Page 104 of 241
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. Before proceeding with the agenda, I would like to congratulate Mr. Peter P. F. CHAN on his appointment to the Executive Board of the World Federation for Mental Health. Congratulations, Mr. CHAN. (Applause).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 1st September, 1970 were confirmed.
PAPER.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of September, 1970.
MR. A. de O. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, it is as Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Select Committee that I wish to make a statement this afternoon.
In the year which ended on 31st March, 1970, the Concert Hall was used 559 times; the Theatre, 632; the Exhibition Hall, 331; the Exhibition Gallery, 233; the Lecture and Committee Rooms, 2,547. This is a most impressive record of the great demand which exists for such facilities. The bookings ahead are just as heavy, if not more so; in fact, in the remaining six months of the current financial year, there are only relatively few vacancies: Concert Hall, 3 days; Theatre, 12; Exhibition Hall, 23; and Exhibition Gallery, 29.
(Mr. Raymond Y. K. KAN arrived at this point).
Public and private organizations normally using the City Hall are only too well aware how difficult it is to make bookings of our various facilities for their requirements. Such organizations serve a wide range of interests and cater to a good part of our population. Their activities must be commended and every encouragement offered by the authorities because together they provide a wide variety of programmes for the education and entertainment of the people and the promotion of civic and business interests, among other things.
Sir, the Select Committee believes that there is little that can be done to expand our amenities so as to increase the opportunities for use by the public. Accordingly, the Council has for some time now urged on the Government the construction of a civic centre in Kowloon
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
not only to complement the existing facilities in the City Hall but also because of the far greater number of people who live there and who have no such amenities.
After studying the requirements carefully, the Urban Council submitted to the Government a schedule of accommodation for a civic centre there. I am not aware that we have drawn any reply from the Government intelligent or otherwise. It is hoped that this important proposal will not be another victim of Government procrastination. There is great public demand for such a building. The need for action is urgent.
There is no better location for such a civic centre than in the remaining 16 acres of the present Whitfield Barracks not now set aside as Kowloon Park but mostly reserved for private development. Sir, it is a great pity that Government should be so stiff-necked as Hong Kong will not have another area so splendidly located for civic development. In that area Government could provide well and generously for public use. This civic building should be located there. In this area, too, there should be built a museum, a public library and such other civic amenities as may be required by the people in time, all of which would be put to good use by the people just as the City Hall and all other public facilities which the Government has provided have met with excellent public response. (Applause).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:---Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Hawker Policy Select Committee, may I draw Members' attention to paragraph 47(a) of the monthly report. In this report, in the particular paragraph in question, it states that after Urban Services Department staff had carried out operations in Shun Ning Road and the Hawker Control Force had been withdrawn, the situation reverted to the chaos it was before the operation. I think, Mr. Chairman, that Members of this Council are very concerned about such a situation where Urban Services Department staff go in to clear up a situation where hawker conditions have deteriorated, but due to lack of staff they have been forced to withdraw. Mr. Chairman, I think it ought to be drawn to the attention of Government, and I believe that you'll bear it in mind and I do hope that it will be emphasized to the Secretariat.
QUESTIONS.
(1) MRS. E. ELLIOTT addressed the Chairman in Chinese.
CHAIRMAN:-MRS. ELLIOTT, you are out of order. This you know. We haven't authorized the use of Cantonese yet!
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Page 104 of 241
188
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. Before proceeding with the agenda, I would like to congratulate Mr. Peter P. F. CHAN on his appointment to the Executive Board of the World Federation for Mental Health. Congratulations, Mr. CHAN. (Applause).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 1st September, 1970 were confirmed.
PAPER.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban
Services Department for the month of September, 1970.
MR. A. de O. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, it is as Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Select Committee that I wish to make a statement this afternoon.
In the year which ended on 31st March, 1970, the Concert Hall was used 559 times; the Theatre, 632; the Exhibition Hall, 331; the Exhibition Gallery, 233; the Lecture and Committee Rooms, 2,547. This is a most impressive record of the great demand which exists for such facilities. The bookings ahead are just as heavy, if not more so; in fact, in the remaining six months of the current financial year, there are only relatively few vacancies: Concert Hall, 3 days; Theatre, 12; Exhibition Hall, 23; and Exhibition Gallery, 29.
(Mr. Raymond Y. K. KAN arrived at this point).
Public and private organizations normally using the City Hall are only too well aware how difficult it is to make bookings of our various facilities for their requirements. Such organizations serve a wide range of interests and cater to a good part of our population. Their activities must be commended and every encouragement offered by the authorities because together they provide a wide variety of programmes for the education and entertainment of the people and the promotion of civic and business interests, among other things.
Sir, the Select Committee believes that there is little that can be done to expand our amenities so as to increase the opportunities for use by the public. Accordingly, the Council has for some time now urged on the Government the construction of a civic centre in Kowloon
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
189
not only to complement the existing facilities in the City Hall but also because of the far greater number of people who live there and who have no such amenities.
After studying the requirements carefully, the Urban Council sub- mitted to the Government a schedule of accommodation for a civic centre there. I am not aware that we have drawn any reply from the Government intelligent or otherwise. It is hoped that this important proposal will not be another victim of Government procrastination. There is great public demand for such a building. The need for action is urgent.
There is no better location for such a civic centre than in the re- maining 16 acres of the present Whitfield Barracks not now set aside as Kowloon Park but mostly reserved for private development. Sir, it is a great pity that Government should be so stiff-necked as Hong Kong will not have another area so splendidly located for civic development. In that area Government could provide well and generously for public use. This civic building should be located there. In this area, too, there should be built a museum, a public library and such other civic amenities as may be required by the people in time, all of which would be put to good use by the people just as the City Hall and all other public facilities which the Government has provided have met with excellent public response. (Applause).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:---Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Hawker Policy Select Committee, may I draw Members' attention to paragraph 47(a) of the monthly report. In this report, in the particular paragraph in question, it states that after Urban Services Department staff had carried out operations in Shun Ning Road and the Hawker Control Force had been withdrawn, the situation reverted to the chaos it was before the operation. I think, Mr. Chairman, that Members of this Council are very concerned about such a situation where Urban Services Department staff go in to clear up a situation where hawker conditions have deteriorated, but due to lack of staff they have been forced to withdraw. Mr. Chairman, I think it ought to be drawn to the attention of Government, and I believe that you'll bear it in mind and I do hope that it will be emphasized to the Secretariat.
QUESTIONS.
(1) MRS. E. ELLIOTT addressed the Chairman in Chinese.
CHAIRMAN: -MRS. ELLIOTT, you are out of order. This you know. We haven't authorized the use of Cantonese yet!
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.