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found feasible to build leisure pool there, we still have to wait for the completion of the leisure pool in Hammer Hill Road and the evaluation stud before we can decide to build the pool in Kwun Tong or not.

MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, according to understanding, the demand by the people in Kwun Tong is not a leisure pool but standard swimming pool. According to the reply given by the chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, since the Housing Department is playing a delay tactic on the project, how can the Council pursue the case on behalf of the residents of Kwun Tong? I hope the Recreation Select committee should take note of the fact that residents in Kwun Tong want a standard pool, but not a leisure pool and I hope further study can be carried out in the Select Committee.

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in English):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we will take note of the requirement of one additional pool in Kwun Tong area.

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—Can the Council be informed why the first blocks are proposed to be retained by the Housing Authority? Has not the Council previously been given to understand that they would be pulled down?

CHAIRMAN (in English):---I don't know whether Mr. WONG can give the answer. Could any members of the Housing Authority present shed light on the subject? We can find out and let you know, Brook.

5. MR. JOHN M. K. Wu asked the following question (in Cantonese);:-- I understand that the Mong Kok Stadium is shortly to be redeveloped to become a venue solely for football. This facility is used extensively for school athletic events and I would like to know what provisions have been made to cater for these activities on the loss of this Stadium to athletics?

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns what provision has been made to cater for school athletic events and activities on the loss of Mong Kok Stadium for redevelopment into a venue solely for football.

The current pitch and the supporting facilities in Mong Kok Stadium are both run down and sub-standard for any high-level soccer or rugby football matches. The surface of the current running track is sub-standard in quality, especially when compared with other UC athletics facilities in Kowloon. It cannot be used for major athletics competitions as a result. It is impossible to accommodate both a standard running track and a soccer pitch at the venue due to site constraints. Overall, the stadium itself is very basic and in need of redevelopment and the Hong Kong Football Association has been calling for this for many years.

Therefore, in January 1987, Members of the Recreation Select Committee considered the proposals for the redevelopment of Mong Kok Stadium

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Members had no objection to the proposals per se, but were concerned over the effect of these on the use of the stadium for athletic events by schools. It was decided that no redevelopment should take place until there were sufficient alternative athletic venues available in Kowloon to replace the facilities in the stadium.

However, since then Kowloon Bay and Sham Shui Po Sports Grounds have opened in September and November 1987 respectively. As a result, demand for the use of Mong Kok Stadium for this purpose has already significantly declined from 65% in 86/87 to 31% in 87/88. Furthermore, Hammer Hill Sports Ground will open and Kowloon Tsai Sports Ground will re-open in the latter part of this year. There will then be 4 good quality purpose-built athletics venues, with spectator facilities, in Kowloon. This will be more than adequate to meet present demand without the need to retain the running track at Mong Kok.

Therefore, in September of last year, Council reconsidered its position regarding the redevelopment of the stadium in the light of a request from the Hong Kong Football Association and indications by government that it wished to proceed with upgrading the stadium at its expense. It was decided, after studying demand and booking statistics, that there would be no difficulty in meeting demand by schools for athletics facilities in Kowloon when the new venues were opened. It was also recognized that there was a need for improvement in sports stadium facilities in the urban area in general and in Kowloon in particular and that the existing Mong Kok Stadium, the only sports pitch in Kowloon with spectator facilities, was substandard in size and quality. In the light of the above, Council gave approval for redevelopment to take place at Government's expense, of a full-size multipurpose sports pitch and stadium for soccer, rugby, hockey and other sports and miscellaneous events.

MR. JOHN M. K. Wu (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I want to ask a follow-up question. The Urban Council's facilities are built for convenience of the public and students. What are the principles the Council decides on the location of a sports ground?

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I am afraid I can't give an answer. It is too general.

CHAIRMAN (in English):-Possibly the question should be put to the Recreation Select Committee at the next meeting. The Department can give some indications. It ought to do with town planning, Council's requirements in the future and so on. I think it is really outside the context of the original question which is really framed on the Mong Kok Stadium.

6. MR. JOHN M. K. Wu asked the following question (in Cantonese):—While I realize the Urban Council is not the authority for the final disposal of refuse, please could I be informed if Council has plans to assist in recycling by:

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