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Kowloon. Apart from the pool in Victoria Park which is still in use, these pools were not very popular and demand for their use was limited. They attracted dirt and refuse rather than model boats, and three of those in Kowloon are

being redeveloped for other uses. The other two, at Cheung Sha Wan Playground and Chatham Road Playground, will be reprovisioned as model pools next year.

In answer to the second part of the question, the present policy is that model. boating is not allowed in public fountains. This is simply because the fountains are not designed for this purpose and their use for navigation could adversely affect the water quality and circulation mechanism, particularly where this relies on a constant supply from fine nozzles. In addition, the more sophisticated fountains have built-in electrical fittings which could be damaged and become dangerous as a result of rescue operations mounted by the owners of boats becalmed or not under command and drifting helplessly as a result of engine

failure.

MR. YOUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, since the policy is not to allow model- boating at public fountains, can we be assured that this is made apparent in whatever by-law or rules or regulations that are posted up at places so that there is no doubt.

MR. Lo (in English):-If there is any doubt on the subject, no doubt we will go ahead and put up these notices. At the moment, I think people are aware that public fountains are not allowed to be used for model-boating.

3. MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question (in English):-As a result of the problems of venues for cultural activities experienced in the recent Kwun Tong Arts Festival, I should like to ask, on behalf of Kwun Tong District Board Members here today:—

(a) What facilities are now in the pipeline for dance, music and other cultural

in the Kwun Tong area, and when will these facilities be completed? groups (b) As Kwun Tong is the oldest and most densely populated of the new industrial towns, when will it have community facilities equivalent to those available in Tsuen Wan?

(c) Will air conditioning be installed in the Ngau Tau Kok and other buildings

used for cultural activities?

(d) Have any steps yet been taken to improve the ventilation of the Ngau Tau

Kok multi-purpose building?

THE HONOURABLE F. K. Hu, Chairman of the Culture and ENTERTAINMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the provision of venues for cultural activities in the Kwun Tong District and is in four parts. The first part concerns cultural facilities under planning and their completion dates. The second part concerns the provision of community facilities equivalent to those in Tsuen Wan. The third part concerns the air-

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conditioning of buildings used for cultural activities. The fourth part concerns the ventilation of the Ngau Tau Kok multi-purpose building.

As regards the first point, the Council's approved policy is to provide district cultural centres in suitable Urban Council buildings in all 10 urban districts. A standard district cultural centre consists of a 460-seat lecture/recital hall, an exhibition gallery, a large rehearsal room, and a number of smaller practice rooms together with supporting facilities. The centre will be fully air-

conditioned.

In the case of the Kwun Tong district, a cultural centre has been included in the plans for the Shui Wo Street Urban Council Complex, which is due for completion in early 1986. In addition, the district cultural centre in the Ngau Chi Wan Urban Council Complex, due for completion in 1985, will also be accessible to Kwun Tong residents.

The second part of this question deals with the provision of cultural facilities equivalent to those in Tsuen Wan, and I assume that this is a reference to the Tsuen Wan Town Hall. There is at present no policy for the provision of this sort of facility in the urban areas which is already served by the City Hall in Hong Kong and the proposed Tsim Sha Tsui cultural centre. However, a detailed feasibility study of the possibility of providing Regional Cultural Centres is currently in progress, and I expect that the results of the study will be available to the Council for consideration early in 1983.

As regards the third part of the question, there is no cultural facility in Ngau Tau Kok multi-purpose building. All future district cultural centres will be air- conditioned.

The last part of the question concerns the action being taken to improve the ventilation of the Ngau Tau Kok multi-purpose building. This building includes a two-storey market, a cooked food centre, an indoor games hall, and two multi-purpose rooms. The department has not received any complaints about the ventilation in the market or the cooked food centre. As far as the indoor games hall and the multi-purpose rooms are concerned, I understand that the Urban Services Department, in conjunction with the Director of Building Development is currently examining the feasibility of air-conditioning them. If this proves to be a practical proposition, proposals will be put to the Council for consideration.

MRS. E. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to refer to the latter part of the answer because several months ago, the same point was raised about the ventilation in those rooms which have been used for dancing and the other cultural purposes. Even though they were not specifically designed for that purpose, we were promised that some action would be taken. Can we be assured that the air- conditioning will be installed before the hot weather comes next summer?

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