1968 — Page 40

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 40 of 243

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask one point for clarification. Since this was originally put forward as a personal suggestion wouldn't it, to proceed one step further, be advisable if the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee could review this at one of their meetings and suggest to Government what order of priority the Civic Centre should be given in the Public Works Programme?

CHAIRMAN:-Certainly this can be considered by the relevant Select Committee.

(5) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:

(a) Will you please make fresh representations to the Government to review the policy on the allocation of the land now occupied by Whitfield Barracks so that the whole area would be reserved for public use?

(b) Would you please ask the Government to consider reserving the part adjoining Nathan and Austin Roads, now set aside for eventual commercial development, for the Kowloon Civic Centre and a public square which this Council previously proposed?

THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:--

This question which is in two parts concerns the future of the area now occupied by Whitfield Barracks.

With regard to the first part, Members are probably aware that it was only in November of last year that His Excellency the Governor approved, on the advice of his Executive Council, an Outline Use Zoning Plan for the Tsim Sha Tsui area prepared by the Town Planning Board. Government policies may, of course, be reviewed at any time but as the Executive Council so recently considered this matter in some detail, I myself would be reluctant to go back now to the Colonial Secretary asking that it be reconsidered, particularly as the Town Planning Board itself had dealt at length with this very same subject and other Council objections before taking its final decision on the outline plan.

With regard to the second part of the question, the Outline Use Zoning Plan to which I have referred shows an area of land in the north-east corner of the site now occupied by Whitfield Barracks as reserved for commercial/residential development. A note on the plan declares it to be subject to detailed planning and eventually to include schools, a shopping centre, and multi-storey car parks with one-tenth of the area to be reserved for public open space. This commercial/residential area covers some 16 acres and, if one-tenth is to be reserved as public open space, a site of more than 1 acre could, I assume, be developed as a public square. I understand that the Zoning Plan is now to be supplemented by a detailed layout-plan for the Whitfield Barracks area. This plan is now being prepared in the Public Works Department and I am assured that the Urban Council will be given an opportunity to express its views on it in the usual way.

I have referred in my reply to the last question to the proposed civic centre for Kowloon and there is nothing I can usefully add on that subject.

MR. SALES: Sir, may I thank you for your comprehensive reply. Are you aware, Sir, in respect of the third paragraph, that Council has passed a motion on a public square for Kowloon along Nathan Road opposite to St. Andrew's Church?

CHAIRMAN:-I am indeed, Sir, and I think that that area where it says one-tenth will be reserved as public open space is in fact opposite St. Andrew's Church.

MR. SALES: --Thank you. Then there is the distinct possibility of this public square being included in that area of 16 acres which you have just mentioned?

CHAIRMAN:-Surely, this can be considered when the detailed planning is done.

MR. SALES: Sir, are you aware that there is a very strong body of opinion among thinking people in Hong Kong that the whole of Whitfield Barracks should be preserved as open space as this is the last opportunity for such a development in a central urban area?

CHAIRMAN:-I am indeed aware of that, Sir, and I am also aware that this was considered at some length by the Town Planning Board. In fact, the Town Planning Board heard objections from this Council which were then withdrawn. Subsequently, various other points were put to the Town Planning Board from this Council and they were again considered by the Town Planning Board.

MR. SALES: --Thank you. Sir, regarding the second paragraph of your answer in which you suggested that the Executive Council had only recently considered this matter in great detail, are you implying to this Council that Executive Council has not been known to vacillate on any important matter at all?

