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MR. NG:- Do you consider that using the room one afternoon a month would deprive the public?
CHAIRMAN: This could possibly be arranged, but if you look at the layout I think you will find pillars and lift wells and staircases, and it would not make a very good or suitable Council Chamber.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, in your answer you said it was considered that in any event the structure and layout of the block was not suitable. Is this the opinion of your department or the Public Works Department?
CHAIRMAN: It is only my own department on looking at the load-bearing pillars.
MR. NG:- If this is only the opinion of your department, can you ask the professional opinion of the Public Works Department?
CHAIRMAN:- I could, but I think it would be a waste of time. I can see that the thing is not right myself.
MR. NG:- Mr. Chairman, since when have you down-graded yourself to the status of an Architect? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:- Up-graded myself. (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI:- I think that there is merit in your remark that it should not be pursued, largely on the grounds that the usage of the City Hall facilities is so heavy, but I question whether it is not practicable because if I remember rightly...
CHAIRMAN:- Are you asking a supplementary?
MR. BERNACCHI:- Yes, I am asking a supplementary of you, Mr. Chairman. If I remember rightly the original plans for the high block contained a plan for the accommodation of the Urban Council chamber on one of the floors and a gallery on the floor above, so that I question, and I question very much the sentence that "the layout plans of the High Block were studied in the Department, but it was considered that in the event the structure and layout of the block precluded the provision of a suitable Council chamber”. Now the question, were not the original layout plans those that provided for the Council chamber, and did you personally ever know that there were such original layout plans providing for the Council Chamber in the high block?
CHAIRMAN: I believe that the proposal was originally to consider putting the Council, and possibly the department, down in the City Hall complex. I have never seen any plans of this provision
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for a Council Chamber, but I have a feeling that that may have been in the original plans, (for the original planned layout, not the present one.)
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, in your answer you say you plan to have a new and fitting Council Chamber in the City Hall complex. Can you say whereabouts?
CHAIRMAN:- I am open to advice.
MR. NG: Well, Mr. Chairman, can you also take my proposal into consideration and consult the Public Works Department?
CHAIRMAN: Certainly.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, when do you plan to raise this matter with the Cultural Affairs Select Committee?
CHAIRMAN: As soon as I can.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, is it such a difficult matter that you would like to hedge and say "A.S.A.P." Aren't there certain suggestions that have been put for quite some time so that these could be taken up within the coming months?
CHAIRMAN: I am not clear what you mean. Will you repeat the question?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- A.S.A.P. means "as soon as possible". Could you give an indication as to whether you could raise this within the Cultural Affairs Select Committee. You say as soon as possible, well what does that mean, one month, two months, three months, ten years?
CHAIRMAN:- Well, I think I will have to get some information from Public Works before I go to Select Committee, but I think I could possibly do this within a month.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, wouldn't you have saved me a lot of trouble if you had said within a month?
CHAIRMAN:- Then you would hold me to that. (Laughter). MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, this is a gentlemen's agreement and I am sure, I would not hold you to that.
(13) MR. PETER P. K. NG asked the following question:-
(a) Has the Department noticed the serious traffic congestion every year around Victoria Park when the Chinese New Year Bazaar takes place?
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MR. NG:-Do you consider that using the room one afternoon a month would deprive the public?
CHAIRMAN: This could possibly be arranged, but if you look at the layout I think you will find pillars and liftwells and staircases, and it would not make a very good or suitable Council Chamber.
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, in your answer you said it was con- sidered that in any event the structure and layout of the block was not suitable. Is this the opinion of your department or the Public Works Department?
CHAIRMAN:----It is only my own department on looking at the load-bearing pillars.
MR. NG-If this is only the opinion of your department, can you ask the professional opinion of the Public Works Department?
CHAIRMAN:-I could, but I think it would be a waste of time. I can see that the thing is not right myself.
MR. NG:-Mr. Chairman, since when have you down-graded your- self to the status of an Architect? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:-Up-graded myself. (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI:-I think that there is merit in your remark that it should not be pursued, largely on the grounds that the usage of the City Hall facilities is so heavy, but I question whether it is not practicable because if I remember rightly. .
CHAIRMAN:-Are you asking a supplementary?
MR. BERNACCHI:-Yes, I am asking a supplementary of you, Mr. Chairman. If I remember rightly the original plans for the high block contained a plan for the accommodation of the Urban Council chamber on one of the floors and a gallery on the floor above, so that I question, and I question very much the sentence that "the layout plans of the High Block were studied in the Depart- ment, but it was considered that in the event the structure and layout of the block precluded the provision of a suitable Council chamber”. Now the question, were not the original layout plans those that provided for the Council chamber, and did you personally ever know that there were such original layout plans providing for the Council Cham- ber in the high block?
CHAIRMAN: I believe that the proposal was originally to con- sider putting the Council, and possibly the department, down in the City Hall complex. I have never seen any plans of this provision
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
443
for a Council Chamber, but I have a feeling that that may have been in the original plans, (for the original planned layout, not the present one.)
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, in your answer you say you plan to have a new and fitting Council Chamber in the City Hall complex. Can you say whereabouts?
CHAIRMAN:-I am open to advice.
MR. NG: Well, Mr. Chairman, can you also take my proposal into consideration and consult the Public Works Department?
CHAIRMAN: --Certainly.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, when do you plan to raise this matter with the Cultural Affairs Select Committee?
CHAIRMAN: -As soon as I can.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, is it such a difficult matter that you would like to hedge and say "A.S.A.P." Aren't there certain suggestions that have been put for quite some time so that these could be taken up within the coming months?
CHAIRMAN: I am not clear what you mean. Will you repeat the question?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-A.S.A.P. means "as soon as possible". Could you give an indication as to whether you could raise this within the Cultural Affairs Select Committee. You say as soon as possible, well what does that mean, one month, two months, three months, ten years?
CHAIRMAN:-Well, I think I will have to get some information from Public Works before I go to Select Committee, but I think I could possibly do this within a month.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, wouldn't you have saved me a lot of trouble if you had said within a month?
CHAIRMAN:-Then you would hold me to that. (Laughter). MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, this is a gentlemen's agree- ment and I am sure, I would not hold you to that.
(13) MR. PETER P. K. NG asked the following question:-
(a) Has the Department noticed the serious traffic congestion every year around Victoria Park when the Chinese New Year Bazaar takes place?
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Private notes are available after approval.