1989 — Page 37

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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arrests. Only minor injuries were inflicted on GDT members and non selected, these being 'Alice in Wonderland', 'Gullivers Travels', 'Wizard of Oz, resulting principally from confrontation situations when the GDT made in December 1988. Following consideration of the entries, five themes were

apprehended

of them required hospitalization. When the culprits were they were dealt with by the Police in the normal way. It has always been the Council's concern to provide adequate measures to protect the GD this project. Because A.S.D, have no expertise in projects of this nature, they 'Snow White' and 'The Monkey King'. Since then the Department has been discussing with Architectural Services Department methods of implementing

members from injury in their course of duty. During the training course GDT members were given training in self-defence and the prope methods of carrying out enforcement action so as to lessen this risk. The development. A.S.D. are at present vetting possible consultants and will shortly

have proposed and the Department has accepted that a specialist consultant be employed to conduct a feasibility study and to develop a design for this

district management staff have regular liaison with the Police on hawker control work and when confrontation is anticipated, Police assistance always sought and at present it is readily available.

2. MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese) With the recent development of Wong Tai Sin District, for example, the redevelopment schemes of Wong Tai Sin Lower and Upper Estates, the completion of Chuk Yuen North and South Estates and the occupation of such Home Ownership Scheme Estates as Tin Ma Court and Lung Poon Court, there is a natural increase in the demand for active and passive recreational facilities in the area. I would like to ask the following questions regarding the development Fung Tak Road Park in the district:

of

(a) The construction work is scheduled to commence by the end of 1991. Why can't the work be started at an earlier date since the Wong Tai Sin Distric Board brought out this question for discussion a few years ago?

(b) Will the Council announce the exact date for commencing the construction work? Can it be advanced to an earlier date to meet the great demand for such kind of facilities in the district?

(c) Will layout plans regarding the design and main theme of the park be givenu

the District Board for discussion before they are adopted?

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, Mr. FUNG's question relates to the programme for development of Fung Tak Road Park in Wong Tai Sin District. He asks for information on three matters, firstly whether the planned start for construction at the end of 1991 can be advanced, secondly the exac date for commencement of the planned construction and whether it can be brought forward, and thirdly whether the District Board will be consulted on the design and main theme of the park.

Recreation Select Committee gave approval in April 1987 (pape REC/168/86) for the development of a children's playground, based on a 'Fable Land' theme. As this was an entirely novel concept, members asked tha a public competition be held first to propose themes for the park. Following consultation with Architectural Services Information Unit, a competition was launched in 1988 with three age grou Department and the Public categories, two for children and one for adults. The entries were judged by? team comprising Urban Councillors and a prize-giving ceremony was held

report on their findings.

The project is proving to be more difficult to plan than first envisaged. field, there are also problems over copyright for some of the fables to be Besides the problem of locating a consultant with expertise in this very novel resolved. It may also be necessary to locate a specialist contractor to construct the figures and execute the design generally. For this reason, only a tentative construction start date of late 1991 has been set.

this stage it is not possible to give a more definite start date until a consultant I response to Mr. FUNG's first and second questions therefore, it is felt that at has been appointed, that consultant has made his study, and has produced his report on the nature of the facilities to be provided and a realistic programme question, I can assure him that the District Board will be fully consulted in the for design and construction. However, in response to Mr. FUNG's third

their comments will be invited. normal way when layout plans are ready, and a presentation will be made and

Finally, I would like to stress that although this facility is located in Wong Tai Sin District, it is a novel concept and will be the first of its kind in Hong Kong. We therefore anticipate that it will be visited by residents of other districts, particularly in view of its close proximity to the MTR. Mr. FUNG which I take it he means children's playgrounds in Wong Tai Sin. I would like mentions in his question that there is a great demand for such facilities, by to assure him that we are very mindful of the need for and popularity of such district and a further UC playground is under planning for Lok Fu. facilities. There are already 14 Urban Council children playgrounds in the

3. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):--- (a) To what extent are museum and other cultural services provided by the

Urban Council being made available to community centres?

(b) Could further steps be taken in this direction?

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, MEMBER OF THE MUSEUMS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-Mr. Chairman, this question deals with Council's museums and other cultural services for community centres in the urban area, and is in two parts.

The first part concerns existing services. On the museum side, the services provided include travelling exhibitions on a need basis and organized guided