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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, my apologies to the Director of Public Works, because I had assumed that like the benevolent octopus, the Public Works Department had a hand in everything. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: Pursuing the line of questioning which my colleague has started, is it not possible that the Financial Secretariat is unwilling to come to a decision so that the land might be put up for public auction for development as a very congested residential area, in the usual fashion?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: I am not sure that this is addressed to me, Sir.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, will you, in anticipation, deplore to Government the possibilities of such a line of action being taken by the Financial Secretary? In clarification, I ask you to convey my remarks.
CHAIRMAN: Your point will be conveyed to Government.
MR. SALES: Thank you.
(4) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
Will the Chairman please tell this Council whether all such Crown land now leased to and controlled by private organizations for recreational purposes is properly developed and maintained and put to good use? What is the total area under such leases?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:
Land for private recreational purposes is held under a variety of leases and is used in various ways and intensities. So far as I am aware, such land is maintained in accordance with the conditions of the leases but I would be glad to learn of any cases where it might appear that this is not the case.
Excluding the race-course, within the built-up areas a total of some 60 acres is occupied by private recreational clubs, almost exactly equally divided between Hong Kong and Kowloon.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I ask you to inquire as to the extent these privately-held leases are put to good use in the interests of the public? In other words, are these privately-operated organizations putting their public land at the disposal of the Education Department having regard to how much the shortage is for playground facilities for the thousands of school children in Hong Kong?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DIRECTOR OF Public Works: Mr. Chairman, I could not answer that question completely. There are so many clubs, and I do not really think the Education Department would be interested in using their facilities. Perhaps it would help if I run down the list of clubs covered by the 60 acres.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Football Club Craigengower Cricket Club Police Recreation Club
Indian Recreation Club
Chinese Recreation Club
South China Athletic Association
Cable and Wireless/Post Office Club
Hong Kong Cricket Club
Deep Water Bay Golf Club
International Country Club
Shek O Country Club
Kowloon
South China Athletic Association
Kowloon Bowling Green Club
Kowloon Cricket Club
Club de Recreio
Young Men's Christian Association
India Club
Filipino Club
Little Flower Club
Urban Council and Urban Services Recreation Club
Chinese Civil Servants Association
Hong Kong Police Sports Association
Many of these clubs have social purposes not requiring much land. For instance, quite honestly, I do not know what the Little Flower Club does, which is for Chinese ladies. It is not a big club and I am sure the Education Department would not want to use their land. On the other hand, the big athletic clubs do co-operate with the Education Department.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, that is a most comprehensive reply. I know for sure that some clubs do pursue an enlightened policy by putting their facilities at the disposal of the Education Department and I do want to see this being practised to a very much greater extent, because all of us are aware that there are thousands of school children in Hong Kong frequenting schools which have no facilities at all for
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186
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:· Mr. Chairman, my apologies to the Director of Public Works, because I had assumed that like the benevolent octo- pus, the Public Works Department had a hand in everything. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: Pursuing the line of questioning which my colleague has started, is it not possible that the Financial Secretariat is unwilling to come to a decision so that the land might be put up for public auction for development as a very congested residential area, in the usual fashion?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:--I am not sure that this is addressed to me, Sir.
MR. SALES: --Mr. Chairman, will you, in anticipation, deplore to Government the possibilities of such a line of action being taken by the Financial Secretary? In clarification, I ask you to convey my remarks.
CHAIRMAN:---Your point will be conveyed to Government.
MR. SALES :-Thank you.
(4) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:----
Will the Chairman please tell this Council whether all such Crown land now leased to and controlled by private or- ganizations for recreational purposes is properly developed and maintained and put to good use? What is the total area under such leases?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:
Land for private recreational purposes is held under a variety of leases and is used in various ways and intensities. So far as I am aware, such land is maintained in accordance with the conditions of the leases but I would be glad to learn of any cases where it might appear that this is not the case.
Excluding the race-course, within the built-up areas a total of some 60 acres is occupied by private recreational clubs, almost exactly equally divided between Hong Kong and Kowloon.
MR. SALES-Mr. Chairman, may I ask you to inquire as to the extent these privately-held leases are put to good use in the interests of the public? In other words, are these privately-operated organizations putting their public land at the disposal of the Education Department having regard to how much the shortage is for playground facilities for the thousands of school children in Hong Kong?
!
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
187
DIRECTOR OF Public Works:-Mr. Chairman, I could not answer that question completely. There are so many clubs, and I do not really think the Education Department would be interested in using their facilities. Perhaps it would help if I run down the list of clubs covered by the 60 acres.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Football Club Craigengower Cricket Club Police Recreation Club
Indian Recreation Club
Chinese Recreation Club
South China Athletic Association
Cable and Wireless/Post Office Club
Hong Kong Cricket Club
Deep Water Bay Golf Club
International Country Club
Shek O Country Club
Kowloon
South China Athletic Association
Kowloon Bowling Green Club
Kowloon Cricket Club
Club de Recreio
Young Men's Christian Association
India Club
Filipino Club
Little Flower Club
Urban Council and Urban Services Recreation Club
Chinese Civil Servants Association
Hong Kong Police Sports Association
Many of these clubs have social purposes not requiring much land. For instance, quite honestly, I do not know what the Little Flower Club does, which is for Chinese ladies. It is not a big club and I am sure the Education Department would not want to use their land. On the other hand, the big athletic clubs do co-operate with the Education Department.
MR. SALES-Mr. Chairman, that is a most comprehensive reply. I know for sure that some clubs do pursue an enlightened policy by putting their facilities at the disposal of the Education Department and I do want to see this being practised to a very much greater extent, because all of us are aware that there are thousands of school children in Hong Kong frequenting schools which have no facilities at all for
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