportunity which should not be lost for that purpose.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

(3) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:

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Has Government agreed to the proposal to extend Victoria Park across Causeway Road to include part or all of the land taken over from the Services?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows: -

The answer to the question is the same as that given at the meeting of the Urban Council on 5th May this year, namely, that no final decision had yet been taken on the permanent future use of this land. I repeat in this case also, the confirmation I gave in my reply to the previous question, that the Urban Council will be consulted before there is any question of granting the land for other than public use.

MR. SALES :-Thank you, Sir. Now that Victoria Park has reached the limit of facilities for active recreation, would it not be desirable for stronger representations to be made to Government to set aside this piece of land at Causeway Road for the development of more open space for passive recreation?

CHAIRMAN:-I will address a further inquiry to the Colonial Secretary on the matter if you wish.

MR. SALES-Thank you, Sir.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Director of Public Works whether there are any tentative proposals in regard to this land?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-I believe this point is adequately covered in the reply to the original question--that it is not possible to give any further information than has been given previously.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-The reply says nothing, Mr. Chairman. (Laughter).

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: Perhaps we have nothing to say. (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Could I then ask the Director of Public Works, through you, Mr. Chairman, what is holding up a decision by Government?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-This is not a Public Works matter, Mr. Chairman. This is a Government matter which must be sorted out at Government level. When Government has anything to say, it has undertaken to let the Urban Council know as quickly as possible.