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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS: -Mr. Chairman, I can only go so far as to say that I shall document all the cases dealt with for the benefit of the Committee.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, my understanding of this, and I would be obliged to be put right on this, was that Mr. MCDOUALL, when he was Secretary for Chinese Affairs, produced a paper in which it was perfectly obvious that the Secretary for Chinese Affairs was handling these cases. Is the Secretary for Chinese Affairs no longer handling them and in the event of cases of this nature coming to us, are we to tell them they must wait three months for the necessary legislation to be considered by this Council and then go on further from there?
CHAIRMAN: As far as I am concerned, not being a member of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, the answer is to commiserate with them and say that, as far as the Council is concerned, in about three months we shall be considering legislation which we hope, when passed by Legislative Council, will bring about an improvement in their difficulties. It amounts to what you said, they must wait.
MR. SALES: -Sir, would it entail an even longer wait if Government were to accept the Urban Council's Ad Hoc Committee's report which advocates the abolition of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I regret that I must rule that question out of order. It is a new question. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, it was not a question, was it not a suggestion? In any case, since you have supplied the ammunition, may I also suggest you supply the cannon for use by the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee.
(4) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Will it be possible to build in any future park a section for child bicyclists, to be provided with intersections, pedestrian crossings and traffic signals, so that child cyclists can learn something about traffic regulations while enjoying cycling? Would it also be possible for bicycles to be made available on a rental basis to children making use of the facilities of such a cycling park?
MR. A de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
The Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee had in view the desirability of developing a safety park so, in answer to a similar question asked by Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in in May of this year, the Chairman of the Urban Council mentioned that the Urban Services Department had been collecting information on a number of so-called "safety towns" which had been built in England.
I understand that the Department will soon be in a position to refer its proposals for consideration by the Select Committee, when your suggestion, for which I am obliged, to make bicycles available on a rental basis could also be discussed.
(5) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
Will the Chairman please tell this Council whether the Government has accepted the request we made to set aside the whole area presently occupied by Whitfield Barracks for development for public use with recreational and cultural facilities?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:--
Executive Council recently considered the recommendations of the Town Planning Board on the future development of Tsim Sha Tsui, when the Governor ordered the approval of the Outline Zoning Plan.
I regret that until the Town Planning Board has exhibited the plan as laid down by the Ordinance I am precluded from divulging its contents, but I can say now that the plan will be exhibited very shortly.
MR. SALES: Sir, is that approval final?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, is there no likelihood of Executive Council changing its mind on this issue as it has done recently on another issue as well? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: ---I see no grounds for its changing its mind on this issue.
MR. SALES: --Is it your understanding then, Sir, that Executive Council has accepted the proposals of the Urban Council on this particular matter?
CHAIRMAN:-I cannot answer that, Sir. To do so I would be divulging information which, as my written answer shows, I am not able to for the time being.
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of 259
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS: -Mr. Chairman, I can only go so far as to say that I shall document all the cases dealt with for the benefit of the Committee.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, my understanding of this, and I would be obliged to be put right on this, was that Mr. MCDOUALL, when he was Secretary for Chinese Affairs, produced a paper in which it was perfectly obvious that the Secretary for Chinese Affairs was handling these cases. Is the Secretary for Chinese Affairs no longer handling them and in the event of cases of this nature coming to us, are we to tell them they must wait three months for the necessary legislation to be considered by this Council and then go on further from there?
CHAIRMAN: As far as I am concerned, not being a member of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs, the answer is to commiserate with them and say that, as far as the Council is concerned, in about three months we shall be considering legislation which we hope, when passed by Legislative Council, will bring about an improvement in their difficulties. It amounts to what you said, they must wait.
MR. SALES: -Sir, would it entail an even longer wait if Govern- ment were to accept the Urban Council's Ad Hoc Committee's report which advocates the abolition of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I regret that must rule that question out of order. It is a new question. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, it was not a question, was it not a suggestion? In any case, since you have supplied the ammuni- tion, may I also suggest you supply the cannon for use by the Environ- mental Hygiene Select Committee.
(4) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Will it be possible to build in any future park a section for child bicyclists, to be provided with intersections, pedestrian crossings and traffic signals, so that child cyclists can learn something about traffic regulations while enjoying cycling? Would it also be possible for bicycles to be made available on a rental basis to children making use of the facilities of such a cycling park?
MR. A de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
The Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee had in view the desirability of developing a safety park so, in
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
251
answer to a similar question asked by Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in in May of this year, the Chairman of the Urban Council mentioned that the Urban Services Department had been collecting information on a number of so-called "safety towns" which had been built in England.
I understand that the Department will soon be in a position to refer its proposals for consideration by the Select Com- mittee, when your suggestion, for which I am obliged, to make bicycles available on a rental basis could also be discussed.
(5) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
Will the Chairman please tell this Council whether the Govern- ment has accepted the request we made to set aside the whole area presently occupied by Whitfield Barracks for development for public use with recreational and cultural facilities?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:--
Executive Council recently considered the recommendations of the Town Planning Board on the future development of Tsim Sha Tsui, when the Governor ordered the approval of the Outline Zoning Plan.
I regret that until the Town Planning Board has exhibited the plan as laid down by the Ordinance I am precluded from divulging its contents, but I can say now that the plan will be exhibited very shortly.
MR. SALES: Sir, is that approval final?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, is there no likelihood of Executive Council changing its mind on this issue as it has done recently on another issue as well? (Laughter).
issue.
CHAIRMAN: ---I see no grounds for its changing its mind on this
MR. SALES: --Is it your understanding then, Sir, that Executive Council has accepted the proposals of the Urban Council on this partic- ular matter?
CHAIRMAN:-I cannot answer that, Sir. To do so I would be divulging information which, as my written answer shows, I am not able to for the time being.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.