Page 59
Page 93 of 259
164
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. Woo:- Mr. Chairman, Mr. SALES once again puts forward a motion urging the Government to review its policy on open recreational amenities and at the same time to consider a substantial increase in the annual block vote. We all appreciate his good intentions and the public should be thankful for his keen interest in such an important issue as recreational amenities. But I must add that the Parks, Amenities and Recreation Committee is also responsible for providing additional amenities such as the caging of animals, birds, monkeys, for public entertainment.
In February this year, I put a question to the Council Meeting asking whether the Council would accept several orang-utans from a donor. These are rare, ape-like animals from Borneo and Indonesia and are on the point of becoming extinct. They are now a precious species in the field of animal conservation. I was asked then to withdraw the question and refer it to the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, which I did. When this question was discussed at the March meeting of the Committee, I fully realized at that time that the Urban Services Department meant to ruin this idea by putting various obstacles and difficulties in its way without giving fuller consideration to it. Your Department, Sir, suggested that the question be referred to an expert, the Curator of the London Zoo. I consented, though I thought the Council could easily have made a decision on such a small matter.
An encouraging reply was received from the Curator early in April this year, and since then I have repeatedly asked for a copy of it, but I was refused repeatedly until I wrote to you, as Chairman of the Urban Council, and then I received the letter on 14th July. The Committee discussed this matter only once; since then, your Department has taken no steps or action until 29th June, when I was informed by letter that the owner had withdrawn the offer, and I understand that the Parks, Recreation & Amenities Select Committee has received a copy of the letter from the Curator of the London Zoo. The Department must have felt that a happy ending had come since the donor had signified the withdrawal of his offer. I must tell Members of this Council that the donor, who happens to be a medical colleague of mine, was made frustrated because during the last few months three of the nine orang-utans in Hong Kong had died, and for their survival, he had to offer them to someone else.
CHAIRMAN:- Dr. Woo, I must point out that you are not speaking on the present motion. (Laughter).
DR. Woo:- I must give a reason why I might not support the present motion. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:- In fairness, I will let you continue, but you must see that you have to speak on the motion.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
165
DR. Woo:- I'll see to it, but you don't know whether I'll support the motion, Sir. (Laughter). Are you going to make the decision for me, or do I give the reason?
CHAIRMAN:- Sir, I merely wish to observe that we have had several examples recently of Members making speeches on subjects which are not down on the order paper, and I view this trend with concern.
DR. Woo:- May I continue now?
CHAIRMAN:- Please.
DR. Woo:- For the interest of Members, I would like to quote a few remarks from the letter of Dr. Desmond MORRIS, the Curator of the London Zoo. He says: "Thank you for your letter about the possible setting up of a breeding colony of orang-utans in Hong Kong. I think this is a superb idea and that the ideal climate conditions you have there should make it very easy." And he goes on to say: "If the project is successful, I think you will find that it will be not only an attractive exhibit for Hong Kong but also will assume considerable international importance in the field of animal conservation and will no doubt be looked upon as a pioneering effort in the fight to help this exciting species to survive."
Mr. Chairman, in view of Dr. Desmond MORRIS' opinion as an expert, and the Department's decision in keeping these animals being so dependent on the view of an expert, would you please explain why the Department would not fully employ this opportunity in taking action and bring this matter immediately before the Committee after receiving the letter from Dr. MORRIS instead of waiting until those who are interested are left completely frustrated? I would also like you, Mr. Chairman, to explain why, as the member concerned, I was not able to gain access to the letter earlier? Does your Department look after the interest and suggestions of its members?
Mr. Chairman, in view of what I have said and in view of the most unsatisfactory manner in which your Department has handled such a small matter, I am going to abstain from voting.
