HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, these are details of various programmes, learn-to-swim classes, coaching classes and so on. I do not think there is any question of principle involved, it is a question of detailed management but if any Councillors are particularly interested and want to join the Recreation Sub-Committee, I am sure Mr. Hu will be glad to co-opt him or to invite him to be present at any particular meeting.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):—I am sorry, perhaps I misunderstood. I thought it was a comprehensive plan. May I go on to ask a further supplementary question? In addition to the training of officers overseas, has thought been given to the introduction or invitation to specialists in this field to come to Hong Kong to give advice on the areas of recreational training and use of facilities?
MR. Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, for instance, in association football, we have paid some of the fees to the national coach of Hong Kong for his training of amateur football players and so on. I do not know what else has Mr. MACKENZIE in mind as regards experts in the field of recreational management.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):—Perhaps I will put a few suggestions forward in another place.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Does any other member wish to ask supplementary questions?
(a) (6) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question (in English):—Is it correct that the Hong Kong Heritage Society requested meetings with Urban Councillors to discuss the preservation of the old Tsim Sha Tsui Railway Station? Were such meetings held with Councillors, and if not, why? (b) A high-ranking architect in Government service has stated, in relation to the railway station, that "there is no architectural difficulty in preserving the whole building if its configuration is modified to function as part of and complementary to the cultural complex." Has this suggestion been considered by the Urban Council, and has expert opinion on its preservation been sought from those favourable to such a project?
(c) Is this Council prepared to hear representations from the architects and members of the Heritage Society on this subject?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 56 of 174
MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE, CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—This question concerns the old Tsim Sha Tsui Railway Station.
On 27th May 1977, the Hong Kong Heritage Society asked the Secretary of the Urban Council to arrange a meeting with members of the Council to discuss the future of the old Railway Station. The request was reported to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. Since the decision whether to preserve the former KCR station rests with the Governor, the Society was informed that there would be little purpose in the Council holding a discussion with the Society.
I am not aware of the statement attributed by Mrs. ELLIOTT to a high-ranking architect in Government service. The advice of the Principal Government Architect, who is a member of the Cultural Complex and Indoor Stadia Sub-Committee of the Council, is that under the present design of the Cultural Complex, it is simply not feasible to retain the Railway Station building. I should add that the Cultural Complex has been under active planning since 1974 and its design was announced publicly as far back as December of that year 1974.
According to a statement issued by the Government on 24th May this year, the Governor, after considering the recommendation of the Antiquities Advisory Board, had come to the conclusion that it would not be in the public interest to retain the facade of the old Railway Station as its preservation would interfere with the construction of the Cultural Complex which will meet an urgent public need, and the facade and the remainder of the Station will be demolished in order that work can proceed without delay on the Cultural Complex. The Clocktower, according to the Government statement, will be retained for the time being and its future can be decided upon the completion of the Cultural Complex.
As the matter now stands, Mr. Chairman, there would be no purpose in the Council's hearing representations from the Heritage Society on this subject.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I have several questions on each paragraph. With regard to paragraph 1 of Mr. FORSGATE'S
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, these are details of various programmes, learn-to-swim classes, coaching classes and so on. I do not think there is any question of principle involved, it is a question of detailed management but if any Councillors are particularly interested and want to join the Recreation Sub-Committee, I am sure Mr. Hu will be glad to co-opt him or to invite him to be present at any particular meeting.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-I am sorry, perhaps I misunder- stood. I thought it was a comprehensive plan. May I go on to ask a further supplementary question? In addition to the training of officers overseas, has thought been given to the introduction or invitation to specialists in this field to come to Hong Kong to give advice on the areas of recreational training and use of facilities?
MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, for instance, in association football, we have paid some of the fees to the national coach of Hong Kong for his training of amateur football players and so on. I do not know what else has Mr. MACKENZIE in mind as regards experts in the field of recreational management.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):—Perhaps I will put a few suggestions forward in another place.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Does any other member wish to ask supplementary questions?
(a)
(6) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question (in English):----
Is it correct that the Hong Kong Heritage Society requested meetings with Urban Councillors to discuss the preserva- tion of the old Tsim Sha Tsui Railway Station? Were such meetings held with Councillors, and if not, why? (b) A high-ranking architect in Government service has stated, in relation to the railway station, that "there is no architectural difficulty in preserving the whole building if its configuration is modified to function as part of and complementary to the cultural complex." Has this sug- gestion been considered by the Urban Council, and has expert opinion on its preservation been sought from those favourable to such a project?
(c) Is this Council prepared to hear representations from the architects and members of the Heritage Society on this subject?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 56 of 174
77
MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE, CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING and Deve- LOPMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
This question concerns the old Tsim Sha Tsui Railway Station.
On 27th May 1977, the Hong Kong Heritage Society asked the Secretary of the Urban Council to arrange a meeting with members of the Council to discuss the future of the old Railway Station. The request was reported to the Stand- ing Committee of the Whole Council. Since the decision whether to preserve the former KCR station rests with the Governor, the Society was informed that there would be little purpose in the Council holding a discussion with the Society.
I am not aware of the statement attributed by Mrs. ELLIOTT to a high-ranking architect in Government service. The advice of the Principal Government Architect, who is a member of the Cultural Complex and Indoor Stadia Sub- Committee of the Council, is that under the present design of the Cultural Complex, it is simply not feasible to retain the Railway Station building. I should add that the Cultural Complex has been under active planning since 1974 and its design was announced publicly as far back as December of that year 1974.
According to a statement issued by the Government on 24th May this year, the Governor, after considering the recom- mendation of the Antiquities Advisory Board, had come to the conclusion that it would not be in the public interest to retain the facade of the old Railway Station as its preservation would interfere with the construction of the Cultural Complex which will meet an urgent public need. and the facade and the remainder of the Station will be demolished in order that work can proceed without delay on the Cultural Complex. The Clocktower, according to the Government statement, will be retained for the time being and its future can be decided upon the completion of the Cultural Complex.
As the matter now stands, Mr. Chairman, there would be no purpose in the Council's hearing representations from the Heritage Society on this subject.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I have several ques- tions on each paragraph. With regard to paragraph 1 of Mr. FORSGATE'S
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