A CONTROVERSIAL planned golf course in Sai Kung ran into more problems yesterday when legislators questioned the $500 million cost.
About 50,000 junior golfers were expected to use the course over the next five years, said Secretary for Recreation and Culture James So Yiu-cho, and a modestly priced public course was necessary.
However, legislators were concerned about the aims of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club-financed and managed club on Kau Sai Chau - an island east of Sai Kung town.
Supervision after completion was also a concern.
United Democrat the Reverend Fung Chi-wood asked why the $500 million had not been used to develop other recreational areas which would benefit more people.
He thought the centre might not recover its full cost. ''It's very expensive to manage a golfing centre. I wonder whether 'self-financing' is an empty slogan.'' ''Also, what does a 'moderate rate' of charges mean? There could be a crisis without a credible body to monitor the club's operation and to control charges.'' Meeting Point's Dr Leong Che-hung said 50,000 golfers would not be enough to finance such an expensive project.
He said the promise of an economically run golf centre which might ask only a 10th of private clubs' green fees, was insufficient to ensure public access.