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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, may I call the meeting to order.
## MINUTES
The minutes of meetings held on 8 March 1994 were confirmed.
## PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of March 1994.
## QUESTIONS
(1) MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):--It is encouraging to see that the 40-year-old Hong Kong Stadium has been rebuilt to be a modern stadium of international standard. Unfortunately, ever since its opening, hundreds of complaints, particularly in relation to noise and traffic problems have been lodged against it. In 1992, when informed of the redevelopment of the Hong Kong Stadium, the Wanchai District Board was aware of the many associated problems. The District Board was also concerned about the effects on nearby residents and raised questions with the departments concerned. The representatives of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and Recreation and Culture Branch reassured the District Board Members that the Steering Committee had already studied the problems concerning noise, law and order, traffic flow etc.. It was said that the departments concerned had been consulted about the proposal (refer Wanchai District Board paper 5/61). However, have these promises been delivered? As the representative of the Wanchai District Board, I would like to ask the following questions at the open meeting:
(a) What role did the Urban Council play in the course of planning for the redevelopment of the Hong Kong Stadium?
(b) Who should be held responsible for the failure in living up to the promise made?
(c) How can the Urban Council, as the manager of the Stadium, completely resolve the problems mentioned above?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG, MEMBER OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows (in English):-Ms. Anna TANG raised three questions concerning the new Hong Kong Stadium. They are:
(a) The role played by the Urban Council in the course of planning for the redevelopment of the Hong Kong Stadium;
(b) Who should be held responsible for the failure in living up to the promise made regarding problems concerning noise, law and order and traffic flow arising from the use of the new Stadium; and
(c) How can the Urban Council, as Manager of the Stadium, resolve these problems.
As regards the Urban Council's role during the planning stage of the new Hong Kong Stadium, the Urban Council only played a minor supportive role and provided technical information to the project architect of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club at his request. Examples of such requests include provision of aerial photos and old plans of the Stadium and utilization rates. It should be borne in mind that at that stage (up to mid-1992) the future management authority of the new Stadium had not yet been decided. The planning of the new Stadium was in the hands of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Stadium redevelopment was a Government project. It was not funded by the Urban Council. It was not until June 1992 that the Council decided to take up the management role of the new Stadium and thereafter the Council began to play a more active role. In this connection, it is relevant to point out that the old Stadium was demolished in April 1992 and construction work immediately followed. When the Council decided to assume the management role of the new Stadium, the planning stage of the new Stadium was already over.
Let me now tackle the second question posed by Ms. Anna TANG. It is understood that the issues concerning the possible problem relating to noise pollution, law and order and management of traffic flows were raised at the Wan Chai District Board meeting held on 3 December 1991 when Wan Chai District Board Paper 5/61 was discussed.
On traffic flow, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club commissioned Ove Arup and Partners, an in-house consultant, to carry out a study in January 1991 on the traffic flows arising from the use of the Stadium. The study concluded that the use of local roads for private vehicles should be kept to a minimum during the event times and the spectators should be encouraged to go to the Stadium by means of public transport. However, they might be required to walk for about 10 minutes from the nearest public transport facilities when the local roads were closed during the event times. An analysis was also conducted and it was worked out that the total exiting time required for 40,000 spectators to leave the Stadium was about 12 minutes.
On possible problem regarding law and order, this is a matter for the Police. However, according to the Stadium Manager, there has been no serious problem since the opening on 11 March.
As regards the noise problem, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club project architect, HOK, commissioned a consultant to prepare an Environmental Noise Assessment Report in 1991. This Report was conveyed to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) in February 1992 for comments. The Report concluded that the new Stadium would be suitable for staging concerts. In May
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, may I call the meeting to order.
MINUTES
The minutes of meetings held on 8 March 1994 were confirmed.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Secretary, Urban Council, for the
month of March 1994.
QUESTIONS
(1) MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):--It is encouraging to see that the 40-year-old Hong Kong Stadium has been rebuilt to be a modern stadium of international standard. Unfortunately, ever since its opening, hundreds of complaints, particularly in relation to noise and traffic problems have been lodged against it. In 1992, when informed of the redevelopment of the Hong Kong Stadium, the Wanchai District Board was aware of the many associated problems. The District Board was also concerned about the effects on nearby residents and raised questions with the departments concerned. The representatives of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and Recreation and Culture Branch reassured the District Board Members that the Steering Committee had already studied the problems concerning noise, law and order, traffic flow etc.. It was said that the departments concerned had been consulted about the proposal (refer Wanchai District Board paper 5/61). However, have these promises been delivered? As the representative of the Wanchai District Board, I would like to ask the following questions at the open meeting:
(a) What role did the Urban Council play in the course of planning for the
redevelopment of the Hong Kong Stadium?
(b) Who should be held responsible for the failure in living up to the promise
made?
(c) How can the Urban Council, as the manager of the Stadium, completely
resolve the problems mentioned above?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG, MEMBER OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows (in English):-Ms. Anna TANG raised three questions concerning the new Hong Kong Stadium. They are:
(a) The role played by the Urban Council in the course of planning for the
redevelopment of the Hong Kong Stadium;
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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3
(b) Who should be held responsible for the failure in living up to the promise made regarding problems concerning noise, law and order and traffic flow arising from the use of the new Stadium; and
(c) How can the Urban Council, as Manager of the Stadium, resolve these
problems.
As regards the Urban Council's role during the planning stage of the new Hong Kong Stadium, the Urban Council only played a minor supportive role and provided technical information to the project architect of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club at his request. Examples of such requests include provision of aerial photos and old plans of the Stadium and utilization rates. It should be borne in mind that at that stage (up to mid-1992) the future management authority o the new Stadium had not yet been decided. The planning of the new Stadium was in the hands of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Stadium redevelopment was a Government project. It was not funded by the Urban Council. It was not until June 1992 that the Council decided to take up the management role of the new Stadium and thereafter the Council began to play a more active role. In this connection, it is relevant to point out that the old Stadium was demolished in April 1992 and construction work immediately followed. When the Council decided to assume the management role of the new Stadium, the planning stage of the new Stadium was already over.
Let me now tackle the second question posed by Ms. Anna TANG. It is understood that the issues concerning the possible problem relating to noise pollution, law and order and management of traffic flows were raised at the Wan Chai District Board meeting held on 3 December 1991 when Wan Chai District Board Paper 5/61 was discussed.
On traffic flow, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club commissioned Ove Arup and Partners, an in-house consultant, to carry out a study in January 1991 on the traffic flows arising from the use of the Stadium. The study concluded that the use of local roads for private vehicles should be kept to a minimum during the event times and the spectators should be encouraged to go to the Stadium by means of public transport. However, they might be required to walk for about 10 minutes from the nearest public transport facilities when the local roads were closed during the event times. An analysis was also conducted and it was worked out that the total exiting time required for 40 000 spectators to leave the Stadium was about 12 minutes.
On possible problem regarding law and order, this is a matter for the Police. However, according to the Stadium Manager, there has been no serious problem since the opening on 11 March.
As regards the noise problem, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club project architect, HOK, commissioned a consultant to prepare an Environmental Noise Assessment Report in 1991. This Report was conveyed to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) in February 1992 for comments. The Report concluded that the new Stadium would be suitable for staging concerts. In May
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