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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SALES: Sir, the Select Committee has given the assurance to the District Commissioner for the New Territories that it is not empire building on our part but a genuine desire to have more trees for the urban areas.
(5) In the absence of MR. HENRY H. L. Hu, MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question:
Is the Chairman aware that the existing recreational facilities at Stanley are inadequate for the young people there? What further recreational facilities are planned for the Stanley area?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows:-
I am obliged to Mr. BERNACCHI for deputising for Mr. HENRY Hu and asking this question concerning facilities for recreation in Mr. Hu's Stanley area which is in fact Mr. Hu's ward.
While I sympathize with his wish to have more amenities and will do all I can to expedite their development, my Select Committee must necessarily be also concerned about the inadequacy of facilities for play throughout the whole of the urban area particularly where there is a heavy concentration of people.
Therefore, it is all a matter of priorities and our limited funds must be applied to those areas of greatest need with which my friend, Mr. Hu will agree for sure.
At the time of the census in 1961, Stanley had a population of 5,506. Although no accurate estimate of the present population is available, I am told it is possible that this figure has increased by now to 10,000. I need not emphasize how small a population this is when compared with other urban areas. Yet it is served by a relatively generous allocation of developed open space.
One of Stanley's principal attractions is its bathing beaches and substantial public funds have been used to develop them in recent years. In addition to the two public bathing beaches, which cover almost 18 acres, there are four gardens and sitting-out areas which together occupy another acre of land. Stanley Playground provides a popular mini-soccer pitch, and funds have recently been released for the development of a children's playground in Wong Ma Kok Road. Work on this last project is expected to begin in May and should be completed by August 1968.
The Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee will be concentrating its efforts this year in improving the situation in resettlement estates and in providing play facilities in some of the older densely populated urban areas which are at present seriously short of outlets for play and sport. In these circumstances, it would not be right of me, I think, to suggest that Stanley could be awarded high priority in the foreseeable future. At the same time I am asking the department to see whether such clubs, schools and other institutions holding Crown Land there which is kept as open space for recreational purposes, will make them available to the public for reasonable use. Indeed, there can be no valid objections, on the part of such groups elsewhere in Hong Kong, which function on Crown Land leased for recreational purposes, to their facilities being open for such public use as may be warranted.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I should add that it is not our intention to encourage the young people at Stanley to use Crown Land inside the Stanley Prison.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Does the Chairman of the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee mean by his last paragraph any particular Crown Land or Lands?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, would Mr. BERNACCHI please specify which particular Crown Land he has in view?
MR. BERNACCHI: --The cricket ground, for instance?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, the cricket ground is the subject of report by the committee set up by His Excellency the Governor to advise on the use of grounds held on recreational leases by private clubs, and I would not like to forestall the recommendation which has been made.
MR. BERNACCHI: -I would like to make my position clear. I am not one that suggests the cricket ground be stopped from being used for playing cricket, but nevertheless other recreations could be,--the land could be used for other recreations as well.
MR. FORSGATE:---They were playing tennis this afternoon.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, the Urban Services Department has been for more than one year now, writing to all clubs offering its services
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SALES: Sir, the Select Committee has given the assurance to the District Commissioner for the New Territories that it is not empire building on our part but a genuine desire to have more trees for the urban areas.
(5) In the absence of MR. HENRY H. L. Hu, MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question:
Is the Chairman aware that the existing recreational facilities at Stanley are inadequate for the young people there? What further recreational facilities are planned for the Stanley area?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows:-
I am obliged to Mr. BERNACCHI for deputising for Mr. HENRY Hu and asking this question concerning facilities for re- creation in Mr. Hu's Stanley area which is in fact Mr. Hu's ward.
While I sympathize with his wish to have more amenities and will do all I can to expedite their development, my Select Committee must necessarily be also concerned about the inadequacy of facilities for play throughout the whole of the urban area particularly where there is a heavy con- centration of people.
Therefore, it is all a matter of priorities and our limited funds must be applied to those areas of greatest need with which my friend, Mr. Hu will agree for sure.
At the time of the census in 1961, Stanley had a population of 5,506. Although no accurate estimate of the present population is available, I am told it is possible that this figure has increased by now to 10,000. I need not em- phasize how small a population this is when compared with other urban areas. Yet it is served by a relatively generous allocation of developed open space.
One of Stanley's principal attractions is its bathing beaches and substantial public funds have been used to develop them in recent years. In addition to the two public bathing beaches, which cover almost 18 acres, there are four gardens and sitting-out areas which together occupy another acre of land. Stanley Playground provides a popular mini-soccer pitch, and funds have recently been released for the development of a children's playground in
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
13
Wong Ma Kok Road. Work on this last project is expected to begin in May and should be completed by August 1968.
The Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee will be concentrating its efforts this year in improving the situation in resettlement estates and in providing play facilities in some of the older densely populated urban areas which are at present seriously short of outlets for play and sport. In these circumstances, it would not be right of me, I think, to suggest that Stanley could be awarded high priority in the foreseeable future. At the same time I am asking the department to see whether such clubs, schools and other institutions holding Crown Land there which is kept as open space for recreational purposes, will make them available to the public for reasonable use. Indeed, there can be no valid objections, on the part of such groups elsewhere in Hong Kong, which function on Crown Land leased for recreational purposes, to their facilities being open for such public use as may be warranted.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I should add that it is not our intention to encour- age the young people at Stanley to use Crown Land inside the Stanley Prison.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Does the Chairman of the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee mean by his last paragraph any particular Crown Land or Lands?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, would Mr. BERNACCHI please specify which particular Crown Land he has in view?
MR. BERNACCHI: --The cricket ground, for instance?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, the cricket ground is the subject of report by the committee set up by His Excellency the Governor to advise on the use of grounds held on recreational leases by private clubs, and I would not like to forestall the recommendation which has been made.
MR. BERNACCHI: -I would like to make my position clear. I am not one that suggests the cricket ground be stopped from being used for playing cricket, but nevertheless other recreations could be,--the land could be used for other recreations as well.
MR. (Laughter).
FORSGATE:---They were playing tennis this afternoon.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, the Urban Services Department has been for more than one year now, writing to all clubs offering its services
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