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Page 40 of 243 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask one point for clarification. Since this was originally put forward as a personal suggestion wouldn't it, to proceed one step further, be advisable if the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee could review this at one of their meetings and suggest to Government what order of priority the Civic Centre should be given in the Public Works Programme? CHAIRMAN:-Certainly this can be considered by the relevant Select Committee. (5) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question: (a) Will you please make fresh representations to the Government to review the policy on the allocation of the land now occupied by Whitfield Barracks so that the whole area would be reserved for public use? (b) Would you please ask the Government to consider reserving the part adjoining Nathan and Austin Roads, now set aside for eventual commercial development, for the Kowloon Civic Centre and a public square which this Council previously proposed? THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-- This question which is in two parts concerns the future of the area now occupied by Whitfield Barracks. With regard to the first part, Members are probably aware that it was only in November of last year that His Excellency the Governor approved, on the advice of his Executive Council, an Outline Use Zoning Plan for the Tsim Sha Tsui area prepared by the Town Planning Board. Government policies may, of course, be reviewed at any time but as the Executive Council so recently considered this matter in some detail, I myself would be reluctant to go back now to the Colonial Secretary asking that it be reconsidered, particularly as the Town Planning Board itself had dealt at length with this very same subject and other Council objections before taking its final decision on the outline plan. With regard to the second part of the question, the Outline Use Zoning Plan to which I have referred shows an area of land in the north-east corner of the site now occupied by Whitfield Barracks as reserved for commercial/residential development. A note on the plan declares it to be subject to detailed planning and eventually to include schools, a shopping centre, and multi-storey car parks with one-tenth of the area to be reserved for public open space. This commercial/residential area covers some 16 acres and, if one-tenth is to be reserved as public open space, a site of more than 1 acre could, I assume, be developed as a public square. I understand that the Zoning Plan is now to be supplemented by a detailed layout-plan for the Whitfield Barracks area. This plan is now being prepared in the Public Works Department and I am assured that the Urban Council will be given an opportunity to express its views on it in the usual way. I have referred in my reply to the last question to the proposed civic centre for Kowloon and there is nothing I can usefully add on that subject. MR. SALES: Sir, may I thank you for your comprehensive reply. Are you aware, Sir, in respect of the third paragraph, that Council has passed a motion on a public square for Kowloon along Nathan Road opposite to St. Andrew's Church? CHAIRMAN:-I am indeed, Sir, and I think that that area where it says one-tenth will be reserved as public open space is in fact opposite St. Andrew's Church. MR. SALES: --Thank you. Then there is the distinct possibility of this public square being included in that area of 16 acres which you have just mentioned? CHAIRMAN:-Surely, this can be considered when the detailed planning is done. MR. SALES: Sir, are you aware that there is a very strong body of opinion among thinking people in Hong Kong that the whole of Whitfield Barracks should be preserved as open space as this is the last opportunity for such a development in a central urban area? CHAIRMAN:-I am indeed aware of that, Sir, and I am also aware that this was considered at some length by the Town Planning Board. In fact, the Town Planning Board heard objections from this Council which were then withdrawn. Subsequently, various other points were put to the Town Planning Board from this Council and they were again considered by the Town Planning Board. MR. SALES: --Thank you. Sir, regarding the second paragraph of your answer in which you suggested that the Executive Council had only recently considered this matter in great detail, are you implying to this Council that Executive Council has not been known to vacillate on any important matter at all? Page 40 Page 41 Page 41 of 243

