1973 — Page 52

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The Department is also taking action to increase the number of attendants at public conveniences, which also have bathhouses, so that these facilities will receive independent attention. Deodorants were formerly supplied to coin-operated public conveniences only, but steps have already been taken to provide them for all public toilets. The rapid redevelopment in the urban areas has obviated the need to provide public conveniences in certain areas, and such as are at present being planned will be only for heavily used areas such as ferry concourses and bus termini where there is a definite need for such facilities.

(2) MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo asked the following question (In English):- In view of the indications that the Tsim Sha Tsui Railway Terminus site will be made available to the Council in 1975, for a civic centre (including a museum) may the

Council be informed:-

(a) What progress has been made in the design and

planning of the civic centre on this site?

(b) Has the Council been informed of the exact location and dimensions of the site that will be made available?

MR. LO TAK-SHING, CHAIRMAN OF THE CITY HALL SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In English):

This question concerns the proposal to build a civic centre

on the Tsim Sha Tsui Railway Terminus site.

Apart from the preparation of a perspective sketch intended to give some indication of the form the civic centre might take, no progress has been made in designing or planning the centre, and little can be expected until the site is formally offered to the Council for a civic centre. I am told that the Department intends to put a scheme forward in August with a request that it be included in category B of the Public Works Programme so that all drawings and tender documents can be completed before the site is vacated in 1975.

Detailed information concerning the exact location and dimensions of the site has not yet been given but I believe that

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the Chairman of the Council has spoken with the Director of Public Works and an ambitious development is envisaged. Present thinking is that the centre should form a part of a complex, including two auditoria and a museum with ancillary facilities.

MR. P. K. NG (In English):-Mr. Chairman, may I ask when is the site likely to be formally offered to the Council?

MR. T. S. Lo (In English):—I have no idea. (Laughter).

MR. P. K. NG (In English):—Mr. Chairman, is there any likelihood of the site being offered before, say 1975, because it says here nothing can be done until the site is formally offered?

CHAIRMAN (In English):-Mr. NG, undoubtedly the offer will be made as soon as it is possible for the Government to determine for sure when the site will be vacated and whether the programme will be approved for the construction of the cultural complex there. Your question will be noted and information will be sought by the Chairman of that select committee for dissemination among Council Members.

MR. MACKENZIE (In English):-Mr. Chairman, my interest is in the museum. Might I ask in view of the number of years that this has been under discussion whether, in fact, any plans have been drawn up for the museum complex and if this is to include an art gallery as a part of the building or as a separate unit?

CHAIRMAN (In English):-Mr. MACKENZIE, your question will be referred to the appropriate select committees and a written reply will be given to you because the question is actually skating on thin ice. A supplementary must have direct reference to the original question. I would prefer that this matter be referred to the two select committees concerned after which the information will be made available to you.

MR. MACKENZIE (In English): --Might I, by way of clarification Mr. Chairman, point out that I did specifically raise a question concerning the museum and art gallery and it was deleted because this question was reputed to be covering the same area.

CHAIRMAN (In English):-It might have been withdrawn by you, Mr. MacKenzie, but it was certainly not deleted by the Chairman.

(Mr. Henry H. L. HU arrived at this point.)

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