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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Council and the senior responsible staff of USD have held eleven formal meetings with Wong Tai Sin market stallholders and our Members have participated in six of such meetings. On 28 September, the stallholders in the name of a group met our Members. At the meeting, some people who were neither stallholders nor social workers that usually assisted in contacting both stallholders and the USD requested to join in discussion. Finally, after much negotiation, they agreed just to attend but not to speak at the meeting. Nevertheless, some people broke their promise during the meeting and interfered from time to time so that the meeting could not go on any further. The UC member who chaired that meeting then tried to leave but was pulled back with strength by someone else and was disallowed to go. This led to disorder for a moment. Such an infringement on one's freedom is absolutely intolerable. Two days later, the stallholders asked for an interview with our Members concerned again. However, having already learnt a lesson, our Members insisted on direct discussion with stallholders accompanied by only one social worker who usually assisted in contacting the stallholders. As a result, since no agreement was reached, the UC members had to leave first. On the following afternoon (i.e. 2 October), the stallholders promised to have a direct conversation. After a smooth meeting, the stallholders called an end to their 'sleep in' immediately.
Mr. Chairman, nearly all WTS stallholders have so far applied for the ex-gratia payment where about 150 people have received their cheques. The Council and the Housing Authority have arranged 8 restricted auctions for market stalls for those stallholders. Another two special ballots are also arranged for the 83 stalls reserved in both Sheung Fung Street Market and Choi Hung Road Market. The vacant stalls in Tai Shing Street Temporary Market will be given to those successful in the ballot to carry on their business until the completion of a new market. Because of numerous difficulties, the Council Members and the Department would only render help to the remaining few stallholders individually.
Mr. Chairman, finally, I should be grateful to all colleagues, our Council Secretariat, the Information Services Department and all USD staff for their concern, endurance, cooperation and efforts made in this incident. Besides, I would like to say that this 'sleep-in' appears totally unnecessary for what the stallholders ultimately get is not much different from what we previously promised to give.
Mr. Chairman, this historical event of the Council is now brought to a temporary close and those involved would probably learn a lesson for it.
STATEMENT BY MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE
He said (in Cantonese):-Following the announcement earlier this year that the Urban Council was to open the Lei Yue Mun Barracks site to enable the public
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
to enjoy the vast areas of parkland, I am happy to report that after one or two delays, improvement work to convert the site into a holiday village has now reached an advanced stage and the first part of the project will be opened in December.
It will take longer to bring about the Urban Council's imaginative long-term plans for this wonderful new acquisition, but in the meantime we don't wish to restrict the public's enjoyment of the area, hence the stage by stage opening of facilities.
Already, a number of facilities in the Lei Yue Mun Barracks site have been renovated including a grass soccer pitch and an archery range.
Also a parade ground has been turned into a hard-surfaced sports ground which can accommodate six basketball courts, five volleyball courts, or one mini-soccer pitch. It can also be used for other games purposes.
These facilities, plus a tennis court, a squash court and a demonstration nursery, will be available for day-time use when Phase One of the project is thrown open to the public in December.
The second phase will come on stream about February next year when more open space areas, children's playgrounds and cycling grounds will be ready.
The final stage will see the site become a fully-fledged holiday village with the provision of residential units for 300 people for overnight stays plus catering facilities including a canteen and snack bars.
It can be said without fear of contradiction that the 19-hectare area of parkland will be highly popular with large numbers of people, and not just those living in Chai Wan and Shau Kei Wan but people from all over the territory.
But I would like to make one point to reassure conservationists--while the Council is bringing into being many improvements, we will ensure that the natural surroundings, particularly the trees and plants, are preserved.
