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MR. C. K. CHAN:- Mr. Chairman, is that summary of the recommendations confidential?
CHAIRMAN:- I think it was, Mr. CHAN, and, certainly, for Members of the Council at that time it was.
(9) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
(a) Can the Chairman advise whether the Urban Council has received a copy of the Revised Feasibility Survey of the Oceanarium Project recently completed for the Hong Kong Tourist Association and handed over to the Colonial Secretariat for consideration?
(b) If so, has the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee of the Urban Council had an opportunity to study whether this project is suitable as an Urban Council project, or whether it is more suitable for private enterprise with the support of the Government?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
The position here is that a copy of a report on a survey commissioned by the Hong Kong Tourist Association to examine the feasibility of constructing an oceanarium in Hong Kong was sent to me in my capacity as Director of Urban Services at the end of June "for information".
The report was in fact made to the Secretariat and before taking the matter further with the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, I enquired of the Secretariat what the Government's attitude to the new proposal might be.
Members will no doubt recollect that, in 1967, the Governor in Council decided that Government was prepared to make a free grant of land at Brick Hill to a suitable non-profit-making organization for the construction and operation of an oceanarium. So far, no such organization has come forward.
I am informed by the Secretariat that Government is considering the Tourist Association's report and will consult the Urban Council before any decision is reached.
It is also relevant to note that the site at Brick Hill suggested for the oceanarium is in the midst of an area reserved for public open space and that, in Category C of the Public Works Programme, there is an item for the development of this open space as a park. At the request of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, an application has been made to Government for upgrading of this park project to Category B. Proposals for the development of this park are framed in such a manner that they would not prevent the construction of an oceanarium if it were decided to go ahead with it.
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, was there any particular reason why a copy of this report was not sent to the Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, also for information since it was obvious to Government at that time that this would have been a matter of great interest to the Chairman of that committee?
(Mrs. C. J. SYMONS left the meeting at this point).
CHAIRMAN:- I do not know why the Tourist Association did not send one to Mr. SALES, but as far as I was concerned I felt there was no point in taking it to his Committee until I really knew what Government was going to do.
MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, my own connections with the Tourist Association are very strong, and I had a copy at the same time as Government received theirs or at about the same time.
CHAIRMAN:- That answers your question, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
(10) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
As the Commissioner for Resettlement is aware, two surveys were carried out at my request in Lo Fu Ngam and Wang Tau Hom Resettlement Estates with the co-operation of the Resettlement Department and the local Kaifong Associations to find out how many children of primary school age were not attending school, and what assistance could be given to enable such children to attend school; in the Commissioner's letter to me of July 31, 1969, he indicated that he would inquire whether the City District Officers could carry out additional surveys in other Resettlement Estates in conjunction with Kaifong Associations--can the Commissioner please advise what specific arrangements have been or are being made in this respect?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
I have been informed by the Secretary for Home Affairs that the City District Officers are not in a position to undertake formal surveys of children in their districts who
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MR. C. K. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, is that summary of the recom- mendations confidential?
CHAIRMAN:-I think it was, Mr. CHAN, and, certainly, for Members of the Council at that time it was.
(9) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
(a) Can the Chairman advise whether the Urban Council has received a copy of the Revised Feasibility Survey of the Oceanarium Project recently completed for the Hong Kong Tourist Association and handed over to the Colonial Secretariat for consideration?
(b) If so, has the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee of the Urban Council had an opportunity to study whether this project is suitable as an Urban Council project, or whether it is more suitable for private enterprise with the support of the Government?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
The position here is that a copy of a report on a survey commissioned by the Hong Kong Tourist Association to examine the feasibility of constructing an oceanarium in Hong Kong was sent to me in my capacity as Director of Urban Services at the end of June "for information".
The report was in fact made to the Secretariat and before taking the matter further with the Recreation and Ameni- ties Select Committee, I enquired of the Secretariat what the Government's attitude to the new proposal might be.
Members will no doubt recollect that, in 1967, the Governor in Council decided that Government was prepared to make a free grant of land at Brick Hill to a suitable non-profit-making organization for the construction and operation of an oceanarium. So far, no such organiza- tion has come forward.
I am informed by the Secretariat that Government is consider- ing the Tourist Association's report and will consult the Urban Council before any decision is reached.
It is also relevant to note that the site at Brick Hill suggested for the oceanarium is in the midst of an area reserved for public open space and that, in Category C of the Public Works Programme, there is an item for the devel- opment of this open space as a park. At the request
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of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, an application has been made to Government for upgrading of this park project to Category B. Proposals for the development of this park are framed in such a manner that they would not prevent the construction of an ocean- arium if it were decided to go ahead with it.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, was there any particular reason why a copy of this report was not sent to the Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, also for information since it was obvious to Government at that time that this would have been a matter of great interest to the Chairman of that committee?
(Mrs. C. J. SYMONS left the meeting at this point).
CHAIRMAN: --I do not know why the Tourist Association did not send one to Mr. SALES, but as far as I was concerned I felt there was no point in taking it to his Committee until I really knew what Government was going to do.
MR. SALES: --Mr. Chairman, my own connections with the Tourist Association are very strong, and I had a copy at the same time as Government received theirs or at about the same time.
CHAIRMAN: --That answers your question, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
(10) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
As the Commissioner for Resettlement is aware, two surveys were carried out at my request in Lo Fu Ngam and Wang Tau Hom Resettlement Estates with the co- operation of the Resettlement Department and the local Kaifong Associations to find out how many children of primary school age were not attending school, and what assistance could be given to enable such children to attend school; in the Commissioner's letter to me of July 31, 1969, he indicated that he would inquire whether the City District Officers could carry out additional surveys in other Resettlement Estates in conjunction with Kaifong Associations--can the Commissioner please advise what specific arrangements have been or are being made in this respect?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:-
I have been informed by the Secretary for Home Affairs that the City District Officers are not in a position to under- take formal surveys of children in their districts who
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.