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243 Page 40 of 243 1. Page 40 of 243 62 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask one point for clari- fication. Since this was originally put forward as a personal suggestion wouldn't it, to proceed one step further, be advisable if the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee could review this at one of their meet- ings and suggest to Government what order of priority the Civic Centre should be given in the Public Works Programme? CHAIRMAN:-Certainly this can be considered by the relevant Select Committee. (5) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question: (a) Will you please make fresh representations to the Govern- ment to review the policy on the allocation of the land now occupied by Whitfield Barracks so that the whole area would be reserved for public use? (b) Would you please ask the Government to consider reserv- ing the part adjoining Nathan and Austin Roads, now set aside for eventual commercial development, for the Kowloon Civic Centre and a public square which this Council previously proposed? THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-- This question which is in two parts concerns the future of the area now occupied by Whitfield Barracks. With regard to the first part, Members are probably aware that it was only in November of last year that His Excellency the Governor approved, on the advice of his Executive Council, an Outline Use Zoning Plan for the Tsim Sha Tsui area prepared by the Town Planning Board. Govern- ment policies may, of course, be reviewed at any time but as the Executive Council so recently considered this matter in some detail, I myself would be reluctant to go back now to the Colonial Secretary asking that it be re- considered, particularly as the Town Planning Board itself had dealt at length with this very same subject and other Council objections before taking its final decision on the outline plan. With regard to the second part of the question, the Outline Use Zoning Plan to which I have referred shows an area of land in the north-east corner of the site now occupied by Whitfield Barracks as reserved for commercial/resi- dential development. A note on the plan declares it to be subject to detailed planning and eventually to include HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 63 schools, a shopping centre, and multi-storey car parks with one-tenth of the area to be reserved for public open space. This commercial/residential area covers some 16 acres and, if one-tenth is to be reserved as public open space, a site of more than 1 acres could, I assume, be developed as a public square. I understand that the Zoning Plan is now to be supplemented by a detailed layout-plan for the Whitfield Barracks area. This plan is now being prepared in the Public Works Department and I am assured that the Urban Council will be given an opportunity to express its views on it in the usual way. I have referred in my reply to the last question to the proposed civic centre for Kowloon and there is nothing I can use- fully add on that subject. MR. SALES: Sir, may I thank you for your comprehensive reply. Are you aware, Sir, in respect of the third paragraph, that Council has passed a motion on a public square for Kowloon along Nathan Road opposite to St. Andrew's Church? CHAIRMAN:-I am indeed, Sir, and I think that that area where it says one-tenth will be reserved as public open space is in fact opposite St. Andrew's Church. MR. SALES: --Thank you. Then there is the distinct possibility of this public square being included in that area of 14 acres which you have just mentioned? CHAIRMAN:-Surely, this can be considered when the detailed planning is done. MR. SALES: Sir, are you aware that there is a very strong body of opinion among thinking people in Hong Kong that the whole of Whit- field Barracks should be preserved as open space as this is the last opportunity for such a development in a central urban area? CHAIRMAN:-I am indeed aware of that, Sir, and I am also aware that this was considered at some length by the Town Planning Board. In fact, the Town Planning Board heard objections from this Council which were then withdrawn. Subsequently, various other points were put to the Town Planning Board from this Council and they were again considered by the Town Planning Board. MR. SALES: --Thank you. Sir, regarding the second paragraph of your answer in which you suggested that the Executive Council had only recently considered this matter in great detail, are you implying to this Council that Executive Council has not been known to vacillate on any important matter at all? Page 40Page 41 18 li Page 41..

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243

Page 40 of 243 1.

Page 40 of 243

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask one point for clari- fication. Since this was originally put forward as a personal suggestion wouldn't it, to proceed one step further, be advisable if the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee could review this at one of their meet- ings and suggest to Government what order of priority the Civic Centre should be given in the Public Works Programme?

CHAIRMAN:-Certainly this can be considered by the relevant Select Committee.

(5) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:

(a) Will you please make fresh representations to the Govern- ment to review the policy on the allocation of the land now occupied by Whitfield Barracks so that the whole area would be reserved for public use?

(b) Would you please ask the Government to consider reserv- ing the part adjoining Nathan and Austin Roads, now set aside for eventual commercial development, for the Kowloon Civic Centre and a public square which this Council previously proposed?

THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:--

This question which is in two parts concerns the future of the

area now occupied by Whitfield Barracks.

With regard to the first part, Members are probably aware that it was only in November of last year that His Excellency the Governor approved, on the advice of his Executive Council, an Outline Use Zoning Plan for the Tsim Sha Tsui area prepared by the Town Planning Board. Govern- ment policies may, of course, be reviewed at any time but as the Executive Council so recently considered this matter in some detail, I myself would be reluctant to go back now to the Colonial Secretary asking that it be re- considered, particularly as the Town Planning Board itself had dealt at length with this very same subject and other Council objections before taking its final decision on the outline plan.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

schools, a shopping centre, and multi-storey car parks with one-tenth of the area to be reserved for public open space. This commercial/residential area covers some 16 acres and, if one-tenth is to be reserved as public open space, a site of more than 1 acres could, I assume, be developed as a public square. I understand that the Zoning Plan is now to be supplemented by a detailed layout-plan for the Whitfield Barracks area. This plan is now being prepared in the Public Works Department and I am assured that the Urban Council will be given an opportunity to express its views on it in the usual way.

I have referred in my reply to the last question to the proposed civic centre for Kowloon and there is nothing I can use- fully add on that subject.

CHAIRMAN:-I am indeed, Sir, and I think that that area where it says one-tenth will be reserved as public open space is in fact opposite St. Andrew's Church.

MR. SALES: --Thank you. Then there is the distinct possibility of this public square being included in that area of 14 acres which you have just mentioned?

CHAIRMAN:-Surely, this can be considered when the detailed planning is done.

MR. SALES: Sir, are you aware that there is a very strong body of opinion among thinking people in Hong Kong that the whole of Whit- field Barracks should be preserved as open space as this is the last opportunity for such a development in a central urban area?

1968 — Page 40

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