This $20 million project will demonstrate once again the Council's ongoing efforts to bring a better, happier and healthier life to our four and a half million urban dwellers.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-That concludes the business of today's meeting. The Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 10 November 1987 at 2.30 p.m.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, HONG KONG
Page 87 of 185
165
164
Page 87 of 185
i
Page 87 of 185
165
164
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Council and the senior responsible staff of USD have held elelven formal meetings with Wong Tai Sin market stallholders and our Members have participated in six of such meetings. On 28 September, the stallholders in the name of a group met our Members. At the meeting, some people who were neither stallholders nor social workers that usually assisted in contacting both stallholders and the USD requested to join in discussion. Finally, after much negotiation, they agreed just to attend but not to speak at the meeting. Nevertheless, some people broke their promise during the meeting and interfered from time to time so that the meeting could not go on any further. The UC member who chaired that meeting then tried to leave but was pulled back with strength by someone else and was disallowed to go. This led to disorder for a moment. Such an infringement on one's freedom is absolutely intolerable. Two days later, the stallholders asked for an interview with our Members concerned again. However, having already learnt a lesson, our Members insisted on direct discussion with stallholders accompanied by only one social worker who usually assisted in contacting the stallholders. As a result, since no agreement was reached, the UC members had to leave first. On the following afternoon (i.e. 2 October), the stallholders promised to have a direct conversation. After a smooth meeting, the stallholders called an end to their 'sleep in' immediately.
Mr. Chairman, nearly all WTS stallholders have so far applied for the ex-gratia payment where about 150 people have received their cheques. The Council and the Housing Authority have arranged 8 restricted auctions for market stalls for those stallholders. Another two special ballots are also arranged for the 83 stalls reserved in both Sheung Fung Street Market and Choi Hung Road Market. The vacant stalls in Tai Shing Street Temporary Market will be given to those successful in the ballot to carry on their business until the completion of a new market. Because of numerous difficulties, the Council Members and the Department would only render help to the remaining few stallholders individually.
Mr. Chairman, finally, I should be grateful to all colleagues, our Council Secretariat, the Information Services Department and all USD staff for their concern, endurance, cooperation and efforts made in this incident. Besides, I would like to say that this 'sleep-in' appears totally unnecessary for what the stallholders ultimately get is not much different from what we previously promised to give.
Mr. Chairman, this historical event of the Council is now brought to a temporary close and those involved would probably learn a lesson for it.
STATEMENT BY MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE
He said (in Cantonese):-Following the announcement earlier this year that the Urban Council was to open the Lei Yue Mun Barracks site to enable the public
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
to enjoy the vast areas of parkland, I am happy to report that after one or two delays, improvement work to convert the site into a holiday village has now reached an advanced stage and the first part of the project will be opened in
December.
It will take longer to bring about the Urban Council's imaginative long-term plans for this wonderful new acquisition, but in the meantime we don't wish to restrict the public's enjoyment of the area, hence the stage by stage opening of
facilities.
Already, a number of facilities in the Lei Yue Mun Barracks site have been renovated including a grass soccer pitch and an archery range.
Also a parade ground has been turned into a hard-surfaced sports ground which can accommodate six basketball courts, five volleyball courts, or one mini-soccer pitch. It can also be used for other games purposes.
These facilities, plus a tennis court, a squash court and a demonstration nursery, will be available for day-time use when Phase One of the project is thrown open to the public in December.
The second phase will come on stream about February next year when more open space areas, children's playgrounds and cycling grounds will be ready.
The final stage will see the site become a fully-fledged holiday village with the provision of residential units for 300 people for overnight stays plus catering facilities including a canteen and snack bars.
It can be said without fear of contradiction that the 19-hectare area of parkland will be highly popular with large numbers of people, and not just those living in Chai Wan and Shau Kei Wan but people from all over the territory.
But I would like to make one point to reassure conservationists--while the Council is bringing into being many improvements, we will ensure that the natural surroundings, particularly the trees and plants, are preserved.
This $20 million project will demonstrate once again the Council's ongoing efforts to bring a better, happier and healthier life to our four and a half million urban dwellers.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-That concludes the business of today's meeting. The Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 10 November 1987 at 2.30 p.m.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, HONG KONG
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