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MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, again you cannot even give an approximate date. Have the Town Planning Board's proposals been accepted by Government?

CHAIRMAN:-Again, I could rule that one quite easily out of order, Mr. BERNACCHI.

MR. SALES: --Mr. Chairman, you are trigger-happy this afternoon, are you not? (Laughter).

MR. BERNACCHI:-Do you, or can the Director of Public Works answer the question?

CHAIRMAN: --If he is willing, and is able to, I will permit it, other- wise the ruling stands.

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Mr. Chairman, if the question has been ruled out of order, I think it would be quite wrong of me to answer it. (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could you unrule this question out of order?

CHAIRMAN:-Sorry, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.

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

Would the Chairman please enquire if any land has been set aside in the old Naval Dockyard for public open space? If so, when is it likely to be released to the Council for development?

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:

Sir, this question concerns the allocation of land formerly occupied by the Naval Dockyard for use as public open space.

The Central District Outline Zoning Plan No. LH 3/27 was approved by the Governor in Council on 16th September, 1969. An area immediately to the west of the Police H.Q. compound containing about 5.13 acres is zoned for open space.

This area is at present used mainly on a temporary basis by various Government departments principally the Fire Services Department and will not be available for release until alternative accommodation can be found for them. Although the P.W.D. Maintenance Division will be vacat-

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ing one building in the Dockyard area, this is located outside the area zoned for public open space. Rodney Block, which is sited within the area, is zoned GI/C, and will be occupied by other Government departments when the Civil Engineering and Highways Offices move to Murray Building.

MR. SALES: Thank you. Mr. Chairman, as Director of Urban Services, you are a member of the Town Planning Board, and in that capacity may this Council assume that you have already made rep- resentations, on behalf of the Council, to the effect that the Select Committee would like the area immediately across Murray Road from the Cricket Club to be set aside as open space?

CHAIRMAN :—I did pass this message to the Secretariat quite some time ago, Mr. SALES.

MR. SALES: Was it only a message, or was it representation on behalf of the Council?

CHAIRMAN: ---It was a representation on behalf of the Council.

MR. SALES:-Thank you. And what was the reply of the Colonial Secretariat?

CHAIRMAN:---Again, I would need notice of that question, Mr.

SALES.

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, am I to understand that there was no reply?

CHAIRMAN: ---No, I think the reply came forward.

MR. SALES :-Why was that reply not made known to the Select Committee?

CHAIRMAN:----Are you sure it wasn't, Mr. SALES?

MR. SALES:-If you don't recall the reply, I don't recall if it was ever made known to the Select Committee. (Laughter).

MR. NG:-Mr. Chairman, when do you think that alternative accommodation can be found for the Fire Services Department? It appears from the answer that it might be quite some years. CHAIRMAN:-That is the position; quite some years.

MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, you mean that 5.1 acres will not be available until the Fire Services can find alternative accommodation?

CHAIRMAN: I imagine that, as the answer by the Director of Public Works states "principally the Fire Services occupy this area," that is the position.