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Programme. Also, no decision on any site for such a Centre in Kowloon can be taken until after the policy has been settled.

Members have my assurance that I personally support them wholeheartedly in their desire to see a Civic Centre in Kowloon, and that I shall endeavour to prepare any comprehensive recommendation which the Secretariat may now require in order to facilitate the acceptance of this project by Government. Although the need for such a centre may be self-evident a project of this size and cost will no doubt require very careful thought and detailed argumentation to justify its acceptance in the light of other pressing commitments on public funds.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, have you already started to prepare these comprehensive recommendations?

CHAIRMAN:- No, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN. I need some indication on what additional information is required.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Where do you need it from?

CHAIRMAN:- I need it from the Colonial Secretariat, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- You need information from the Secretariat so that you can go back to them and prepare a comprehensive recommendation?

CHAIRMAN:- That is so.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Have you asked them for such information, Mr. Chairman?

CHAIRMAN:- I have asked for a meeting to be held at which I could clarify this position.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- And how soon will that meeting be held?

CHAIRMAN:- I have asked for it. I can only hope it will be soon.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- How long ago was that Mr. Chairman?

CHAIRMAN:- As soon as I realized there were complications in this project.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Was that before the last meeting of this Council or after the last meeting of this Council?

CHAIRMAN:- Before it.

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MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, in view of the unsatisfactory answer which you have given, may I take it that you will now exercise your right of walking out? (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Is that all, Mr. SALES?

MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, are you not aware that the then City Hall Select Committee put forward definite recommendations on this particular subject?

CHAIRMAN:- I am indeed Mr. SALES.

MR. SALES:- Are those recommendations not enough for you to start negotiations on our behalf with Government?

CHAIRMAN:- It will enable me to start negotiations but I understand additional information is still required, but in what form or of what is required exactly, I am unaware.

MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, are you not aware that before drawing up those recommendations, the City Hall Select Committee, through the management, carried out a survey on the construction of such halls for the last ten years throughout the world and isn't that enough for the Colonial Secretariat?

CHAIRMAN:- I am aware of that fact, Mr. SALES, but, as I say, I am not clear on what additional information the Secretariat now requires.

MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, in the last part of your answer, you suggested that more argumentation to justify the acceptance of such a project has to be put forward, but isn't the success of the City Hall itself and the tremendous response on the part of the people enough justification?

CHAIRMAN:- I would have thought so, Mr. SALES.

MR. SALES:- Are you giving the Council to understand that it is the Colonial Secretariat that does not think so but that you, as Chairman of the Urban Council, do agree with us.

CHAIRMAN:- I agree with you, as I have already said in my reply, Mr. SALES, but I still have to find out what additional information the Secretariat requires.

MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that you do not walk out on us at this time, but endeavour to give us a better answer the next time, and we will show our forbearance on this occasion. (Laughter).

CHAIRMAN:- Thank you, Mr. SALES!

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