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better control over the air conditioning at the City Hall. And may I suggest that Government sets an example by conducting such pollution tests in the City Hall facilities, so that the public may be assured that we in Government set up the highest possible standard, before we expect the public to follow suit?
CHAIRMAN:-I can assure you, Sir, that every time you have mentioned this matter it has been faithfully reported to the City Hall people.
MR. SALES: Has the decision of the City Hall Select Committee been carried out? It is not a question of reporting—have you yourself conducted such tests to ensure that the decision of my select committee is observed: that is under Article 55 of the Ordinance.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In clarification, Mr. Chairman, when I composed this question I certainly did not have in mind the Concert Hall, because I always thought the Concert Hall was of a standard which could be followed by all other theatres, but I do not think I can say the same for the dining room.
MR. SALES: Sir, the dining room has been let out to tender by the Financial Secretary, so the matter is out of our hands. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Was that, Sir, putting it out of the jurisdiction of the Chairman of the Air Conditioning Select Committee?
(5)
(6)
MR. WILFRED WONG:-I am afraid it does. (Laughter).
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following two questions:-
Will you please inform us whether you have brought to the attention of the Town Planning Board, in your capacity as Director of Urban Services, that this Council has passed a motion that the plans for the re-development of Whitfield Barracks should include a square along Nathan Road?
(a) Will you please ask the Town Planning Board to consider reserving land along the length of Whitfield Barracks by Nathan Road as public open space, instead of along Canton Road as shown in the plans recently published?
(b) Because all that vast area bounded by Chatham, Austin and Nathan Roads does not have any public open space for rest and recreation, will you please tell us whether it is your intention to ask the Town Planning Board to make good this appalling deficiency by reviewing their plans for
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Whitfield Barracks so that more open space may be reserved than is provided for in their published plans? CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I am grateful to you for your indulgence in allowing me to answer questions 5 and 6 together.
These two questions concern the Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Use Zoning Plan, which was published by the Town Planning Board on 10th December, 1965.
The answer to the first question is that I have, in my capacity as Chairman of the Urban Council, invited the attention of the Secretary of the Town Planning Board to the motion passed by this Council on 7th September, 1965.
Regarding the second question, the Urban Amenities Select Committee considered both these points when it discussed the Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Use Zoning Plan at its meeting on 7th December, 1965. I have already communicated both these points to the Town Planning Board as agreed by the Select Committee.
MR. SALES:-Have you received a reply from the Town Planning Board as to whether these points have been or would be considered?
CHAIRMAN:-Not yet Sir, they were not referred very long ago, and it would be too optimistic to expect a reply, but I am sure they will be considered.
MR. SALES: Will a reply be made to this Council after the points have been taken up?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-I think the answer to that is the Town Planning Board reports to the Governor in Council.
MR. SALES: Am I to understand, Sir, that apart from the statutory obligations of the Town Planning Board to report to the Governor in Council, the Town Planning Board does not make a public statement as to whether points made by the Urban Council, public bodies and private citizens have been considered, and if they have not been accepted, why they have been discarded or rejected by the Town Planning Board?
CHAIRMAN:-The position appears to be, Sir, according to the Chairman of the Board, that if any appeal is sought by this Council a member of the Council could appear in front of the Town Planning Board to make his point.
MR. SALES: But, Sir, this is not the reply I seek to my question. May I frame my question again? Am I to understand that apart from the statutory obligation of the Town Planning Board to report to the
Page 292 of 382
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better control over the air conditioning at the City Hall. And may I suggest that Government sets an example by conducting such pollution tests in the City Hall facilities, so that the public may be assured that we in Government set up the highest possible standard, before we expect the public to follow suit?
CHAIRMAN:-I can assure you, Sir, that every time you have mentioned this matter it has been faithfully reported to the City Hall people.
MR. SALES: Has the decision of the City Hall Select Committee been carried out? It is not a question of reporting—have you yourself conducted such tests to ensure that the decision of my select committee is observed: that is under Article 55 of the Ordinance.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In clarification, Mr. Chairman, when I com- posed this question I certainly did not have in mind the Concert Hall, because I always thought the Concert Hall was of a standard which could be followed by all other theatres, but I do not think I can say the same for the dining room.
MR. SALES: Sir, the dining room has been let out to tender by the Financial Secretary, so the matter is out of our hands. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Was that, Sir, putting it out of the jurisdiction of the Chairman of the Air Conditioning Select Committee?
(5)
(6)
MR. WILFRED WONG:-I am afraid it does. (Laughter).
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following two questions:-
Will you please inform us whether you have brought to the attention of the Town Planning Board, in your capacity as Director of Urban Services, that this Council has passed a motion that the plans for the re-development of Whitfield Barracks should include a square along Nathan Road?
(a) Will you please ask the Town Planning Board to consider reserving land along the length of Whitfield Barracks by Nathan Road as public open space, instead of along Canton Road as shown in the plans recently published?
(b) Because all that vast area bounded by Chatham, Austin and Nathan Roads does not have any public open space for rest and recreation, will you please tell us whether it is your intention to ask the Town Planning Board to make good this appalling deficiency by reviewing their plans for
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
563
Whitfield Barracks so that more open space may be reserved than is provided for in their published plans? CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I am grateful to you for your indulgence in allowing me to answer questions 5 and 6 together.
These two questions concern the Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Use Zoning Plan, which was published by the Town Planning Board on 10th December, 1965.
The answer to the first question is that I have, in my capacity as Chairman of the Urban Council, invited the attention of the Secretary of the Town Planning Board to the motion passed by this Council on 7th September, 1965.
Regarding the second question, the Urban Amenities Select Committee considered both these points when it discussed the Tsim Sha Tsui Outline Use Zoning Plan at its meeting on 7th December, 1965. I have already communicated both these points to the Town Planning Board as agreed by the Select Committee.
MR. SALES:-Have you received a reply from the Town Planning Board as to whether these points have been or would be considered?
CHAIRMAN:-Not yet Sir, they were not referred very long ago, and it would be too optimistic to expect a reply, but I am sure they will be considered.
MR. SALES: Will a reply be made to this Council after the points have been taken up?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-I think the answer to that is the Town Planning Board reports to the Governor in Council.
MR. SALES: Am I to understand, Sir, that apart from the statutory obligations of the Town Planning Board to report to the Governor in Council, the Town Planning Board does not make a public statement as to whether points made by the Urban Council, public bodies and private citizens have been considered, and if they have not been accepted, why they have been discarded or rejected by the Town Planning Board?
CHAIRMAN:-The position appears to be, Sir, according to the Chairman of the Board, that if any appeal is sought by this Council a member of the Council could appear in front of the Town Planning Board to make his point.
MR. SALES: But, Sir, this is not the reply I seek to my question. May I frame my question again? Am I to understand that apart from the statutory obligation of the Town Planning Board to report to the
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