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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
This is the Council's first meeting of the New Lunar Year. We are now in the Year of the Rat which I believe is a good omen for the Council and Councillors since according to the Chinese zodiac the Year of the Rat holds the promise of growth, prosperity and good luck for all. Therefore we can look forward to a happy, harmonious period in which our main aim will be to continue to improve the quality of life for the people of Hong Kong.
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meetings held on 10 and 12 January 1984 were confirmed.
## PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:—
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of January, 1984.
## QUESTIONS
1. MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG asked the following question (in English):- Could this Council be informed on the usage by the general public, of the various facilities at the Ko Shan Road Park since its opening in March 1983; in particular the theatre, the mini-soccer pitch and the landscaped rest gardens?
MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT Committee, replied as follows (in English):—This question seeks information on the usage of the various facilities at the Ko Shan Road Park since its opening in March 1983. I will deal with the recreational aspects and Mr. Hu will no doubt deal with the cultural ones.
The Ko Shan Road Park occupies an area of 3.3 hectares. It has both cultural and recreational facilities comprising the theatre, a children's playground, a landscaped rest garden with fountains, a mini-soccer pitch and four tennis courts.
Although the opening ceremony of the Ko Shan Road Park and Theatre took place in March 1983, the mini-soccer pitch was not opened to the public until September 1983 while the tennis courts will not be opened to the public until later in the month.
The landscaped garden and the children's playground which have been open since March 1983 have been well received and well patronized by the residents of To Kwa Wan and Hung Hom areas, in particular by those of the adjacent Lok Man Estate.
The usage rate for the mini-soccer pitch has yet to settle down as is normally the case with new projects. It is at present generally on the low side.
THE HONOURABLE F. K. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-Regarding the cultural aspects, up to the end of December 1983, the Ko Shan Theatre was used for 184 days, out of the available 275 days, to stage 168 events. 140 of these events were entertainment and cultural performances organized by the Council, 7 were joint presentations between the Council and outside organizations, and 21 events were hirers' functions. The total attendance at these events was 132,383.
The theatre is gradually becoming better known with both patrons and hirers. Bookings from hirers have increased from one in June 1983 to 9 in December 1983, whilst the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre's recent production of 'The Merchant of Venice' attracted near capacity attendance—approximately 95% of the available 1,000 indoor seats for all six performances.
MR. WONG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, concerning the Ko Shan Theatre, there had been some comments in the newspaper about the rather unsatisfactory conditions inside, i.e. too cold or too hot. Is anything being done by the Council to remedy this?
(Mr. Edmund CHOW arrived at this point—4:05 p.m.)
MR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, since the Ko Shan Theatre started its operation in March 1983, we had noticed that there are quite a number of areas where improvement would have to be carried out. The department is looking into various details and the Culture and Entertainment Select Committee will look into ways of improving the facilities including the air-conditioning system.
MR. WONG (in English):—Concerning the difficulty in getting to the place, people seem to be complaining about the inadequate signs and so on to get to the Ko Shan Theatre. Has anything been done?
MR. LO (in English):—It is not too far from the main Ma Tau Wai Road. It's only about 50 yards or so up. I don't think it's very difficult for people to find it, but we'll certainly look into this question of signposting, if possible.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):—Mr. Chairman, concerning the usage of the mini-soccer pitch. I wonder if the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee can check up or whether he already knows, as in the case of other soccer pitches, that it has to be booked 3 months ahead of time. There is a complaint in Kwun Tong that no one will arrange a soccer match 3 months before the time they want to play. If this is the case, maybe this could have been the reason for the low usage. Could this be looked into?
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
entering
This is the Council's first meeting of the New Lunar Year. We are now the Year of the Rat which I believe is a good omen for the Council and Councillors since according to the Chinese zodiac the Year of the Rat holds the promise of growth, prosperity and good luck for all. Therefore we can look forward to a happy, harmonious period in which our main aim will be to continue to improve the quality of life for the people of Hong Kong.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meetings held on 10 and 12 January 1984 were confirmed.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:—
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and
Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of January, 1984.
QUESTIONS
1. MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG asked the following question (in English);- Could this Council be informed on the usage by the general public, of the various facilities at the Ko Shan Road Park since its opening in March 1983; in particular the theatre, the mini-soccer pitch and the landscaped rest gardens?
MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECt Committee, replied as follows (in English):—This question seeks information on the usage of the various facilities at the Ko Shan Road Park since its opening in March 1983. I will deal with the recreational aspects and Mr. Hu will no doubt deal with the cultural ones.
The Ko Shan Road Park occupies an area of 3.3 hectares. It has both cultural and recreational facilities comprising the theatre, a children's playground, a landscaped rest garden with fountains, a mini-soccer pitch and four tennis
courts.
Although the opening ceremony of the Ko Shan Road Park and Theatre took place in March 1983, the mini-soccer pitch was not opened to the public until September 1983 while the tennis courts will not be opened to the public until later in the month.
The landscaped garden and the children's playground which have been open since March 1983 have been well received and well patronized by the residents
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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265
of To Kwa Wan and Hung Hom areas, in particular by those of the adjacent
Lok Man Estate.
The usage rate for the mini-soccer pitch has yet to settle down as is normally the case with new projects. It is at present generally on the low side.
THE HONOURABLE F. K. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-Regarding the cultural aspects, up to the end of December 1983, the Ko Shan Theatre was used for 184 days, out of the available 275 days, to stage 168 events. 140 of these events were entertainment and cultural performances organized by the Council, 7 were joint presentations between the Council and outside organizations, and 21 events were hirers' functions. The total attendance at these events were 132 383.
The theatre is gradually becoming better known with both patrons and hirers. Bookings from hirers have increased from one in June 1983 to 9 in December 1983, whilst the Hong Kong Reportory Theatre's recent production of 'The Merchant of Venice' attracted near capacity attendance-approximately 95% of the available 1 000 indoor seats for all six performances.
MR. WONG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, concerning the Ko Shan Theatre, there had been some comments in newspaper about the rather unsatisfactory conditions of the inside, i.e. too cold or too hot. Is anything done by Council to remedy this?
(Mr. Edmund CHOW arrived at this point-4.05 p.m.)
MR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, since the Ko Shan Theatre started its operation in March 1983, we had noticed that there are quite a number of areas where improvement would have to be carried out. The department is looking into various details and the Culture and Entertainment Select Committee will look into ways of improving the facilities including the air-conditioning system.
MR. WONG (in English):—Concerning the difficulty in getting to the place, people seems to be complaining about the inadequate signs and so on to get to the Ko Shan Theatre. Has anything been done?
MR. Lo (in English):—It is not too far from the main Ma Tau Wai Road. It's only about 50 yards or so up. I don't think it's very difficult for people to find it, but we'll certainly look into this question of sign posting, if possible.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):—Mr. Chairman, concerning the usage of the mini soccer pitch. I wonder if the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee can check up or whether he already knows, as in case of other soccer pitches, that it has to be booked 3 months ahead of time. There is a complaint in Kwun Tong that no one will arrange a soccer match 3 months before the time they want to play. If this is the case, may be this could have been the reason for the low usage. Could this be looked into?
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