1971 — Page 129

242

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Page 129 of 242

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MR. SALES-Sir, we succeeded with the Causeway Bay extension when you told me that in 13 years I had asked you 17 times. So may I suggest that this year you ask Government once again?

MR. RAYMOND KAN:-Mr. Chairman, is there any plan to build over 100 shops under Kowloon Park, to get some more money for Government?

CHAIRMAN: Did you say "under" Kowloon Park?

MR. KAN:-Yes, Mr. Chairman, I am sorry you missed my article in one .

Chairman:-I have been away.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, how is it you come up with 28 acres as against Mr. SALES' slightly over 24 acres. Could it be that you are taking into consideration the covered up space over the reser- voir or is there another reason?

CHAIRMAN:-I think I included that.

MR. SALES: I think it is probably because I used a computer, Sir. (Laughter).

MR. HU: May I ask a supplementary, Sir. The Kowloon Park is now a popular place for people to go there or not at the moment?

CHAIRMAN: I believe it is very, very popular.

MR. SALES: -May I suggest that the Urban Councillors who live on the Island go and visit the major city across the Harbour and leave the suburbs once in a while to see how the dynamic people of Kowloon live?

MR. HU:-I was there when the Governor opened that Park. (Laughter).

MR. SALES: Could I persuade Mr. HENRY HU to go there when the new Governor goes there. (Laughter).

(13) Mr. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-

As Government has recently stated that it is in favour of building a New Museum on or adjacent to the present Railway Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, can the Chairman inquire from Government whether it can now include the proposed Museum as an item in the Public Works Pro- gramme for the coming financial year?

MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo. CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows: -

This question deals with the building of a new museum on or adjacent to the present Kowloon Canton Railway Terminus in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Government recognizes that there is merit in having the museum sited in Kowloon. However, if this site were to be approved, it will still be some years before such a development can take place, it being dependent, among other things, on the removal of the railway terminus. The proposal will also have to be referred to the Gover- nor-in-Council.

The Department has included the proposed new museum build- ing in its proposals for the Public Works Programme of 1972-73 and Government will consider this proposal in accordance with the procedure laid down for Public Works Programmes.

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I ask, through you, our friend of the Director of Public Works that the new proposal for the public works programme for 1972-73 in no way conflicts with the Council's agreement that the Museum should be in Kowloon?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-As far as I know, if I understand the question correctly, Mr. SALES is correct. No new development makes the building of the Museum on land at present occupied by the railway impossible.

MR. SALES :-Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I am always fearful that people who live on the Island try their best to deprive Kowloon of its justified amenities.

MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, I would ask one supplementary. The site of the Museum we have discussed in great detail sometime ago and it was decided that we would build in Tsim Sha Tsui, a very low building. Now is that project now going on, is it still in the talking stage or has something concrete been done?

MR. LO:-I think the position is, Mr. Chairman, that we recom- mended and we are still awaiting the results of our recommendation.

MR. KAN:-Mr. Chairman, what is the target date for the removal of the railway terminus?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-I think I said at the beginning of this year that when the project had been approved and when I had the site cleared it would take several years to build. I now have a