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Could this Council be informed for how much longer this temporary market would be used since Southorn Playground is an extremely well patronized active recreational area in Wan Chai?

MR. LEE CHIK-YUET, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):--The question asks when the site currently occupied by the Southorn Playground Temporary Market can be released for recreation use, having regard to the fact that Southorn Playground is a well patronized active recreational area in Wan Chai.

Following the completion of the UC Lockhart Road Complex in November 1986, the Southorn Playground Temporary Market has been vacant since January 1987. The Council had earlier agreed in principle to re-use the temporary market area again, in conjunction with the redevelopment of the Wan Chai Market, but on the understanding that only minor alterations to the temporary market would be required. A detailed proposal to this effect was considered by the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee in December 1986 but in view of the very high cost of the improvements that have now become necessary, the department was instructed to reconsider these plans.

The Department is now reviewing the matter and hopes to bring fresh proposals for the redevelopment of the Wan Chai Market before the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee in the very near future. I understand that it is likely that these will not entail the further use of the Southorn Playground Temporary Market. I can assure the Chairman and Members of the Recreation Select Committee that only if it is absolutely imperative to do so will the Southorn Playground Temporary Market be re-used for marketing purposes as the Members of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee appreciate the value of Southorn Playground as an important district recreation facility.

5. MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU asked the following question (in Cantonese):—As the Housing Authority has, very recently, relinquished the headland site in the Lei Yue Mun Barracks Area for any housing projects, the future use of the Barracks area, I understand, is still under investigation by the Government.

Would this Council consider approaching Government to take over this site for park development as well as converting the headland area with its existing buildings, into a special museum?

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):--The question asks if UC would consider approaching Government to take over the Lei Yue Mun Barracks site for park development and converting the headland area with its existing buildings into a special museum.

The future land use of the Lei Yue Mun Barracks site after it is vacated by the Army in March 1987 has been a subject of discussion among government departments for the last 12 months. The Housing Department has since May 1986 been exploring the feasibility of developing parts of the site for public housing purposes, and the possibility of developing the rest of the site for active and passive recreation at the same time, through some form of joint venture with the Urban Council. Accordingly, in the Draft Shau Kei Wan Outline Zoning Plan published in October 1986, the site was zoned 'Undetermined' to provide maximum flexibility in future development.

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The Housing Department has recently decided not to further proceed with any public housing development proposals. At the request of the Urban Services Department, Government has proposed that the whole site be reserved for development into a park, with some of the existing buildings converted for recreational purposes. The concept of preserving some of the old buildings in the headland area as a special museum is also under consideration.

A number of urgent decisions on the overall planning concepts to be used in this area are therefore now needed. These are under active consideration. Meanwhile, an attempt will be made to use the area, as is, or with minor adjustments, on a temporary basis until the long term future of the area can be better assessed.

MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, if the government is agreeable, I would like to find out when would we be able to take over the site? Secondly, in Chai Wan and Shau Kei Wan, there are a lot of new developments, we do not have enough trees. So if we do not have any long term plan, I wonder whether it is possible to conduct a clearance operation so that people can make use of this piece of land?

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I think in the next 36 months, we should be able to start work. We definitely need 36 months because the department would need time to think of what sort of facilities we need to provide there and what sort of improvement. As for trees and greeneries we will definitely pay attention to this because at recent Recreation Select Committee meetings, some Councillors have suggested that we should try to preserve the landscape and trees in this site. So we will definitely attempt to do so.

MRS. CHOW CHEUNG WAI-PING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, in the Eastern District Board meeting in mid-February, I learnt that the Correctional Services Department as well as the Police will be making use of this site for training purposes, e.g. they are going to have training grounds for the police dogs and so forth. So I don't know whether this is correct or not?

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I can answer this question. In fact I have also heard about this proposal from fellow Councillors. However I understand that the Government has now abandoned this idea. So it is up to the USD and the Urban Council to consider how to develop the site.