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warranted. Therefore, I urge this Council and, through this Council, Government, not to miss this splendid opportunity which is given us by the surrender on the part of the Services of the land across the road from Victoria Park, so that we may extend that park beyond the road and utilize all available land for proper development in the public interest.
name.
Sir, I have pleasure in moving the motion which stands in my
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, it gives me great pleasure to second this motion. Perhaps Dr. LEE and I are the only ones now on this Council who were on this Council when Victoria Park was first opened to the public. It is on reclaimed land, the money for the reclamation was provided by the Jockey Club on the understanding that it should be used for a park. At a very early stage before the park was opened, this Council made representations to Government that no parts of the reclamation should be used for other purposes and that there should be adequate facilities for cars parking outside the reclamation. Government at that time was understood by the Council to have given an undertaking in terms, and a special reference was made to the site on which the Causeway Bay Magistracy now stands, which site as I understand was partly on reclaimed land and partly on vacant land adjoining the reclaimed land. Afterwards, the need for erecting a Government building in that area was such that Government took over the site which was being used for the parking of cars, leaving only the utterly inadequate site at the other end of the reclamation. I regard it as a moral obligation on Government to provide further land if and when it becomes available. The parking of cars is only one of the numerous problems that Victoria Park has to meet. Being the largest park in the built-up area of Hong Kong, it is extremely popular, and persons come by buses, by trams and even by "pak pai chais" to enjoy its facilities. The amenities of the park are now utterly inadequate to meet the demand laid upon it, and by developing land formerly occupied by the Services at Causeway Bay, Victoria Park can be enlarged and become of real use to the 4 million people of Hong Kong. It would be a catastrophe if Government were to envisage the selling of the land or otherwise alienating it from use by the public. I hope Government would never demonstrate to the public avariciousness in this way.
Mr. Chairman, I beg to second.
DR. R. H. S. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, one of the most lamentable features of ever-congested Hong Kong is the gross shortage of open spaces where the young may find a place without running the risk of being knocked down by a motor vehicle, or the aged to find a quiet spot to rest their tired limbs in comfort and enjoy a bit of fresh air uncontaminated by dust and building debris. It is a problem constantly present in my mind. In fact, Mr. Chairman, the questions which I raised when I first joined the Urban Council some 12 years ago were those concerning parks and playgrounds. I am glad to say that we have more parks and playgrounds now, but it does not mean that we are satisfied with what we have got. We must press for more in view of their relative scarcity in the urban areas. They contribute so much towards the health and well-being of the community that it is impossible to over-exaggerate their value.
Unless Government is going to provide some open space in land to be reclaimed in the Wan Chai area, there is no park for the whole of the north shore of Hong Kong Island from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan, except Victoria Park, which for the population of Hong Kong is quite inadequate. As the land formerly occupied by the Services in the Central area is earmarked for commercial development, I do not see any other areas which can be used for amenity development.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I fully support my friend's motion.
DR. A. M. S. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I doubt if there is any one who could speak against Mr. SALES' motion. When one walks or drives in our streets one realizes how lamentably few are the open spaces amongst all the concrete jungle in which we live. And how often when a building is torn down I wish it just would not have to be rebuilt but the space be left open for a breath of fresh air for all the young children in its neighbourhood to be able to romp and play in safety away from the hazards of the traffic. If only sometimes our Government could resist cashing in on the price of land, especially when it is not intended for low-cost housing what a much healthier and happier community we would have. Here now is land which has reverted for general use and which there is absolutely no need for Government to fill its coffers from, but rather to realize its obligations to provide for more recreational activities.
I wholeheartedly support Mr. SALES' motion.
MR. CHEUNG WING-IN:-Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the motion of my colleague Mr. Sales.
The high incidence of juvenile crimes in recent years is due in a large measure, in my opinion, to the overcrowded conditions of our city and the lack of open space for the healthy recreation of our children in the urban areas. Any additional open space for recreation would contribute usefully to the well-being of our increasing population and to our fight against juvenile crimes.
