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He said Mr. Chairman, I have been tipped off by a local astrologer that Hong Kong will be having a large national park in the New Territories within the next 3 to 5 years. Providing Government does not throw any spokes into the wheels of fate, I see no reason why the astrologer's prediction should not become a reality. The million people of Hong Kong pin their hopes upon what the astrologer has foretold. The shortage of playgrounds and green belts in the urban areas is now so acute that literally tens of thousands of parents do not know what to do on week-ends to provide healthy recreation for their children.
I have on previous occasions urged that a municipal zoo be built in Hong Kong, primarily for the benefit of our younger generation. Although the Hong Kong Government has a financial reserve of One Billion Dollars, and it is likely that this reserve will increase from year to year, yet the Government says it cannot afford the money to build a municipal zoo. In other words, Government would rather leave the building of a zoo to private enterprise, and to give more importance to the almighty dollar than to the well-being of Hong Kong children. Even little Macau puts Hong Kong to shame, because I am told on good authority that Macau has its own municipal national park and zoo.
Certainly, many Urban Councillors would welcome the idea of a large national park and zoo combined, under the management of the Urban Services Department, if this is what the people of Hong Kong want. Within the boundaries of a large national park it should be possible for the Urban Services Department, with the co-operation of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department and the Zoological Department of the Hong Kong University, to preserve some of Hong Kong's wild life--such as the barking deer, the red fox, the wild boar--before they become extinct altogether. Also within such an area, it should not be too difficult for the Urban Services Department to be responsible for managing a zoo.
I am convinced that the Hong Kong public want Government to provide them with a municipal zoo. If public transport facilities are readily available, a municipal zoo would be the place where thousands of families--rich and poor--would plan on visiting during week-ends.
Mr. Chairman, I have not consulted any local astrologer as to whether we will have a municipal zoo within the next 5 years. I thought I would take the more practical step of urging my fellow Councillors to appoint a sub-committee of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council to go further into the subject. I therefore move:
That the Standing Committee of the Whole Council do appoint a Sub-Committee to study the need for and to make recommendations in respect of a municipal zoo for Hong Kong.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
45
MR. CHEUNG WING-IN:- Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the motion moved by my colleague.
MR. BERNACCHI:- Mr. Chairman, on a point of order, it has not been seconded yet.
MR. CHEUNG:- I beg to second it myself. It is a fact that due to the increasing population in our urban areas, parents are finding it extremely difficult to provide healthy recreations for their children. We seem to be having an increasing rate of juvenile delinquency and much of this, in my opinion, is due to the insufficiency of recreational facilities for our youngsters.
Like my colleague I am strongly of the opinion that a zoo is very badly needed by our community. It is ridiculous that in a vast city like Hong Kong with a population of nearly 4,000,000, the only place where children can see some animals is inside an amusement park for an admission fee which not many can afford. I have spoken to many people on the subject and they wholeheartedly support the idea of a city zoo for Hong Kong.
I therefore have much pleasure in seconding the motion.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI:- Mr. Chairman, I do not think that this motion commits us to a municipal zoo. I agree with the principle that every great city should have somewhere where its young persons can study wild life, but whether in a municipal zoo or in more natural surroundings is a highly debatable point. Unfortunately, Hong Kong is a small place; the municipality or rather the city over which this Urban Council has jurisdiction is a very crowded place and the finding of sufficient land for such a zoo might prove difficult (even if and when we have the ground at Causeway Bay formerly occupied by the Services!) I personally do not think that we need a special sub-committee to study the need for a zoo; surely it comes fairly and squarely within the purview of the Urban Amenities Select Committee and all that is necessary is for that Select Committee, if it wants, to appoint a sub-committee to study the need and possibility of such a zoo. I would therefore propose an amendment to this motion. The amendment reads:
That this Council requests the Urban Amenities Select Committee to study the need for and if considered feasible to make recommendations in respect of a municipal zoo for Hong Kong.
Mr. Chairman, I beg so to move.
