HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask what is the reason for its present state? To quote the answer "entirely surrounded by structures of various types". It seems that a structure of this type does not indicate a market. May I know the answer please?
MR. LOBO:-In 1954 that area was not as well developed as it is now. Subsequently, if you visit the area you will find that you sometimes cannot even find the market because it is surrounded. The structures are, in fact, hawkers, cooked food stalls, all other types of industry which have grown around it, and we have had complaints before from people working in that market that it is difficult to get into the market. I visited it and I did not know how to get out. (Laughter).
(8) MR. PETER C. K. CHAN asked the following question:-
In March 1968, the former Chairman of this Council appointed a Youth Recreation Officer, and some time ago, 4 officers of the Social Welfare Department were appointed District Community Officers and each was attached to a City District Office. Can this Council be informed: (a) What are the duties of this Youth Recreation Officer? (b) Is this Youth Recreation Officer going to work with the District Community Officer in any aspect at all?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
This post is established within the Recreation and Amenities Division of the Urban Services Department and the officer is responsible to the Assistant Director for the planning and implementation of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department youth recreation and entertainment programme organized by that Division both in the urban areas and in the New Territories.
His main duties are:-
(a) to plan a full and varied programme of recreation and entertainment for young people in Hong Kong with special emphasis upon youngsters from poorer homes such as resettlement estates.
(b) to make as full use of existing Urban Council and Urban Services Department recreation facilities as possible within the limit of the appropriate vote and to ensure that the programme of activities is as widely spread as possible.
(c) to liaise with other Government departments and non-Government agencies in connection with the organization of jointly sponsored youth activities. (d) to have overall responsibility for the detailed organization and supervision of individual recreational activities and entertainments presented by the Urban Council and the Urban Services Department Recreation and Amenities Division.
With regard to the second part of this question the Senior Executive Officer (Entertainment) has been liaising closely with both the City District Officers and District Community Officers, and a total of 22 activities have been staged in various districts at their request.
These activities have included Variety Shows, Fun Fairs, Lantern Processions, Chinese Boxing Displays and Cantonese Operas. It is anticipated that this useful liaison with City District Officers and District Community Officers will continue and indeed be developed.
MR. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, this type of question is very close to my heart. May I ask whether the Chairman of the Recreation & Amenities Select Committee is aware that a number of the City District Offices, under the leadership of District Community Officers, have a Youth Council Meeting from time to time and if he, as Chairman of the Recreation & Amenities Select Committee, considers it necessary or fit for the Youth Recreation Officer, or the Executive Officer (Entertainment), to participate in this kind of Council meeting as part of his duties?
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, certainly. I am sure that the increasing co-operation between members of your staff, particularly those involved in organizing programmes with other Government departments will spread, and the suggestion made by MR. CHAN will certainly be taken into account. I would like to remind this Council that this joint programme was co-ordinated by the Urban Council last year. In point of fact, at the instigation of the Recreation & Amenities Select Committee, I chaired two co-ordinating meetings in this conference room with representatives of a great number of Government departments and voluntary agencies to get the programme off the ground. Since then increasing co-operation between officers of your Department and other Government departments is the order of the day.
(9) MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question:-
(a) Is the Chairman aware that illegal cooked food hawkers are increasing almost every day?
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