MR. FORSGATE:- Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, I know the donor of these three orang-utans, and I understand that the reason he withdrew the offer was because he understood that the orang-utans would actually take seats on the Council, not be donated to the Department. (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:- Mr. Chairman, the motion before us seeks to express the concern of the Urban Council that facilities for recreation, including the recreation of just sitting in a garden enjoying the surroundings, should be developed progressively, deliberately and
Page 165
Page
Page
59
Page 93 of 259
164
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. Woo:-Mr. Chairman, Mr. SALES once again puts forward a motion urging the Government to review its policy on open recreational amenities and at the same time to consider a substantial increase in the annual block vote. We all appreciate his good intentions and the public should be thankful for his keen interest in such important issue as recreational amenities. But I must add that the Parks, Amenities and Recreation Committee is also responsible for providing additional amenities such as the caging of animals, birds, monkeys, for public entertainment.
In February this year, I put a question to the Council Meeting asking whether the Council would accept several orang-utans from a donor. These are rare, ape-like animals from Borneo and Indonesia and are on the point of becoming extinct. They are now a precious species in the field of animal conservation. I was asked then to with- draw the question and refer it to the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, which I did. When this question was discussed at the March meeting of the Committee, I fully realized at that time that the Urban Services Department meant to ruin this idea by putting various obstacles and difficulties to its members without giving fuller consideration to it. Your Department, Sir, suggested that the question be referred to an expert, the Curator of the London Zoo. I consented though I thought the Council could easily have made a decision on such a small matter.
An encouraging reply was received from the Curator early in April this year, and since then I have repeatedly asked for a copy of it, but I was refused repeatedly until I wrote to you, as Chairman of the Urban Council, and then I received the letter on 14th July. The Committee discussed this matter only once, since then your Department has taken no steps or action until 29th June, when I was informed by letter that the owner had withdrawn the offer, and I understand that the Parks, Recreation & Amenities Select Committee has received a copy of the letter from the Curator of the London Zoo. The Department must have felt that a happy ending had come since the donor had signified the withdrawal of his offer. I must tell Members of this Council that the donor, who happens to be a medical colleague of mine, was made frustrated because during the last few months three of the nine orang- utan in Hong Kong had died and for their survival he had to offer them to someone else.
CHAIRMAN:-Dr. Woo, I must point out that you are not speaking on the present motion. (Laughter).
DR. Woo:-I must give a reason why I might not support the present motion. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:-In fairness I will let you continue, but you must see that you have to speak on the motion.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
165
DR. Woo:-I'll see to it, but you don't know whether I'll support the motion, Sir. (Laughter). Are you going to make the decision for me, or do I give the reason?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I merely wish to observe that we have had several examples recently of Members making speeches on subjects which are not down on the order paper, and I view this trend with concern.
DR. Woo:-May I continue now?
CHAIRMAN:-Please.
DR. Woo:-For the interest of Members, I would like to quote a few remarks from the letter of Dr. Desmond MORRIS, the Curator of the London Zoo. He says: "Thank you for your letter about the possible setting up of a breeding colony of orang-utans in Hong Kong. I think this is a superb idea and that the ideal climate conditions you have there should make it very easy." And he goes on to say: "If the project is successful I think you will find that it will be not only an attractive exhibit for Hong Kong but also will assume considerable international importance in the field of animal conservation and will no doubt be looked upon as a pioneering effort in the fight to help this exciting species to survive."
Mr. Chairman, in view of Dr. Desmond MORRIS' opinion as an expert, and the Department's decision in keeping these animals being so dependent on the view of an expert, would you please explain why the Department would not fully employ this opportunity in taking action and bring this matter immediately before the Committee after receiving the letter from Dr. MORRIS instead of waiting until those who are interested are left completely frustrated? I would also like you, Mr. Chairman, to explain why, as the member concerned, I was not able to gain access to the letter earlier? Does your Department look after the interest and suggestions of its members?
Mr. Chairman, in view of what I have said and in view of the most unsatisfactory manner in which your Department has handled such a small matter I am going to abstain from voting.
MR. FORSGATE:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, I know the donor of these three orang-utan, and I understand that the reason he withdrew the offer was because he understood that the orang-utan would actually take seats on the Council, not be donated to the Depart- ment. (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:-Mr. Chairman, the motion before us seeks to express the concern of the Urban Council that facilities for recreation, including the recreation of just sitting in a garden enjoying the surroundings, should be developed progressively, deliberately and
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.