35
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
* Illegal taxis,
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2
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34
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warranted. Therefore, I urge this Council and, through this Council, Government, not to miss this splendid opportunity which is given us by the surrender on the part of the Services of the land across the road from Victoria Park, so that we may extend that park beyond the road and utilize all available land for proper development in the public interest.
name.
Sir, I have pleasure in moving the motion which stands in my
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, it gives me great pleasure to second this motion. Perhaps Dr. LEE and I are the only ones now on this Council who were on this Council when Victoria Park was first opened to the public. It is on reclaimed land, the money for the reclamation was provided by the Jockey Club on the understanding that it should be used for a park. At a very early stage before the park was opened, this Council made representations to Government that no parts of the reclamation should be used for other purposes and that there should be adequate facilities for cars parking outside the reclamation. Government at that time was understood by the Council to have given an undertaking in terms, and a special reference was made to the site on which the Causeway Bay Magistracy now stands, which site as I understand was partly on reclaimed land and partly on vacant land adjoining the reclaimed land. Afterwards, the need for erecting a Government building in that area was such that Government took over the site which was being used for the parking of cars, leaving only the utterly inadequate site at the other end of the reclamation. I regard it as a moral obligation on Government to provide further land if and when it becomes available. The parking of cars is only one of the numerous problems that Victoria Park has to meet. Being the largest park in the built-up area of Hong Kong, it is extremely popular, and persons come by buses, by trams and even by "pak pai chais" to enjoy its facilities. The amenities of the park are now utterly inadequate to meet the demand laid upon it, and by developing land formerly occupied by the Services at Causeway Bay, Victoria Park can be enlarged and become of real use to the 4 million people of Hong Kong. It would be a catastrophe if Government were to en- visage the selling of the land or otherwise alienating it from use by the public. I hope Government would never demonstrate to the public avariciousness in this way.
Mr. Chairman, I beg to second.
DR. R. H. S. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, one of the most lamentable features of ever-congested Hong Kong is the gross shortage of open spaces where the young may find a place without running the
* Illegal taxis,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
35
risk of being knocked down by a motor vehicle, or the aged to find a quiet spot to rest their tired limbs in comfort and enjoy a bit of fresh air uncontaminated by dust and building debris. It is a problem constantly present in my mind. In fact, Mr. Chairman, the questions which I raised when I first joined the Urban Council some 12 years ago were those concerning parks and playgrounds. I am glad to say that we have more parks and playgrounds now, but it does not mean that we are satisfied with what we have got. We must press for more in view of their relative scarcity in the urban areas. They contribute so much towards the health and well-being of the community that it is impossible to over-exaggerate their value.
Unless Government is going to provide some open space in land to be reclaimed in the Wan Chai area, there is no park for the whole of the north shore of Hong Kong Island from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan, except Victoria Park, which for the population of Hong Kong is quite inadequate. As the land formerly occupied by the Services in the Central area is earmarked for commercial development, I do not see any other areas which can be used for amenity development.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I fully support my friend's motion.
DR. A. M. S. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I doubt if there is any one who could speak against Mr. SALES' motion. When one walks or drives in our streets one realizes how lamentably few are the open spaces amongst all the concrete jungle in which we live. And how often when a building is torn down I wish it just would not have to be rebuilt but the space be left open for a breath of fresh air for all the young children in its neighbourhood to be able to romp and play in safety away from the hazards of the traffic. If only sometimes our Govern- ment could resist cashing in on the price of land, especially when it is not intended for low-cost housing what a much healthier and happier community we would have. Here now is land which has reverted for general use and which there is absolutely no need for Government to fill its coffers from, but rather to realize its obligations to provide for more recreational activities.
I wholeheartedly support Mr. SALES' motion.
MR. CHEUNG WING-IN:-Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the motion of my colleague Mr. Sales.
The high incidence of juvenile crimes in recent years is due in a large measure, in my opinion, to the overcrowded conditions of our city and the lack of open space for the healthy recreation of our children in the urban areas. Any additional open space for recreation would contribute usefully to the well-being of our increasing popula- tion and to our fight against juvenile crimes.
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