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doubt that next month Mr. SALES will move another motion for the allocation of yet another available site in yet another district, and every time he moves such a motion he is certain to get my fullest support. And surely the more times he points out to Government the availability of land for pleasure grounds and parks it becomes increasingly obvious that there is no reason (beyond Government's own mercenariness or is it inertness?) why every district in the Colony should not have its own good sized public park and playground. If Government has a face it should be beginning to blush and if it does not hurry up and heed to Mr. SALES and this Council and, more especially, anticipate the requests, then I think its face will be very red indeed at the end of this current council year with a probable nine more requests to come.
With every available corner of present developed open space being more than fully utilized in the hot summer days and evenings-especially in Kowloon- I lend my support to this motion and any other which will produce more pleasure and park ground for our citizens and their children to enjoy.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, I think it should be reserved for a public park because there are hospitals nearby. Despite the cost I think there should be no reason why this area should not be made into a park to give more fresh air to people living in the vicinity. For this reason I also support the motion.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, Government has already authorized me to allocate to this Council something over 280,000 square feet or nearly 6 acres of land at King's Park not at present leased to private organizations. This includes the level land north east of Grantham Training College as well as that to the west of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital staff quarters. It is also proposed to include a further 41,700 square feet west of the Nairn Road/Gascoigne Road junction.
With regard to the development of this land it will be necessary to have a suitable item included in the Public Works Programme unless funds can be made available from the Urban Amenities Block vote. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: -Sir, may I say how pleased I am with the support that this modest Motion is receiving in this Council. I am very much obliged to Mr. FORSGATE for seconding it as a maiden speech. His interest in Kowloon is well-known. With such added support as that of Dr. BELL's, it is bound to win the day. With her eloquent and well-chosen phrases, she has drawn from Government that magnificent reply which Mr. Michael WRIGHT has given to this Council I am also appreciative of the support of Mr. Henry Hu, whose incisive intervention in Council meetings has impressed us already. I think, now that we have found the land, the question of money should be given priority. Sir, may I suggest that the question be now put.
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CHAIRMAN: ---The motion before the Council has been proposed by Mr. SALES and seconded by Mr. FORSGATE.
The question was put.
The motion was carried.
ADJOURNMENT — 6.21 P.M.
CHAIRMAN: That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 6th July, 1965.
PRINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, HONG KONG
Page 83 of 382
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Page 83 of 382
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doubt that next month Mr. SALES will move another motion for the allocation of yet another available site in yet another district, and every time he moves such a motion he is certain to get my fullest support. And surely the more times he points out to Government the availability of land for pleasure grounds and parks it becomes increasingly obvious that there is no reason (beyond Government's own mercenariness or is it inertness?) why every district in the Colony should not have its own good sized public park and playground. If Government has a face it should be beginning to blush and if it does not hurry up and heed to Mr. SALES and this Council and, more especially, anticipate the requests, then I think its face will be very red indeed at the end of this current council year with a probable nine more requests to come.
With every available corner of present developed open space being more than fully utilized in the hot summer days and evenings-especially in Kowloon- I lend my support to this motion and any other which will produce more pleasure and park ground for our citizens and their children to enjoy.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, I think it should be reserved for a public park because there are hospitals nearby. Despite the cost I think there should be no reason why this area should not be made into a park to give more fresh air to people living in the vicinity. For this reason I also support the motion.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, Government has already authorized me to allocate to this Council something over 280,000 square feet or nearly 6 acres of land at King's Park not at present leased to private organizations. This includes the level land north east of Grantham Training College as well as that to the west of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital staff quarters. It is also proposed to include a further 41,700 square feet west of the Nairn Road/Gascoigne Road junction.
With regard to the development of this land it will be necessary to have a suitable item included in the Public Works Programme unless funds can be made available from the Urban Amenities Block vote. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: -Sir, may I say how pleased I am with the support that this modest Motion is receiving in this Council. I am very much obliged to Mr. FORSGATE for seconding it as a maiden speech. His interest in Kowloon is well-known. With such added support as that of Dr. BELL's, it is bound to win the day. With her eloquent and well- chosen phrases, she has drawn from Government that magnificent reply which Mr. Michael WRIGHT has given to this Council I am also appreciative of the support of Mr. Henry Hu, whose incisive interven- tion in Council meetings has impressed us already. I think, now that we have found the land, the question of money should be given priority. Sir, may I suggest that the question be now put.
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CHAIRMAN: ---The motion before the Council has been proposed by
Mr. SALES and seconded by Mr. FORSGATE.
The question was put.
The motion was carried.
ADJOURNMENT — 6.21 P.M.
CHAIRMAN: That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 6th July, 1965.
PRINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, HONG KONG
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