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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

As the question states, the matter of putting up a pedestrian footbridge was raised by the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee. This was referred to the Public Works Department and a study has been made of the proposal. This study showed that the only possible place where a footbridge could be constructed is at the southern end of the playground which is away from the centre of population and would, therefore, be less likely to be used.

At the junction of Mody Road and Chatham Road, which is directly opposite the northern end of the playground, a light controlled pedestrian crossing will be installed as part of the Chatham Road construction. The crossing should be ready by mid-August. It is hoped that it will provide an adequate and safe crossing for those using the play- ground.

An investigation will be made to ascertain whether a small pedestrian tunnel would be practical at the pedestrian light junction should the pedestrian lights prove to be unsatisfactory.

I am obliged to Dr. BELL for this opportunity to disclose these

plans.

DR. BELL:-Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, I have no supplementaries. (Laughter). I am obliged to you for having allowed this question. (Laughter).

(6) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu asked the following question:

Is the Chairman aware that the Choi Sai Woo area is a scenic spot at the back-hill of North Point? Does the Govern- ment contemplate developing this area as a public park for recreation purposes?

MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-

The answer is: Yes. I agree that the scenic beauty of this area calls for its development as a public park. Actually, the greater part of the land surrounding the reservoir, some 37 acres, has been zoned as public open space in the Statutory Plan for North Point approved by the Governor-in-Council late in 1965. I can assure Mr. Hu that the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee will soon instruct the Department to submit detailed plans when my friend will be consulted.

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MR. HU:-Thank you. Mr. Chairman, through you, I would ask Mr. SALES what he is going to do with the Braemar Reservoir in future plans? (Laughter).

MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I am unable to answer for the technical aspects of the Braemar Reservoir, but I assure Mr. Hu that it would be certainly a vast improvement if we could have the reservoir as a man-made lake and boating could be encouraged on that.

MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I would like Mr. SALES to confirm that the cause of the flooding in Ming Yuen Street West was because of the overflow of water from this reservoir?

CHAIRMAN:-Mr. Hu, I must rule that question out of order.

(Laughter).

MR. HU: --I knew, Mr. Chairman, you would do that. (Laughter). Mr. Chairman, could you kindly confirm that you ruled four out of five of my questions out of order. (Laughter),

CHAIRMAN:---Sir, you are quite correct; I ruled out of order four of your original five questions. This is the survivor because it refers to a park. (Laughter).

MR. HU:-Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I would from your answer, Mr. Chairman, ask Mr. SALES, through you, to confirm that he is probably a very wise member of the Urban Council to be in the chair of the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee for such a long time, because in my view we Urban Councillors can only ask questions concerning Parks and recreation facilities. No other questions are allowed to be asked. Would he confirm that he is

very wise member of the Council to be in the chair of that Select Committee. (Laughter).

MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I am always delighted to answer Mr. Henry Hu's supplementaries. Unfortunately you ruled the last one out of order. Now I agree with Mr. Henry Hu that it takes a very wise Councillor to be the chairman of a select committee (Laughter) not only the Parks, Recreation & Amenities Select Committee. (Laughter).

MR. HU:-Thank you very much, I have no further supple- mentaries. (Laughter). What I would like to ask would be ruled out of order. (Laughter).

(7) MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG asked the following question:

(a) I understand that the rafts at Shek O Beach have dis- appeared for two years. Will the Chairman indicate whether there is any intention to replace them?

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