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away from the centre, because we have the City Hall, and not far away from the City Hall we have a very beautiful open space. It is not only good for those working in the Central area but it is also good to have our city look more beautiful. These are the two points I would like to draw the Chairman's attention to.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, I am delighted that I was responsible last month for reminding the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee that there was this open space which had been reserved in the town plan. Last month I spoke and corrected one or two misconceptions, and I am going to do so again to-day.

DR. BELL is rather unfair in quoting me out of context. I never sug- gested at last month's meeting that there was adequate, or sufficient, or too much, open space. The figures I quoted-I think I am right in saying-referred only to the amount of land sold by public auction in relation to the amount of land which has been developed as open space. Many Members suggested that Government sells all the land by public auction and makes none available for open space. I fully appreciate that with a density of 3,000 people per acre, we need a lot more open space.

On this particular ex-Naval land, it contains several buildings which were on the site when it was acquired by Government. These buildings are being used now for various Government purposes, on a temporary basis, pending the construction of permanent accommodation elsewhere. This permanent accommodation is either under construction or already in the Public Works Programme. Unfortunately, a large part of the area is occupied by the Fire Services Department for operational pur- poses, and it is thus impossible at this stage to make the land available for development as an open space. For this reason alone, I cannot support the motion because I think the motion does ask for the land to be put to public use without delay, and we must make provision for these facilities. If, however, somebody could see his way to revising the motion (Laughter) and putting in the words "as soon as possible" instead of "without delay", I would be very happy to support the motion.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, for the purpose of clarifica- tion, what really is the difference between "as soon as possible" and "without delay". (Laughter).

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-To clarify, as I understand it, "without delay" means within the next week or two; and "as soon as possible" means when we can make provision for the present facilities for which the buildings there are being used.

DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, in view of the opinion expressed, may I amend the motion that it should read: "That this Council ask

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Government for the land set aside as open space in the plans for the re-development of the former Naval Dockyard so that it may be put to public use as soon as possible.”

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -May I second that?

MR. SALES: ---Mr. Chairman, if the proposer of the amendment does not wish to elaborate, may I then exercise my right of reply with- out prejudice to my right to speak on the amendment if it is passed. I find it very strange indeed that the suggestion should have been put to this Council that the Council should split hairs to satisfy Government. I find it even stranger that an Unofficial Member of this Council should have lent himself to amending this motion and a member of my own Select Committee at that! Mr. Chairman, I feel, in such circumstances, and so as not to let him down and not to let the Director of Public Works down, that I should be prepared to accept this amendment, provided he would agree that the amendment be increased (after deletion of the words "without delay" and the insertion of the words "as soon as possible") by the addition of the words "and without procrastination on the part of Government." (Laughter). If the proposer of the amend- ment and the seconder of the amendment as well are prepared to accept the addition of the words "and without procrastination on the part of Government" then I believe that the public interest would have been served and I would gladly accept that amendment, but if not-Mr. Chairman, would you put that question to clarify the position?----I would like to speak against the amendment before you put it to the motion. Either they accept that or withdraw the amendment.

MR. BERNACCHI:-If Mr. SALES is putting a second amendment I am prepared to second the second amendment. (Laughter).

MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I did not intend to go so far as to put a second amendment, but as Mr. BERNACCHI has given me heart, I am prepared to do so unless, as I have suggested earlier, it would simplify matters:

(a) if the proposer and seconder of the amendment decided to

withdraw it; or

(b) accepted the insertion of the words as part of the original

amendment to the motion.

It will make it unnecessary for me as the proposer and Mr. BERNACCHI as the seconder to introduce the amendment after it has been adopted, which, of course, I will oppose, because after its adoption you will have to put the motion as amended to the meeting when we may all speak again and I then intend to follow up the suggestion.

Will you put that, Mr. Chairman?

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