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mental shrubs. In addition to 750 Bauhinia Blakeana which will be planted, other trees, and may I beg Members to forgive my rather rough Latin (Laughter), will be Catalpa bignonides, Taxodium distichum, Eucalyptus globulus, Cupressus sargentii and Calistemon coccineus. Subject to favourable weather and planting conditions these plants will be equally distributed to amenity areas, parks, playing fields, beaches, traffic islands and roadside plots.
The answer to part (c) of the question is that the Department plans to place more hanging flower baskets along Connaught Road, Salisbury Road, and Nathan Road (between Salisbury Road and Austin Road), and additional flower beds are proposed along Harcourt Road, Garden Road, Causeway Road and Wong Chuk Hang Road. The provisional target is to plant 350,000 seasonal bedding plants in these baskets and flower beds.
The answer to part (b) of the question is that to encourage the public, schools, clubs, and Services to help to beautify Hong Kong, the Department offers advice on planting techniques and selection of species when requested. Trees and shrubs may also be bought from the Department. Positive steps have been taken in the last few months in an effort to encourage children to take an active interest in trees, and a pilot scheme has been prepared in conjunction with the Education Department to have a tree planting week. Selected schools will be invited to participate and pupils will plant trees under the supervision and direction of members of the Amenities Division. They will then be encouraged to take a continuing interest in the growth of the trees they have planted. It is proposed to start this scheme in April this year.
MR. SALES: Sir, I would like to congratulate the Department on this very ambitious programme, and I wish it every success.
I am only sorry that you will not be here with your green fingers to spur it on. I am also sorry that you should have thought fit in giving a reply in English to suddenly introduce Latin terms to describe plants and trees. (Laughter).
(12) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) How many neighbourhood street playgrounds do you expect to provide this year?
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695
(b) What other parks, playgrounds and recreation facilities will also be ready for public use?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
The answer to the first part of the question is that at least five neighbourhood street playgrounds are expected to be provided this year. These are the Rock Hill Street, Wanchai Gap Road and Aldrich Street playgrounds on Hong Kong Island and the Shanghai Street and Temple Street playgrounds in Kowloon.
The answer to the second part of the question is that over 60 parks, playgrounds and rest gardens will be ready for public use this year. These include the Kowloon Tsai Park, Stage II; the new Chatham Road Playground, Stage II; Pui Ching Road Playground; Fat Kwong Street Gardens; Sheung Li Uk Garden; Tsing Chau Street Playground; Lo Fu Ngam Park, Stage II; Healthy Village Playground and the many playgrounds in resettlement estates. Between them they will provide, among other facilities, 12 soccer pitches; 42 basketball and volleyball courts; 36 children's playgrounds; one running track; 2 model boat pools and 3 children's libraries.
MR. FORSGATE:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary question about the Chatham Road playground? At the present time there is no sign of the proposed pedestrian bridge linking it with the busy side of the road, where all the people live. This was raised by Dr. BELL many meetings ago. Would the Department enquire when this is going to be constructed? I noticed in yesterday's paper that a pedestrian bridge is now available which can be erected in 48 hours. This may be of some help to the Department.
MR. SALES: Sir, I welcome the suggestion made by Mr. FORSGATE, and I will ensure that it is discussed at the next meeting of the Select Committee. Whether the 48-hour period can be matched in Hong Kong remains to be seen, but we will make every effort to do so.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Arising out of Mr. FORSGATE's supplementary, I would ask Mr. WRIGHT, as Director of Public Works, whether that pedestrian bridge could be used to cross over from the City Hall instead of having to go all round via the tunnel. (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Mr. FORSGATE is talking about an advertisement for bridges. I have learned in my old age to believe very little of what I read in advertisements claiming these wonderful advancements, but I will certainly follow it up if Mr. FORSGATE will send me
Page 358 of 382
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Page 359 of 382
Page 358 of 382
694
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
mental shrubs. In addition to 750 Bauhinia Blakeana which will be planted, other trees, and may I beg Mem- bers to forgive my rather rough Latin (Laughter), will be Catalpa bignonides, Taxodium, distichum, Eulcalptus globulus, Cupressus sargentii and Calistemon coccinus. Subject to favourable weather and planting conditions these plants will be equally distributed to amenity areas, parks, playing fields, beaches, traffic islands and roadside plots.
