1967 — Page 106

of 259

Page 106 of 259

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. BERNACCHI-Mr. Chairman, a supplementary question. Does this main question arise from the fact that Mr. Hu's ward is Aberdeen and Stanley?

CHAIRMAN:-I should think almost certainly, Sir.

MR. HU-I think so, Mr. Chairman. (Laughter). However, thank you very much for your answer. I would not like to ask any supple- mentary but, Mr. Chairman, would you be kind enough to find out the position and send me a letter?

(11) DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:

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Would the Chairman indicate whether the proposal to have a swimming pool at Kennedy Town has been abandoned, and what is the prospect of having another pool on the island?

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

There is definitely no question of the proposed public swim- ming pool in Kennedy Town having been abandoned. It is in Category B of the Public Works Programme and its planning in detail is now being considered. The Select Committee of which Dr. Woo is a Member has pressed unceasingly for its early construction, but there are other considerations to be taken into account.

The construction of the pool has been delayed to some extent because of peculiar difficulties encountered in the original site which was to the east of Smithfield Road and adjoin- ing the Hong Kong University Recreation Ground. This was abandoned and an alternative site between Smithfield Road, Rock Hill Street and Pokfield Road which was reserved for a school has now been proposed. It has been agreed that adjustments in planning will enable both the swimming pool and the school to be accommodated within the limited land available.

In reply to a question concerning the Council's swimming pool building programme, which was raised by my colleague, Mr. Peter P. K. NG in September last year, I referred to the possibility of pools being built in Harcourt Road, to serve Wan Chai and the Central District, as well as in Chai Wan or Shau Kei Wan to meet the needs of the populous area of north-eastern Hong Kong.

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As Members know, the highest priority is being given to the construction of swimming pools in Li Cheng Uk and Kwun Tong. The Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee has also recommended to the Govern- ment that a swimming pool complex should be built within the Ta Ku Ling Park, serving one of the most densely populated areas we have. Moreover, the tenta- tive planning of the site now occupied by Whitfield Barracks envisages the construction of a swimming pool complex there. It is felt that the provision of facilities in these locations, together with the one planned for Kennedy Town, will serve those areas of greatest need. I must emphasize, however, that this does not represent the limit of the Select Committee's ambition in this field; in fact, additional sites, both in Hong Kong and Kowloon, are already being sought and we would welcome realistic and practicable suggestions for the location of such swim- ming facilities. I am obliged to Dr. Woo for giving me this opportunity to put these plans before the public.

DR. Woo:-Mr. Chairman, in May this year this Council organ- ized an Inter-School Radio Quiz. In one of the finals one of the questions asked was "name the future swimming pools in Hong Kong and Kowloon". All the candidates gave all the names. None of them mentioned Kennedy Town, and yet the judges gave them full marks for it. May I know for certain whether the answer was provided by your Department?

CHAIRMAN: -Sir, the answer to what? The answer to the

question?

DR. Woo:-The answer to the radio question which was asked in May.

CHAIRMAN: --Dr. Woo, this is a new question. I would gladly answer it if I knew the answer, but I shall have to make investigations.

DR. Woo: Mr. Chairman, that is the reason why I put this question to-day. (Laughter).

MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I with your permission assure Dr. Woo that I was not aware that an answer had been sought from the Department, and I do not know who was responsible for this Radio Quiz at all. Should it have been organized by responsible people in conjunction with the Department, I am sure that the right answer would have been given.