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two have definitely been allocated sites and it is a question of getting the clearance and other difficulties over. The other two sites in Lai Chi Kok and Sham Shui Po have not been allocated any definite sites, so we cannot plan for these just at present.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, is Mr. Lo's statement really correct for Hong Kong Island on the ground? Hong Kong Island is a large island, but if you split it up into sections, for example, Chai Wan itself has a population of over 100,000 and I don't think really that Hong Kong can be said to be completed until the Chai Wan Swimming Pool is opened. (Laughter).
MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I am not sure whether Mr. BERNACCHI's question is directed to Chai Wan or the whole of Hong Kong Island? (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-I question whether the whole of Hong Kong Island is a correct figure to take when we have such different populations for different sections.
MR. Lo (in English):-MR. BERNACCHI's point is certainly a very valid one.
But we cannot so easily split up districts into areas with 250,000 people in each and with the swimming pool complex more or less in the middle. We have to make do with what sites are given to us. Still there is quite a good geographical spread because there is now a swimming pool complex at Kennedy Town, on the western end of the Island, and very soon there will be one at Chai Wan, eastern end, and also one at Aberdeen, more or less to the south and in the middle, so there is quite a good geographical spread. Incidentally, MR. BERNACCHI may wish to know that the work on the Chai Wan Swimming Pool is expected to start in January 1977.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, can we be assured that Chai Wan has not been given priority? (Laughter).
MR. LO (in English):-We try to give every district equal priority.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, arising from MR. BERNACCHI's comments, I feel that this magic figure of 250,000 should not blinker us. Might it not be conceivable that additional pools are required, and should not the Committee be looking at this overall picture and revising this figure from time to time?
MR. Lo (in English):-Certainly the figure 250,000 per swimming pool complex was decided upon many years ago. In the light of the pressure on the pools and the amount of usage, we may have to
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think about it again and revise that figure and perhaps build more complexes.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I think it seems that we don't have enough swimming pools, and the Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool Complex cannot be opened in the evening. Can something be done to avoid the objections from the Civil Aviation Department so that Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool Complex can also be used in the evening until we have more pools.
MR. Lo (in English):-I think if the planes cease to come in, then we can consider that. In the meantime, I think there may be difficulties.
ADJOURNMENT -4.23 P.M.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 12th October, 1976 at 4 p.m.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, HONG KONG
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Page 51 of 135
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two have definitely been allocated sites and it is a question of getting the clearance and other difficulties over. The other two sites in Lai Chi Kok and Sham Shui Po have not been allocated any definite sites, so we cannot plan for these just at present.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, is Mr. Lo's statement really correct for Hong Kong Island on the ground? Hong Kong Island is a large island, but if you split it up into sections, for example, Chai Wan itself has a population of over 100,000 and I don't think really that Hong Kong can be said to be completed until the Chai Wan Swimming Pool is opened. (Laughter).
MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I am not sure whether Mr. BERNACCHI's question is directed to Chai Wan or the whole of Hong Kong Island? (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-I question whether the whole of Hong Kong Island is a correct figure to take when we have such different populations for different sections.
MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. BERNACCHI's point is certainly a very valid one.
But we cannot so easily split up districts into areas with 250,000 people in each and with the swimming pool complex more or less in the middle. We have to make do with what sites are given to us. Still there is quite a good geographical spread because there is now a swimming pool complex at Kennedy Town, on the western end of the Island, and very soon there will be one at Chai Wan, eastern end, and also one at Aberdeen, more or less to the south and in the middle, so there is quite a good geographical spread. Incidentally, Mr. BERNACCHI may wish to know that the work on the Chai Wan Swimming Pool is expected to start in January 1977.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, can we be assured that Chai Wan has not been given priority? (Laughter).
MR. LO (in English):-We try to give every district equal priority.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, arising from Mr. BERNACCHI's comments, I feel that this magic figure of 250,000 should not blinker us. Might it not be conceivable that additional pools are required, and should not the Committee be looking at this overall picture and revising this figure from time to time?
MR. Lo (in English):-Certainly the figure 250,000 per swimming pool complex was decided upon many years ago. In the light of the pressure on the pools and the amount of usage, we may have to
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69
think about it again and revise that figure and perhaps build more complexes.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I think it seems that we don't have enough swimming pools, and the Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool Complex cannot be opened in the evening. Can something be done to avoid the objections from the Civil Aviation Department so that Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool Complex can also be used in the evening until we have more pools.
MR. Lo (in English):-I think if the planes cease to come in, then we can consider that. In the meantime, I think there may be difficulties.
ADJOURNMENT -4.23 P.M.
CHAIRMAN (in English): -Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 12th October, 1976 at 4 p.m.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER. IIONG KONG
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