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who wish to play basketball, badminton, table-tennis, volleyball or to take part in other indoor games and sports such as judo. The earlier games halls included a small stage but since this was not much used, the later designs include squash courts instead. The emphasis in these games halls is on recreation but the Chai Wan Civic Centre, although basically a games hall, will also provide for cultural and community activities and will have a stage which can be used either for meetings or for theatrical and cultural performances.
Facilities for tennis are provided by the Council in various parts of the urban areas and additional courts will be constructed in the extension to Victoria Park at Moreton Terrace, at the Wong Nei Chung Gap and at several different locations in Kowloon. The Aberdeen Games Hall is being provided with facilities for indoor tennis and of the six new courts to be built at Moreton Terrace, two will be covered.
It has not been the policy of the Urban Council to provide billiard rooms or bowling alleys since these are already provided in substantial numbers by the private sector and I doubt whether it would be possible to justify the expenditure of public funds on them. Nor has the Council thought it necessary to provide rooms for sun-bathing since, in this respect, nature has been more generous to residents of Hong Kong than to the people of Swansea.
In addition to the facilities which I have mentioned I should also add that the Council proposes to include accommodation for cultural and recreational purposes on the upper floors of new market buildings and this will also widen the range of leisure activities available to the community.
In general, taking into account climatic conditions and the difference in size between Swansea whose population is around 190,000 and the urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon with a rapidly increasing population of more than four million, I believe that the Urban Council's policy of providing recreational facilities for both indoor and outdoor sports in districts is the right one. At the same time, I am sure that the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee will continue to look for improvements which could be adopted when new projects are put forward. Meanwhile, perhaps Mr. BERNACCHI, as a local councillor, might also find the time to visit Hong Kong's own recreational facilities which have attracted global recognition and he might wish to suggest in turn to Swansea to copy them.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-Thank you. I will not be drawn into retaliation action by the last paragraph, but I am glad that my own ward district will have apparently something similar to Swansea's leisure centre.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Mr. FORSGATE will interpret that as a supplementary question and answer it please. (Laughter). In any case, was that intended as a supplementary question? (Laughter).
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MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-Answer it if Mr. FORSGATE wishes. It was perhaps intended rather as a personal statement.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Personal statement? (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-But apparently certainly the Chai Wan Civic Centre will be of similar design as Swansea's leisure centre and approximately cater for the same number of people.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Has Mr. FORSGATE had a chance of visiting Swansea's leisure centre? (Laughter).
MR. FORSGATE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the last time I visited Swansea was to play rugby football, that was quite some time ago. (Laughter). We did not visit this particular centre.
2. MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):—I have recently received a number of complaints in respect to the state of the beach in Repulse Bay. Persons are constantly getting cut by the oyster shells or sharp stones and other things. Can anything more be done to keep this beach clear of these objects? In addition, this is the most famous beach in Hong Kong. It is therefore also a tourist attraction. However, is there any evidence to show that our tourists are also being put off by the state of the beach?
THE HON. F. K. HU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns injuries caused by oyster shells and sharp objects at Repulse Bay and the possible effect of this on tourists.
The problem of sharp rocks and shells at Repulse Bay Beach is not a new one and in 1976 the Council employed overseas consultants to look at the problem and to recommend possible solutions.
The problem, in brief, is that there is a rock outcrop just off shore and near the centre of the beach and this is covered with barnacles. In addition, rocks and stones tend to be washed up onto the beach, particularly during typhoons or stormy weather. The consultants suggested either that the whole beach should be resanded so as to cover up the rocky areas or that the rocks should be removed by blasting and the resulting cavities filled with sand. The consultants commented, however, that Repulse Bay Beach was always likely to be covered with stones after storms.