The answer to part (c) of the question is that the Department plans to place more hanging flower baskets along Connaught Road, Salisbury Road, and Nathan Road (be- tween Salisbury Road and Austin Road), and additional flower beds are proposed along Harcourt Road, Garden Road, Causeway Road and Wong Chuk Hang Road. The provisional target is to plant 350,000 seasonal bed- ding plants in these baskets and flower bed.
The answer to part (b) of the question is that to encourage the public, schools, clubs, and Services to help to beautify Hong Kong, the Department offers advice on planting techniques and selection of species when requested. Trees and shrubs may also be bought from the Department. Positive steps have been taken in the last few months in an effort to encourage children to take an active interest in trees, and a pilot scheme has been prepared in conjunc- tion with the Education Department to have a tree plant- ing week. Selected schools will be invited to participate and pupils will plant trees under the supervision and direction of members of the Amenities Division. They will then be encouraged to take a continuing interest in the growth of the trees they have planted. It is proposed to start this scheme in April this year.
MR. SALES: Sir, I would like to congratulate the Department on this very ambitious programme, and I wish it every success.
I am only sorry that you will not be here with your green fingers to spur it on. I am also sorry that you should have thought fit in giving a reply in English to suddenly introduce Gaelic terms to describe plants and trees. (Laughter).
(12) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) How many neighbourhood street playgrounds do you
expect to provide this year?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
695
(b) What other parks, playgrounds and recreation facilities
will also be ready for public use?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
The answer to the first part of the question is that at least five neighbourhood street playgrounds are expected to be pro- vided this year. These are the Rock Hill Street, Wanchai Gap Road and Aldrich Street playgrounds on Hong Kong Island and the Shanghai Street and Temple Street play- grounds in Kowloon.
The answer to the second part of the question is that over 60 parks, playgrounds and rest gardens will be ready for public use this year. These include the Kowloon Tsai Park, Stage II; the new Chatham Road Playground, Stage II; Pui Ching Road Playground; Fat Kwong Street Gar- dens; Sheung Li Uk Garden; Tsing Chau Street Play- ground; Lo Fu Ngam Park, Stage II; Healthy Village Play- ground and the many playgrounds in resettlement estates. Between them they will provide, among other facilities, 12 soccer pitches; 42 basketball and volleyball courts; 36 children's playgrounds; one running track; 2 model boat pools and 3 children's libraries.
MR. FORSGATE:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary ques- tion about the Chatham Road playground? At the present time there is no sign of the proposed pedestrian bridge linking it with the busy side of the road, where all the people live. This was raised by Dr. BELL many meetings ago. Would the Department enquire when this is going to be constructed? I noticed in yesterday's paper that a pedestrain bridge is now available which can be erected in 48 hours. This may be of some help to the Department.
MR. SALES: Sir, I welcome the suggestion made by Mr. FORSGATE, and I will ensure that it is discussed at the next meeting of the Select Committee. Whether the 48-hour period can be matched in Hong Kong remains to be seen, but we will make every effort to do so.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Arising out of Mr. FORSGATE's supplementary, I would ask Mr. WRIGHT, as Director of Public Works, whether that pedestrian bridge could be used to cross over from the City Hall instead of having to go all round via the tunnel. (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. FORSGATE is talking about an advertisement for bridges. I have learned in my old age to believe very little of what I read in advertisements claiming these wonderful advance- ments, but I will certainly follow it up if Mr. FORSGATE will send me
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