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(14) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) What public parks and playgrounds are there in the Western District at sea level?
(b) How do these play facilities compare with normal planning standards in Hong Kong for the provision of open space in relation to population?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
The answer to the first part of this question is that in Western District (that is the area bounded by Cleverly Street, Bonham Road, Pok Fu Lam and Mount Davis Roads) there is at present a total of 7.59 acres of open space, consisting of 8 public gardens, 9 children's playgrounds, 2 hard surface mini-soccer pitches, and 5 basketball or volleyball courts. Of these, 2 playgrounds and 1 garden, totalling 0.41 acre, may be said to be at sea level if this is defined as the area to the north of Queen's Road West.
The answer to question 1(b) is that this area has a population of 189,243 according to the 1971 Census. The planning target for the metropolitan area provides for 30 acres per 100,000 people, although I am sure that there is no need for me to point out that in most long-developed areas this target cannot easily be achieved. Ideally, Western District should therefore have 57 acres of open space. At present, Kennedy Town Swimming Pool (4.80 acres) is under construction, Kennedy Town Service Reservoir Playground (1.20 acres) is awaiting the release of Block Vote funds next year, Smithfield Park (1.4 acres) is in Category B of the Public Works Programme, and I am about to request an Investigation Item in respect of Hollywood Road Playground (1.05 acres).
MR. A. de O. SALES:-Thank you Mr. Chairman.
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THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
It is too early to say yet how much land will be reserved in the projected Western Reclamation for development as public open space; indeed I understand that the size of the reclamation has not yet been finally decided. However, Mr. SALES may rest assured that when more information about the reclamation is available I shall do my utmost to press for as much open space on it as possible to redress the present shortage.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask you to bring to Government's attention the Motion that was passed by this Council on 5th September, 1961, in these terms arising out of my question. The Motion passed by the Council reads as follows:-"That this Council urge the Government to provide playgrounds and sitting-out areas in the projected Western reclamation and also in the heavily crowded Western district when re-development takes place since there are in fact no such amenities at sea level from the Central district to Kennedy Town". Eleven years have gone by and no improvements have taken place of any consequence; and, in this context, Mr. Chairman, in clarification of the second part of your answer to my previous question, might I have your permission to again ask you to bring the following to Government's attention. I would like to read page 127 of our Hansard, a very short paragraph: "Perhaps it should be known in this Council that in the Western District there are about 70,000 pupils enrolled in 208 schools. Of this number there must be over 40,000 in private schools, day and night sessions. Of the 97 such private schools with day sessions, only 9 are said to have playgrounds of their own." In effect, of the 208 schools in that area, no more than 23 are equipped in this manner. Thus, in addition to the countless thousands of children without schooling who have to play in the streets, we find that even those who are fortunate enough to be at school are also mostly without recreational facilities. Should we not, then, urge Government to take early action to put an end to this unsatisfactory situation.
CHAIRMAN: I will do so.
(15) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
(a) Bearing in mind my motion of 5th September, 1961, how much land will be reserved in the projected Western reclamation for development by this Council as public open space?
(b) How would this allocation compare with the total area to be reclaimed?
REPORT BY CHAIRMAN OF THE RESETTLEMENT POLICY SELECT COMMITTEE ON A CHANGE OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE SELECT COMMITTEE
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in accordance with the proviso to the resolution adopted by this Council at its meeting on 6th April, 1971, I wish to announce a change in the membership
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1:
242
Page 233 01 242
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(14) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) What public parks and playgrounds are there in the
Western District at sea level?
(b) How do these play facilities compare with normal planning standards in Hong Kong for the provision of open space in relation to population?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
The answer to the first part of this question is that in Western District (that is the area bounded by Cleverly Street, Bonham Road, Pok Fu Lam and Mount Davis Roads) there is at present a total of 7.59 acres of open space, consisting of 8 public gardens, 9 children's play- grounds, 2 hard surface mini-soccer pitches, and 5 basketall or volleyball courts. Of these, 2 playgrounds
and 1 garden, totalling 0.41 acre, may be said to be at sea level if this is defined as the area to the north of Queen's Road West.
The answer to question 1(b) is that this area has a population of 189,243 according to the 1971 Census. The planning target for the metropolitan area provides for 30 acres per 100,000 people, although I am sure that there is no need for me to point out that in most long-developed areas this target cannot easily be achieved. Ideally, Western District should therefore have 57 acres of open space. At present, Kennedy Town Swimming Pool (4.80 acres) is under construction, Kennedy Town Service Reservoir Playground (1.20 acres) is awaiting the release of Block Vote funds next year, Smithfield Park (14 acres) is in Category B of the Public Works Pro- gramme, and I am about to request an Investigation Item in respect of Hollywood Road Playground (1.05 acres).
MR. A. de O. SALES:-Thank you Mr. Chairman.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
447
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:
It is too early to say yet how much land will be reserved in the projected Western Reclamation for development as public open space; indeed I understand that the size of the reclamation has not yet been finally decided. However, Mr. SALES may rest assured that when more information about the reclamation is available I shall do my utmost to press for as much open space on it as possible to redress the present shortage.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I ask you to bring to Govern- ment's attention the Motion that was passed by this Council on 5th September, 1961, in these terms arising out of my question. The Motion passed by the Council reads as follows:-"That this Council urge the Government to provide playgrounds and sitting-out areas in the projected Western reclamation and also in the heavily crowded Western district when re-development takes place since there are in fact no such amenities at sea level from the Central district to Kennedy Town". Eleven years have gone by and no improvements have taken place of any consequence; and, in this context, Mr. Chairman, in clarification of the second part of your answer to my previous question, might I have your permission to again ask you to bring the follow- ing to Government's attention. I would like to read page 127 of our Hansard, a very short paragraph: "Perhaps it should be known in this Council that in the Western District there are about 70,000 pupils enrolled in 208 schools. Of this number there must be over 40,000 in private schools, day and night sessions. Of the 97 such private schools with day sessions, only 9 are said to have playgrounds of their own." In effect, of the 208 schools in that area, no more than 23 are equipped in this manner. Thus, in addition to the countless thousands of children without schooling who have to play in the streets, we find that even those who are fortunate enough to be at school are also mostly without recreational facilities. Should we not, then, urge Government to take early action to put an end to this unsatisfactory situation.
CHAIRMAN: I will do so.
(15) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
(a) Bearing in mind my motion of 5th September, 1961, how much land will be reserved in the projected Western reclamation for development by this Council as public open space?
(b) How would this allocation compare with the total area
to be reclaimed?
REPORT BY CHAIRMAN OF THE RESETTLEMENT POLICY SELECT COMMITTEE ON A CHANGE OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE SELECT COMMITTEE
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in accordance with the proviso to the resolution adopted by this Council at its meeting on 6th April, 1971, I wish to announce a change in the membership
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