DR. A. M. S. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, I rise to second Mr. BERNACCHI'S amendment to Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN's motion. I agree with Mr. BERNACCHI that to find sufficient space for a zoo within
Page 33 of 382
Page 33 of 382
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
He said Mr. Chairman, I have been tipped off by a local astrologer that Hong Kong will be having a large national park in the New Territories within the next 3 to 5 years. Providing Government does not throw any spokes into the wheels of fate, I see no reason why the astrologer's prediction should not become a reality. The million people of Hong Kong pin their hopes upon what the astrologer has foretold. The shortage of playgrounds and green belts in the urban areas is now so acute that literally tens of thousands of parents do not know what to do on week-ends to provide healthy recreation for their children.
I have on previous occasions urged that a municipal zoo be built in Hong Kong, primarily for the benefit of our younger generation. Although the Hong Kong Government has a financial reserve of One Billion Dollars, and it is likely that this reserve will increase from year to year, yet the Government says it cannot afford the money to build a municipal zoo. In other words, Government would rather leave the building of a zoo to private enterprise, and to give more importance to the almighty dollar than to the well-being of Hong Kong children. Even little Macau puts Hong Kong to shame, because I am told on good authority that Macau has its own municipal national park and zoo.
Certainly, many Urban Councillors would welcome the idea of a large national park and zoo combined, under the management of the Urban Services Department, if this is what the people of Hong Kong want. Within the boundaries of a large national park it should be possible for the Urban Services Department, with the co-operation of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department and the Zoological Depart- ment of the Hong Kong University, to preserve some of Hong Kong's wild life--such as the barking deer, the red fox, the wild boar-before they become extinct altogether. Also within such an area, it should not be too difficult for the Urban Services Department to be responsible for managing a zoo.
I am convinced that the Hong Kong public want Government to provide them with a municipal zoo. If public transport facilities are readily available, a municipal zoo would be the place where thousands of families-rich and poor-would plan on visiting during week-ends.
Mr. Chairman, I have not consulted any local astrologer as to whether we will have a municipal zoo within the next 5 years. I thought I would take the more practical step of urging my fellow Councillors to appoint a sub-committee of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council to go further into the subject. I therefore move:
That the Standing Committee of the Whole Council do appoint a Sub-Committee to study the need for and to make recom- mendations in respect of a municipal zoo for Hong Kong.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
45
MR. CHEUNG WING-IN:-Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the motion moved by my colleague.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of order, it has not been seconded yet.
MR. CHEUNG:-I beg to second it myself. It is a fact that due to the increasing population in our urban areas, parents are finding it extremely difficult to provide healthy recreations for their children. We seem to be having an increasing rate of juvenile delinquency and much of this, in my opinin, is due to the insufficiency of recreational facilities for our youngsters.
Like my colleague I am strongly of the opinion that a zoo is very badly needed by our community. It is ridiculous that in a vast city like Hong Kong with a population of nearly 4,000,000, the only place where children can see some animals is inside an amusement park for an admission fee which not many can afford. I have spoken to many people on the subject and they wholeheartedly support the idea of a city zoo for Hong Kong.
I therefore have much pleasure in seconding the motion.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, I do not think that this motion commits us to a municipal zoo. I agree with the principle that every great city should have somewhere where its young persons can study wild life, but whether in a municipal zoo or in more natural surroundings is a highly debatable point. Unfortunately, Hong Kong is a small place; the municipality or rather the city over which this Urban Council has jurisdiction is a very crowded place and the finding of sufficient land for such a zoo might prove difficult (even if and when we have the ground at Causeway Bay formerly occupied by the Services!) I personally do not think that we need a special sub- committee to study the need for a zoo; surely it comes fairly and squarely within the purview of the Urban Amenities Select Committee and all that is necessary is for that Select Committee, if it wants, to appoint a sub-committee to study the need and possibility of such a zoo. I would therefore propose an amendment to this motion. The amend- ment reads:
That this Council requests the Urban Amenities Select Com- mittee to study the need for and if considered feasible to make recommendations in respect of a municipal zoo for Hong Kong.
Mr. Chairman, I beg so to move.
DR. A. M. S. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I rise to second Mr. BERNACCHI'S amendment to Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN's motion. I agree with Mr. BERNACCHI that to find sufficient space for a zoo within
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