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As stated by Mr. MACKENZIE, the proposed swimming pools at Tai Wan and Hammer Hill are in Category B and those at Chai Wan and Kowloon Park in Category C. As Members are aware, projects in Category B of the Public Works Programme cannot be considered for upgrading to Category A until all architectural and engineering planning work has been completed and estimates prepared. The Director of Public Works is, of course, aware of the need to complete amenity projects as quickly as possible and instructions have been given to the staff of his Department concerned with this programme that it shall be carried out with the utmost speed consistent with the demands of other and equally urgent projects. And, of course, completion dates of the various projects will depend partly on building capacity.
At present, it is uncertain when the swimming pool projects listed by Mr. MACKENZIE will be upgraded to Category A status, but it is possible that the Tai Wan Park pool will be ready for upgrading before the end of the current financial year.
On the other hand, I am assured by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club that it is the intention of the Stewards of that Club to do everything possible to ensure that there is no restriction on their annual contributions towards further amenities of the type which has enabled the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club to provide funds for our swimming pools and thereby to contribute so handsomely to the recreation facilities of our community. In other words, because it has been unable to see its way to financing the Tai Wan project this year, this does not mean that the Jockey Club will not be able to help the Council in the future. Moreover, Government has announced its intention (in paragraph 24 of the White Paper) to give the Urban Council, subject to the approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, an initial grant on a once-for-all basis to spend as it pleases, and part of this might be used towards some of the remaining swimming pools planned. If these sources were not to suffice, then the Council could approach the Government for additional funds for these important projects and I am confident that any such approach would get sympathetic consideration.
MR. MACKENZIE :- Mr. Chairman, thank you for that guarded reply to that question, but I wonder if the latest Public Works Programme which you have laid down does in fact indicate that the pools scheduled for completion in 1974-75 are now delayed, in fact, for one year and is this as a result of the problem of finance?
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CHAIRMAN :- Could you repeat the question please.
MR. MACKENZIE :- There are conflicting papers before us, the P.W.D.'s programme showed the pools I refer to as being scheduled initially for completion in 1974-75 while later information suggests 1975-76. I wonder if this has resulted from the fact that the Jockey Club has withdrawn finance, a fact incidentally which has been known for some months I believe. Has the delay of one year arisen because of the problem of finance?
CHAIRMAN :- I should not think the problem of finance has entered this at all at this stage.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN :- Mr. Chairman, referring to the last paragraph of your reply, would you give an assurance to this Council that you in your capacity as part of the Central Government will do everything possible to ensure that this Council will get that "once-and-for-all grant" from Government before the commencement of the next financial year.
CHAIRMAN :- I think it is the proposal that when you get your money the grant will go along with it, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN :- Yes, I fully agree, but can you give us an assurance that we will get this money before the commencement of the next financial year since the White Paper is expected to be implemented as at that date?
CHAIRMAN :- You will get it before that date, that is the effective date.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN :- Shall we say by that date then?
CHAIRMAN :- I would like to think so Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
MR. SALES :- Mr. Chairman, are you aware that the particular example which you have cited, the Tai Wan Park Pool, is the equivalent for Kowloon of the Morrison Hill pool in Hong Kong?
CHAIRMAN :- I am, Mr. SALES.
MR. SALES :- And as such, Mr. Chairman, you are aware too, I presume, that the Council attaches equal importance to the project for perhaps a more heavily populated area in Kowloon? Would you confirm that?
CHAIRMAN :- Certainly, Mr. SALES. In fact, I thought you would have pressed even more for one in Kowloon.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
As stated by Mr. MACKENZIE, the proposed swimming pools at Tai Wan and Hammer Hill are in Category B and those at Chai Wan and Kowloon Park in Category C. As Members are aware, projects in Category B of the Public Works Programme cannot be considered for upgrading to Category A until all architectural and engineering planning work has been completed and estimates prepared. The Director of Public Works is, of course, aware of the need to complete amenity projects as quickly as
possible and instructions have been given to the staff of his Depart- ment concerned with this programme that it shall be carried out with the utmost speed consistent with the demands of other and equally urgent projects. And, of course, completion dates of the various projects will depend partly on building capacity.
At present, it is uncertain when the swimming pool projects listed by Mr. MACKENZIE will be upgraded to Category A status, but it is possible that the Tai Wan Park pool will be ready for upgrading before the end of the current financial year.
On the other hand, I am assured by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club that it is the intention of the Stewards of that Club to do everything possible to ensure that there is no restriction on their annual contributions towards further amenities of the type which has enabled the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club to provide funds for our swim- ming pools and thereby to contribute so handsomely to the recreation facilities of our community. In other words, because it has been unable to see its way to financing the Tai Wan project this year, this does not mean that the Jockey Club will not be able to help the Council in the future. Moreover, Government has announced its inten- tion (in paragraph 24 of the White Paper) to give the Urban Council, subject to the approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, an initial grant on a once-for-all basis to spend as it pleases, and part of this might be used towards some of the remaining swimming pools planned. If these sources were not to suffice, then the Council could approach the Government for additional funds for these important projects and I am confident that any such approach would get sympathetic consideration.
MR. MACKENZIE :-Mr. Chairman, thank you for that guarded reply to that question, but I wonder if the latest Public Works Programme which you have laid down does in fact indicate that the pools scheduled
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for completion in 1974-75 are now delayed, in fact, for one year and is this as a result of the problem of finance?
CHAIRMAN:-Could you repeat the question please.
MR. MACKENZIE :-There are conflicting papers before us, the P.W.D.'s programme showed the pools I refer to as being scheduled initially for completion in 1974-75 while later information suggests 1975-76. I wonder if this has resulted from the fact that the Jockey Club has withdrawn finance, a fact incidentally which has been known for some months I believe. Has the delay of one year arisen because of the problem of finance?
CHAIRMAN:--I should not think the problem of finance has entered this at all at this stage.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, referring to the last paragraph of your reply, would you give an assurance to this Council that you in your capacity as part of the Central Government will do everything possible to ensure that this Council will get that "once-and-for-all grant" from Government before the commencement of the next financial year.
CHAIRMAN:-I think it is the proposal that when you get your money the grant will go along with it, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Yes, I fully agree, but can you give us an assurance that we will get this money before the commencement of the next financial year since the White Paper is expected to be implemented as at that date?
date.
CHAIRMAN:---You will get it before that date, that is the effective
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Shall we say by that date then?
CHAIRMAN:-I would like to think so Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, are you aware that the particular example which you have cited, the Tai Wan Park Pool, is the equivalent for Kowloon of the Morrison Hill pool in Hong Kong?
CHAIRMAN:-I am, Mr. SALES.
MR. SALES: --And as such, Mr. Chairman, you are aware too, I presume, that the Council attaches equal importance to the project for perhaps a more heavily populated area in Kowloon?
Would you confirm that?
CHAIRMAN: ---Certainly, Mr. SALES. In fact, I thought you would have pressed even more for one in Kowloon.
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