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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL —–—–
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25 May 1988
SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION: Sir, I am grateful for Mr. H suggestion that voluntary agencies might assist in providing suitable pro- grammes in community centres, particularly during the hours when some of these centres are not fully utilised. We shall be happy to look into the suggestion.
MR. NGAI: Sir, will Government tell us what criteria are used to determine the number and location of the community centres? The relatively low utilisation rate of some of the centres may indicate that the criteria may not be appropriate and need to be reviewed and adjusted?
SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION: Sir, the reason of the relatively low utilisation rate of a small number of community centres is the lack of air- conditioning or bad design. The great majority of the community centres are modern and they are well planned and very well utilised.
MRS. NG (in Cantonese): When you examine the utilisation rate of the community centres, have you considered the location of the centres? Some centres are located in very remote areas, their environment may be very poor and the street lighting dim. Since most activities are held in the evening and because of the security problems, many people therefore refrain from going to such centres. Have you looked into this aspect please?
SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION: Sir, as I have mentioned, the results of our survey indicate that even the 10 community centres referred to are well utilised in the afternoon, and for some centres the utilisation rate is between 50 and 96 per cent. Although some are not fully utilised, because of lack of air-conditioning, they are not as bad as generally thought.
Legislation to introduce improvements to the long service payment scheme and to set up the Occupational Safety and Health Council
7. MR. TAM asked (in Cantonese): Will Government inform this Council:
(a) when it will introduce amendments to existing legislation to improve the long service payment scheme for workers and legislation to establish the Occupational Safety and Health Council; and
(b) why it has taken so long to prepare these legislative proposals?
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, barring unforeseen circum- stances we hope to introduce both Bills to this Council during June.
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