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The sub-committee now has a fairly clear conception of the general form which an indoor stadium might take if a suitable and central site could be made available, for example on the Hung Hom reclamation. But, it is evident from recent correspondence with the Colonial Secretariat that more information will be required about the facilities to be provided before the project can be considered for possible inclusion in the Government's Public Works Programme.
In particular, it still has to be established whether the indoor stadium project could at the same time meet the need for exhibition and trade fair facilities. A feasibility study of exhibition, trade fair and convention facilities, which was commissioned by the Hong Kong Tourist Association earlier this year, is expected to be available later this month. The Indoor Stadium Sub-Committee hopes to be able to consider this feasibility study at its next meeting, and then to reach agreement as quickly as possible with the Director of Commerce and Industry on the extent to which the projected multi-purpose indoor stadium could or should incorporate facilities for exhibitions and trade fairs, as well as for sport and recreation.
The indoor stadium project is now entering a most important stage and I know that Members will be watching the deliberations of Mr. Wilson WANG's sub-committee with keen interest.
MR. SALES: -Sir, may I have your assurance that Government, through other departments, is not seeking to apply pressure on the sub-committee to expand the scope of the multi-purpose indoor stadium to the extent that it might lose its original intention, that it should fundamentally be built to provide recreational facilities for the people of Hong Kong as distinguished from providing facilities for big business?
MR. HU: -Mr. Chairman, besides the Hung Hom reclamation, is there any other site which is suitable for this purpose?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: Mr. Chairman, I think that before one can answer that one would need to know more about what is proposed. I would say, for instance, that the Wan Chai reclamation, which has not really been started yet, is a possible site. I mean that all one really needs is a large area of level land, and where we are doing reclamation schemes this is a possibility.
MR. HU: Would it be better if we were to build an indoor stadium in one place and build the exhibition centre for trade in another place?
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DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -I am sure, Mr. Chairman, this would be considered by Government if Government decided that two such buildings should be built. I think it is rather premature to think in terms of the siting when you do not know whether we are going to have one or two buildings.
MR. SALES: Sir, I would like to remind this Council that, several years ago, the Council passed a motion for two indoor stadia, one in Kowloon, a major stadium, and a minor stadium for the Island. (Laughter).
MR. HU: -I think it is more important, if we really want to promote commerce in the Colony, to have a separate exhibition centre like in any other big commercial city in Japan or elsewhere.
MR. SALES: -Sir, may I suggest that the Urban Amenities Select Committee is not likely to object if the minor stadium on the Island could be converted into a convention hall or an exhibition hall as Mr. Hu has very rightly proposed, leaving the major indoor stadium for the people of Kowloon.
(9) DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:
I have received complaints from residents in the Hung Hom district that the smoke emitted from the chimneys or kitchens of the restaurants and cafes in the area has caused unbearable and injurious effects on public health. I have made a visit to this area and found that there are about 65-70 restaurants or cafes there. Would the Chairman make investigations and insist that smokeless fuel be used in these establishments?
THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
So far this year, 9 complaints of smoke nuisance have been received from the district, of which 3 related to restaurants and food factories. Conditions were rectified on each occasion by giving simple advice on regular clearing of chimneys, proper stoking and use of fuel of better quality, without recourse to the issue of smoke abatement notices.
An investigation recently carried out by the district staff revealed that of the 51 general restaurants and 8 cafes located in Hung Hom district south of Chi Kiang Street, 31 establishments were using coal as fuel, 18 kerosene,
Page 183 of 382
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Page 183 of 382
344
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The sub-committee now has a fairly clear conception of the general form which an indoor stadium might take if a suitable and central site could be made available, for example on the Hung Hom reclamation. But, it is evident from recent correspondence with the Colonial Secretariat that more information will be required about the facilities to be provided before the project can be considered for possible inclusion in the Government's Public Works Programme.
In particular, it still has to be established whether the indoor stadium project could at the same time meet the need for exhibition and trade fair facilities. A feasibility study of exhibition, trade fair and convention facilities, which was commissioned by the Hong Kong Tourist Association earlier this year, is expected to be available later this month. The Indoor Stadium Sub-Committee hopes to be able to consider this feasibility study at its next meeting, and then to reach agreement as quickly as possible with the Director of Commerce and Industry on the extent to which the projected multi-purpose indoor stadium could or should incorporate facilities for exhibitions and trade fairs, as well as for sport and recreation.
The indoor stadium project is now entering a most important stage and I know that Members will be watching the deliberations of Mr. Wilson WANG's sub-committee with keen interest.
MR. SALES: -Sir, may I have your assurance that Government, through other departments, is not seeking to apply pressure on the sub- committee to expand the scope of the multi-purpose indoor stadium to the extent that it might lose its original intention, that it should funda- mentally be built to provide recreational facilities for the people of Hong Kong as distinguished from providing facilities for big business?
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, besides the Hung Hom reclamation, is there any other site which is suitable for this purpose?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: Mr. Chairman, I think that before one can answer that one would need to know more about what is proposed. I would say, for instance, that the Wan Chai reclamation, which has not really been started yet, is a possible site. I mean that. all one really needs is a large area of level land, and where we are doing reclamation schemes this is possibility.
MR. HU: Would it be better if we were to build an indoor stadium in one place and build the exhibition centre for trade in another place?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
345
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-I am sure, Mr. Chairman, this would be considered by Government if Government decided that two such buildings should be built. I think it is rather premature to think in terms of the siting when you do not know whether we are going to have one or two buildings.
MR. SALES: Sir, I would like to remind this Council that, several years ago, the Council passed a motion for two indoor stadia, one in Kowloon, a major stadium, and a minor stadium for the Island. (Laughter).
MR. HU:---I think it is more important, if we really want to pro- mote commerce in the Colony, to have a separate exhibition centre like in any other big commercial city in Japan or elsewhere.
MR. SALES: -Sir, may I suggest that the Urban Amenities Select Committee is not likely to object if the minor stadium on the Island could be converted into a convention hall or an exhibition hall as Mr. Hu has very rightly proposed, leaving the major indoor stadium for the people of Kowloon.
(9) DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:
I have received complaints from residents in the Hung Hom district that the smoke emitted from the chimneys or kitchens of the restaurants and cafes in the area has caused unbearable and injurious effects on public health. I have made a visit to this area and found that there are about 65-70 restaurants or cafes there. Would the Chair- man make investigations and insist that smokeless fuel be used in these establishments?
THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
So far this year, 9 complaints of smoke nuisance have been received from the district, of which 3 related to restaurants and food factories. Conditions were rectified on each occasion by giving simple advice on regular clearing of chimneys, proper stoking and use of fuel of better quality, without recourse to the issue of smoke abatement notices.
An investigation recently carried out by the district staff revealed that of the 51 general restaurants and 8 cafes located in Hung Hom district south of Chi Kiang Street, 31 establishments were using coal as fuel, 18 kerosene,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.