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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, might I add that, first, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club made a contribution of $4,000,000, to the best of my knowledge, for Victoria Park to be retained as a public open space. I believe that was the right figure. Secondly, Victoria Park is being developed as open space. The active recreation areas are considered as open space and the area which is left as open space for passive recrea- tion is still 20 out of some 52 acres. If we were to get the piece of land across the Causeway Road to which Mr. BERNACCHI refers, then the area of Victoria Park would be considerably increased and also the heavy residential area in that neighbourhood would be well and properly served.

MR. BLAKER: -Chairman, one supplementary. Could I ask whether this waterfront road is to be known as Bernacchi Boulevard or Sales Street? (Laughter).

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I enlighten Mr. BLAKER? Evidently my junior member has not done his homework. If he had he would have known that Bernacchi Boulevard is across the waterfront, the extension of Gloucester Road. As regards the Sales Boulevard, a person with a Salesian surname does not need to be honoured in Hong Kong because he is honoured everywhere in the world by work of a social welfare nature. (Laughter).

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

Residents in Stanley have been complaining about the conges- tion at the Stanley Market, particularly by the hawkers. The congestion is such that drivers are unable to drive through the road. Would the Chairman see to it and improve the situation?

THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-

Since this question concerns operational matters instead of policy I am answering the question instead of the Chair- man of the Hawkers Select Committee.

I agree that at marketing hours on some days there is obstruc- tion by hawkers at the junction of Stanley Main Street and Stanley Market Street. The Hawker Control Force does not operate in Stanley and the Police, as Members are aware, have had a great deal of extra work on their hands in recent months, so that they have not been able to devote as much time as usual to routine work. Up to the time of your question, Sir, the Police in Stanley had not received any complaints from the public about the obstruction to which you refer, but I understand that they will keep an

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eye on the situation and take such action as circumstances permit.

DR. Woo: Mr. Chairman, I have two supplementary questions. One, why does the Hawker Control Force not operate in Stanley?

CHAIRMAN: ---Members have been informed earlier at this meeting of the grave shortage of strength of the Hawker Control Force. Naturally, when one has a limited number of people one deploys them in the areas where they are most needed. I went to Stanley myself yesterday and inspected this particular area. It is not as bad as the areas where the Force has had to be deployed.

DR. Woo:-Mr. Chairman, if the Hawker Control Force does not operate in Stanley can we presume that it is the responsibility of the Police and not the responsibility of the Hawkers and Markets Select Committees?

CHAIRMAN:-Perhaps it would help, Sir, if I say that the Urban Services Department is now in touch with the Police to organize a tidying and cutting down operation on the stalls occupying parts of the pavement and road at the junction of Stanley Main and Stanley Market Streets. This means that as a result of your question, Sir, the attention of the Police has been directed to this particular problem, and they have promised their assistance.

MR. BERNACCHI:-Could I in making a personal statement call to your recollection, Sir, that there was a successful motion to the effect that Chairman of relevant Select Committee should be notified of any question that affects their Select Committee, I do not think that I was notified of Dr. Woo's question?

CHAIRMAN:-Sir, you certainly were not notified and I apologize for the omission. I was unaware of the motion.

MOTION.

Resumption of the following motion moved by Mr. Li Yiu-bor at the meeting of the Council held on 30th November, 1967: —

That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1968, and in particular emphasize the urgency for implementing Aim No. 24.

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Mr. Chairman, three weeks ago, despite the convention which widens the scope of this debate, a sufficient number of members spoke about various aspects of resettle. ment to enable me to remain within my own bailiwick without being so brief as to appear discourteous nor, I hope, so long-winded as to overstep the time-limit.

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