1965 — Page 67

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

any real Oriental flavour. It has been suggested that the Urban Council and the Hong Kong Tourist Association should jointly set up a committee to explore various means to preserve and foster a more typical Oriental flavour for this "Pearl of the Orient". Will the Chairman be good enough to take this suggestion up with the Hong Kong Tourist Association and advise this Council as to the Association's views?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

Since this is a matter which will be of interest to the Urban Amenities Select Committee, I propose to refer your suggestion, Sir, to that Committee for consideration. (Laughter).

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN:----Mr. Chairman, this reply floors me but I agree that you so refer.

MR. A. de O. SALES: -Sir, may I ask for your permission to make a statement, as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee. Sir, members of my Committee and I have long been wondering whether it would not be in the public interest to deprive tourists of the pleasure of meeting Mr. CHEONG-LEEN. (Laughter).

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, with your permission, may I reply to Mr. SALES: This being a free country, I do not think Mr. SALES can invoke the Government's assistance in this respect. But if he would like to join company with me, I think we can start the same type of shop.

MR. A. de O. SALES: Mr. Chairman, is this a motion or is it a question? (Laughter).

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I thought that the motion by Mr. SALES in this case is entirely out of order.

(7) MR. CHEUNG WING-IN asked the following question:-

As the catchment areas at Wong Nai Chung Gap and Tai Tam Tuk have become popular as a place for walks and rambling, will the Chairman consider making a proposal to Government to have these areas developed by the Council as sitting out areas with parking facilities where necessary?

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

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I will be glad to refer the question of improved facilities at these two places to the Urban Amenities Select Committee. An enquiry has already been addressed to the Public Works Department to ascertain whether land for parking could be made available.

MR. CHEUNG WING-IN-Mr. Chairman, these areas are still officially closed areas. Can I ask the Director of Public Works to consider removing these restriction signs so that the people can freely use the place without any fear of prosecution? These are closed areas under the provisions of the Water Works Ordinance.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -I will certainly look into it. I am very law abiding myself and I have walked around there, I know they don't allow cars on the road, but I will certainly look into it if they are closed areas. I know they used to be, but I think now the notices only say you must not do things into the reservoir. (Laughter).

MR. CHEUNG WING-IN :---Also can I draw the attention to the fact that the parking facilities in Tai Tam Tuk are particularly bad, as the few car spaces are also shared by people using Tai Tam Bay.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -On that, Mr. Chairman, we are trying to improve parking facilities there. There is some dumping going on now at the end of Tai Tam Bay and we hope that it can be made into a car park shortly.

MR. A. de O. SALES: Sir, in the interval will you please make representations to the Police not to victimize the public when they make use of such amenities as are offered in these areas?

CHAIRMAN: ---Sir, I rise on a point of explanation. These are areas through which I have walked fairly frequently, and nobody has ever tried to stop me. I notice that one of them is used for driving tests and I have also seen the Motor Sports Club conducting a rally in one of these areas, so I am rather surprised at your remark that these are completely closed areas.

MR. CHEUNG WING-IN-The signs are still there although they were erected before the war.

MR. A. de O. SALES: Sir, are we not right in assuming despite the signs and the fact that the Police have used these areas for motoring purposes, that the Police are above the law?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-I can assure Mr. SALES, Mr. Chairman, that the Police did get permission from the Water Authority to use the roads that are closed to vehicles.

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