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MR. BERNACCHI:-I would ask you, Sir, to rule on the following question because I frankly admit that it goes somewhat outside the orbit of the original question of Mr. SALES, but I am very distressed to hear that the new abattoir will not be completed inside 3 to 4 years, and I would like to ask the Director of Public Works "why so long?"
MR. MARDEN (as Chairman of the Offensive Trades and Slaughter-houses Select Committee):-Mr. BERNACCHI, through the Chairman, on this I can assure you that the Offensive Trades and Slaughterhouses Select Committee is pressing this point as hard as it can, and although the time seems long distant, it is in fact progressing as fast as circumstances permit. I can assure you that the Slaughterhouses Select Committee is pricking it along.
CHAIRMAN:-Does that satisfy you, Mr. BERNACCHI?
MR. BERNACCHI:-Yes, indeed.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, would you please give to the appropriate Select Committee the information that is required to determine the size of the playground in the Western District, namely, the number of children in that area, the number of schools in that location, and likewise what playing facilities are available in Government schools in the Western District?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
Does Government agree with this Council's proposal to extend Victoria Park by reserving at least a part of the land taken back from the Services at Causeway Bay and developing it for public recreation?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-
I have been authorized to say that Government is not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which was given to you at the meeting of this Council in February last, namely, that no final decision has yet been reached on the permanent future use of this land and that Government is aware of the Council's keen interest in the matter.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, may I, through you, thank the Director of Public Works for a very frank reply. I would, however, wish to ask a supplementary question. Could you, Mr. Chairman, ask Government for a categorical assurance that none of the land now available at Causeway Bay will be alienated-if it is intended that such land should be used for recreational purposes, in the same way as we have experienced in the alienation of public land in King's Park?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I will put your point to Government.
MR. SALES:--Would you, when you receive a reply, please make it known to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, Sir.
MR. A. de O. SALES, on behalf of the Unofficial Members, asked the following question:-
(a) Will you please state categorically whether the Report of the Working Party on Housing has been officially released by Government? If not, what is causing the delay? (b) Are you able to advise this Council whether the Working Party's recommendations have been accepted by Government?
THE COMMISSIONER for RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
No, Sir, the Report of the Working Party has not yet been released although a number of newspapers have purported to reproduce the recommendations in the Report.
As you are aware, this Report contains important and far-reaching recommendations on a complicated subject which is of vital concern to Hong Kong. It is necessary for the recommendations to be given very careful and detailed consideration by Government. As the Colonial Secretary indicated in the recent Budget Debate in the Legislative Council, those aspects of the Report which directly concern the clearance and resettlement of squatters and are regarded as being of the most immediate urgency are being dealt with first and it is proposed to bring forward to the Executive Council proposals on these recommendations as soon as possible. In these circumstances, you will appreciate that it is not yet possible to say whether or not Government accepts the recommendations of the Working Party.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, may I thank the Commissioner for Resettlement for his reply. My first supplementary question is this: As you well know, Members of this Council, who are likewise Members
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Page 38 of 312
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Page 38 of 312
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. BERNACCHI:-I would ask you, Sir, to rule on the following question because I frankly admit that it goes somewhat outside the orbit of the original question of Mr. SALES, but I am very distressed to hear that the new abattoir will not be completed inside 3 to 4 years, and I would like to ask the Director of Public Works "why so long?"
MR. MARDEN (as Chairman of the Offensive Trades and Slaughter- houses Select Committee): -Mr. BERNACCHI, through the Chairman, on this I can assure you that the Offensive Trades and Slaughterhouses Select Committee is pressing this point as hard as it can, and although the time seems long distant, it is in fact progressing as fast as circum- stances permit. I can assure you that the Slaughterhouses Select Com- mittee is pricking it along.
CHAIRMAN:-Does that satisfy you, Mr. BERNACCHI?
MR. BERNACCHI:-Yes, indeed.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, would you please give to the appro- priate Select Committee the information that is required to determine the size of the playground in the Western District, namely, the number of children in that area, the number of schools in that location, and likewise what playing facilities are available in Government schools in the Western District?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
Does Government agree with this Council's proposal to extend Victoria Park by reserving at least a part of the land taken back from the Services at Causeway Bay and developing it for public recreation?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-
I have been authorized to say that Government is not yet in a position to add anything to the reply which was given to you at the meeting of this Council in February last, namely, that no final decision has yet been reached on the permanent future use of this land and that Government is aware of the Council's keen interest in the matter.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I, through you, thank the Director of Public Works for a very frank reply. I would, however, wish to ask a supplementary question. Could you, Mr. Chairman, ask
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
55
Government for a categorical assurance that none of the land now avail- able at Causeway Bay will be alienated-if it is intended that such land should be used for recreational purposes, in the same way as we have experienced in the alienation of public land in King's Park?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I will put your point to Government.
MR. SALES: --Would you, when you receive a reply, please make it known to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, Sir.
MR. A. de O. SALES, on behalf of the Unofficial Members, asked the following question:-
(a) Will you please state categorically whether the Report of the Working Party on Housing has been officially released by Government? If not, what is causing the delay? (b) Are you able to advise this Council whether the Working Party's recommendations have been accepted by Govern- ment?
THE COMMISSIONER for RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
No, Sir, the Report of the Working Party has not yet been released although a number of newspapers have purported to reproduce the recommendations in the Report.
As you are aware, this Report contains important and far reaching recommendations on a complicated subject which is of vital concern to Hong Kong. It is necessary for the recommendations to be given very careful and detailed consideration by Government. As the Colonial Secretary indicated in the recent Budget Debate in the Legislative Council, those aspects of the Report which directly con- cern the clearance and resettlement of squatters and are regarded as being of the most immediate urgency are being dealt with first and it is proposed to bring forward to the Executive Council proposals on these recommenda- tions as soon as possible. In these circumstances you will appreciate that it is not yet possible to say whether or not Government accepts the recommendations of the Working Party.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I thank the Commissioner for Resettlement for his reply. My first supplementary question is this: As you well know, Members of this Council, who are likewise Members
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