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size to be completed even after a decision is made. Now, in the meantime, are we going to have daily traffic congestion, and I would, therefore, like to ask Mr. LOBO whether it would be possible to look into the possibility of at least effecting some minor alteration to the existing building, so that the meat trucks do not create daily traffic congestion as at present, and also to make an early study of any scheme to redevelop the site to meet the changing needs of our present day housewife. As Mr. LOBO has just mentioned in his answer, he realizes that the present day needs are really quite different from the old days.
MR. LOBO: I think Mr. KAN asked three questions here. As far as the improvement with regard to traffic, the loading of meat and unloading, some years ago there was a study made to see whether this could be improved, but apparently because of some structural problem of the building this has not been found possible, unless the whole market is re-arranged. As far as the need is concerned for changing habits, and changing to a super market, I must admit we had not thought of this at the Central Market, but the new markets are being provided with facilities to suit the housewife. I personally like the idea, but this has far-reaching implications, and I think other departments will have to be consulted, and if you'd like to bring this up at the next meeting we can consider it.
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I would have two supplementaries. When was the Central Market built and how large is the area which is being occupied by the Central Market?
MR. LOBO: I'm afraid I cannot tell you offhand the area of the Central Market.
MR. HU: And you cannot either tell me when it was built?
MR. LOBO: No, not right off.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, concerning the matter of the loading bay of the meat trucks, can Mr. LOBO assure me that it is structurally not possible to make some improvement?
MR. LOBO: I am not an architect, like you. (Laughter).
MR. NG: Can the Director of Public Works answer this?
CHAIRMAN: He doesn't really have to. (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: Mr. Chairman, I've been sitting for some time wondering now how can I get up and say I fully support what is being said here (Laughter) without answering a question. I don't know whether it is possible to alter this market at all structurally.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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I certainly think it could be looked into, and I think it is a very good idea, but I do wholeheartedly support Mr. Raymond KAN's suggestion that this market should be redeveloped and provided with parking particularly, and supermarkets, and all the things that appear in the question. I should also like to go on record that I would like to see this happening to all the other markets we've got and any future markets we are planning, if it is possible to fit them in. If it is possible to arrange for the traffic and parking, for supermarkets and for ordinary markets at the same time, this is just what we want in Hong Kong.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, having risen to the bait and having answered fully what Mr. Raymond KAN had in mind, could the thoughts of the Director of Public Works, which are now permanently inscribed in Hansard, be referred to the Department, and when that paper, which will be presented to the Markets Select Committee at the meeting, is considered, could an assurance be given that all the departments concerned, particularly Public Works, Social Welfare as well as our own Parks and Recreation Select Committee, will be consulted.
CHAIRMAN: Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, I can assure you it is as much as our corporate lives are worth to put anything to a select committee that has not been referred to all departments concerned.
(14) MR. PETER P. K. NG asked the following question:
(a) Can the Chairman advise this Council of the detailed planning for the Wong Nai Chung Gap Reservoir Recreation Area?
(b) How many people can this area accommodate?
(c) Within the Wong Nai Chung Gap Reservoir Recreation Area how many parking spaces is it planned to include for users?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
The answer to the first part of the question is that the Wong Nai Chung Gap Reservoir Park is in Category B of the Public Works Programme, which means that detailed planning is under way. The Park will cover an area of 14.7 acres and will have three main facilities—a picnic area, a fishing and boating area, and a children's play area. The picnic area will have a lookout pavilion, barbecue pits and concrete tables and stools. The fishing and boating area will include a concrete bridge, a boathouse and landing platform, and a fishing platform; while the children's play area will be about 15,000 square feet
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size to be completed even after a decision is made. Now, in the meantime, are we going to have daily traffic congestion, and I would, therefore, like to ask Mr. LOBO whether it would be possible to look into the possibility of at least effecting some minor alteration to the existing building, so that the meat trucks do not create daily traffic congestion as at present, and also to make an early study of any scheme to redevelop the site to meet the changing needs of our present day housewife. As Mr. LOBO has just mentioned in his answer, he realizes that the present day needs are really quite different from the old days.
MR. LOBO: I think Mr. KAN asked three questions here. As far as the improvement with regard to traffic, the loading of meat and unloading, some years ago there was a study made to see whether this could be improved, but apparently because of some structural problem of the building this has not been found possible, unless the whole market is re-arranged. As far as the need is concerned for changing habits, and changing to a super market, I must admit we had not thought of this at the Central Market, but the new markets are being provided with facilities to suit the housewife. I personally like the idea, but this has far-reaching implications, and I think other departments will have to be consulted, and if you'd like to bring this up at the next meeting we can consider it.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, I would have two supplementaries. When the Central Market was built and how large is the area which is being occupied by the Central Market?
MR. LOBO:-I'm afraid I cannot tell you offhand the area of the Central Market.
MR. HU:And you cannot either tell me when it was built?
MR. LOBO:-No, not right off.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, concerning the matter of the loading bay of the meat trucks, can Mr. LOBO assure me that it is structurally not possible to make some improvement?
MR. LOBO:-I am not an architect, like you. (Laughter).
MR. NG: Can the Director of Public Works answer this?
CHAIRMAN:-He doesn't really have to. (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, I've been sitting for some time wondering now how can I get up and say I fully support what is being said here (Laughter) without answering a question. I don't know whether it is possible to alter this market at all structually.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
161
I certainly think it could be looked into, and I think it is a very good idea, but I do wholeheartedly support Mr. Raymond KAN's suggestion that this market should be redeveloped and provided with parking particularly, and supermarkets, and all the things that appear in the question. I should also like to go on record that I would like to see this happening to all the other markets we've got and any future markets we are planning, if it is possible to fit them in. If it is possible to arrange for the traffic and parking, for supermarkets and for ordinary markets at the same time, this is just what we want in Hong Kong.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, having risen to the bait and having answered fully what Mr. Raymond KAN had in mind, could the thoughts of the Director of Public Works, which are now permanently inscribed in hansard, be referred to the Department, and when that paper, which will be presented to the Markets Select Committee at the meeting, is considered, could an assurance be given that all the depart- ments concerned, particularly Public Works, Social Welfare as well as our own Parks and Recreation Select Committee, will be consulted.
CHAIRMAN: Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, I can assure you it is as much as our corporate lives are worth to put anything to a select committee that has not been referred to all departments concerned.
(14) MR. PETER P. K. NG asked the following question:
(a) Can the Chairman advise this Council of the detailed planning for the Wong Nai Chung Gap Reservoir Recrea- tion Area?
(b) How many people can this area accommodate?
(c) Within the Wong Nai Chung Gap Reservoir Recreation Area how many parking spaces is it planned to include for users?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
The answer to the first part of the question is that the Wong Nai Chung Gap Reservoir Park is in Category B of the Public Works Programme, which means that detailed planning is under way. The Park will cover an area of 14.7 acres and will have three main facilities-a picnic area, a fishing and boating area, and a children's play area. The picnic area will have a lookout pavilion, bar- becue pits and concrete tables and stools. The fishing and boating area will include a concrete bridge, a boathouse and landing platform, and a fishing platform; while the children's play area will be about 15,000 square feet
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