The Recreation and Amenities Select Committee decided that, in principle, the answer was to resand the whole beach but action was deferred while plans for a major redevelopment of the beach area were being drawn up. However, the Select Committee's present view is that even if a major redevelopment is practicable and the necessary funds can be provided, it is
Page 52 of 136
70
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
who wish to play basketball, badminton, table-tennis, volleyball or to take part in other indoor games and sports such as judo. The earlier games halls included a small stage but since this was not much used, the later designe include squash courts instead. The emphasis in these games halls is on recreation but the Chai Wan Civic Centre, although basically a games hal will also provide for cultural and community activities and will have a stage
which can be used either for meetings or for theatrical and cultural
formances.
per.
Facilities for tennis are provided by the Council in various parts of the urban areas and additional courts will be constructed in the extension to Victoria Park at Moreton Terrace, at the Wong Nei Chung Gap and at several different locations in Kowloon. The Aberdeen Games Hall is being provided with facilities for indoor tennis and of the six new courts to be
built at Moreton Terrace, two will be covered.
It has not been the policy of the Urban Council to provide billiard room: or bowling alleys since these are already provided in substantial numbers by the private sector and I doubt whether it would be possible to justify the expenditure of public funds on them. Nor has the Council thought it necessary to provide rooms for sun-bathing since, in this respect, nature has been more generous to residents of Hong Kong than to the people of Swansea.
In addition to the facilities which I have mentioned I should also add that the Council proposes to include accommodation for cultural and recreational purposes on the upper floors of new market buildings and this will also widen the range of leisure activities available to the community.
In general, taking into account climatic conditions and the difference in size between Swansea whose population is around 190,000 and the urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon with a rapidly increasing population of more than four million, I believe that the Urban Council's policy of providing recreational facilities for both indoor and outdoor sports in districts is the right one. At the same time, I am sure that the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee will continue to look for improvements which could be adopted when new projects are put forward. Meanwhile, perhaps Mr. BERNACCHI, as a local councillor, might also find the time to visit Hong Kong's own recreational facilities which have attracted global recognition and he might wish to suggest in turn to Swansea to copy them.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-Thank you. I will not be drawn into retalia tion action by the last paragraph, but I am glad that my own ward district will have apparently something similar to Swansea's leisure centre.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Mr. FORSGATE will interpret that as a supple- mentary question and answer it please. (Laughter). În any case, was that intended as a supplementary question? (Laughter).
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MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-Answer it if Mr. FORSGATE wishes. It was perhaps intended rather as a personal statement.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Personal statement? (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-But apparently certainly the Chai Wan Civic Centre will be of similar design as Swansea's leisure centre and approximately cater for the same number of people.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Has Mr. FORSGATE had a chance of visiting Swansea's leisure centre? (Laughter).
MR. FORSGATE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the last time I visited Swansea was to play rugby football, that was quite some time ago. (Laughter). We did not visit this particular centre.
2. MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):—I have recently received a number of complaints in respect to the state of the beach in Repulse Bay. Persons are constantly getting cut by the oyster shells or sharp stones and other things. Can anything more be done to keep this beach clear of these objects? In addition, this is the most famous beach in Hong Kong. It is therefore also a tourist attraction. However is there any evidence to show that our tourists are also being put off by the state of the beach?
THE HON. F. K. HU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns injuries caused by oyster shells and sharp objects at Repulse Bay and the possible effect of this on tourists.
The problem of sharp rocks and shells at Repulse Bay Beach is not a new one and in 1976 the Council employed overseas consultants to look at the problem and to recommend possible solutions.
The problem, in brief, is that there is a rock outcrop just off shore and near the centre of the beach and this is covered with barnacles. In addition, rocks and stones tend to be washed up onto the beach, particularly during typhoons or stormy weather. The consultants suggested either that the whole beach should be resanded so as to cover up the rocky areas or that the rocks should be removed by blasting and the resulting cavities filled with sand. The consultants commented, however, that Repulse Bay Beach was always likely to be covered with stones after storms.
The Recreation and Amenities Select Committee decided that, in principle, the answer was to resand the whole beach but action was deferred while plans for a major redevelopment of the beach area were being drawn up. However, the Select Committee's present view is that even if a major re- development is practicable and the necessary funds can be provided, it is
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