1968 — Page 153

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

There is a problem over Resettlement shops; we do not have enough shops to give to all those who have been running businesses in the squatter areas and resite areas. I would suggest that there should be a proper multi-storey market, or even two markets built (and I do not mean hawker bazaars), in or on the verge of each of our future estates, where those marginal shopkeepers and the licensed hawkers should be given priority to rent stalls.

Resettlement Housing should not be shoved further and further out of the urban area. The tenants of resettlement are among the poorer members of the community, and they cannot afford to travel great distances to jobs and schools in urban areas. I urge the Government to consider building a resettlement estate on the Cheung Sha Wan reclamation, as was, I believe, originally intended, and then the site was given to low-cost housing. I think there is still a need and room for both types of housing there. Wan Chai reclamation should also be used for a much-needed resettlement estate on Hong Kong Island.

With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support the Motion before the Council. (Applause).

CHAIRMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, it was agreed that the Unofficial Members of this Council should be allocated two consecutive days for their speeches, and I now suggest that the debate on the Motion be adjourned until tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in this Chamber.

ADJOURNMENT

4:20 P.M.

CHAIRMAN: That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until Thursday, 28th November, at 2:30 p.m.

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URBAN COUNCIL

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Appendix I (Page 252)

Statement of Aims for 1969

RECREATION & AMENITIES DIVISION

Public Open Space

1.

(a) To seek the provision of adequate district open space simultaneously with all new housing development schemes.

(b) To seek the early provision of local public open space to serve the residents of older districts, such as Central, Western, and Shau Kei Wan in Hong Kong, and Yau Ma Tei, Mong Kok, and Sham Shui Po in Kowloon, if necessary, by reclamation or urban renewal schemes.

(c) To ensure the proper conservation and use of all land designated as green belt and also all areas of scenic or recreational value.

Parks, Recreation, and Amenities

2.

(a) To pursue an imaginative programme of public entertainment, directed principally towards young people, having regard to the high percentage of young people in Hong Kong, in order to encourage the fullest possible use of all public pleasure grounds and to seek the co-operation of other public and private organizations in an attempt to meet the community's recreational needs.

(b) To push ahead vigorously with the parks, recreation, and amenities construction programme to match the growing public need.

(c) To improve liaison with the many public and private organizations that have an interest in the Council's projects or that may be able to assist in meeting the demand for additional facilities.

(d) To keep under continuous review the recreation needs of all sections of the population, including the possible provision of new types of facilities.

Amenity Planting

3. (a) To continue with the expanded amenity tree, shrub, and flower planting programme, with particular emphasis on the mass planting of colourful flowering species.

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