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(b) recommended there should be no delay in implementing the proposed library expansion programme to provide additional libraries to relieve the heavy pressure on the existing libraries.
DR. HUANG:--Mr. Chairman, I thank the Chairman of the Library Select Committee for the answer, but I pressed hopefully in my question as I want these facilities available to office workers. I think under the present situation very few office workers can benefit from our libraries, I mean judging from working hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. and going back for a meal. That is why, in the answer, it is pointed out statistics recorded of the use made on the present facilities reveal that the number of readers decline very sharply after 7 p.m. That is the time they go back for a meal, and if they have their meal there is not sufficient time for them to make use of the library. I also see the point of the resolution passed at the Select Committee that the main question is the money. I think the main thing is that we will have to consider whether or not we should also provide facilities for the office workers. I really cannot imagine how our office workers can ever really make use of our facilities under the present time plan, and I hope that the Select Committee will consider my point.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I answer that if it was a question. (Laughter). I would like to say and I am quite sure I speak on behalf of the Committee, that we appreciate Dr. HUANG'S continual interest in this question and assure him that we too frequently discuss this problem, and to try to get his ideas, if he has any proof that office workers are asking for the library to be open later, we would be very glad to put that on the agenda at the next meeting and invite Dr. HUANG to come along and give us this information.
DR. HUANG:--Mr. Chairman, I do not know whether this is going to be allowed as a supplementary or not. I myself may even be regarded as one of the office workers and I always find it difficult to get to my library and make use of it because near ten o'clock is the time when I have to go to my office and eight o'clock is a bit too late for me. I think that many office workers have a similar experience. I think it is not really a problem as to how many office workers will ask for such facilities, it is up to us to provide facilities and then the office workers will make use of them.
MRS. ELLIOTT:--Mr. Chairman, may I just say that we were under the impression that by keeping the library open until eight o'clock, it would give the office workers a chance to go straight from their work at 5 p.m. into the library and then go home for their meal afterwards. But if this is wrong, I would be very glad to ask the Committee to consider it again with Dr. HUANG's suggestion.
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MR. SALES:--Mr. Chairman, could the committee not consider extending the hours on a trial basis, and after such an experiment has been carried out, then a proper evaluation could be made?
MRS. ELLIOTT:--Mr. Chairman, I will certainly put that before the Committee and would be glad if this could be recorded for the Select Committee.
MR. C. K. CHAN:--Mr. Chairman, I do not know whether it is relevant, I think it is relevant, but if it is out of order I leave it to you. The U.S. Information Service Library has recently made a survey of the habits on using of libraries. I was one of those objects for the survey and I think they made a very good and useful survey. Mr. Chairman, is it asking too much to ask the Select Committee to approach that particular library to see if they can share with us the information they obtained as a result of the survey which may help us to facilitate the library to be used as desired by the citizens, particularly the office workers?
MRS. ELLIOTT:--Yes, I accept this suggestion. I would also like to point out however, in considering this question, we must keep in mind that the expansion of libraries is priority number one, and by increasing the hours for a few people, if this is going to prevent us having new libraries, it will have to take second place.
MR. BERNACCHI:--Arising out of both the original question and the supplementary, where do we go, we the Urban Council, to make recommendation number (b) a reality? In other words, the recommendation that there should be no delay in implementing the proposed library expansion programme.
MRS. ELLIOTT:--Well, we are hoping to open the library at the Wah Fu Estate in the immediate future, and Ping Shek library is in preparation and should be open next year. The Yau Ma Tei library should be open very soon after that, so we are going ahead.
But we are constantly reminded that we must find ways of getting finance as well as spending it.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, there is already a junior library in Ping Shek, I would like that information to be passed on to the Select Committee concerned.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--Mr. Chairman, in studying the suggestion by Mr. SALES, could the chairman of the Library Select Committee check whether the lighting at all our libraries, including the junior library, is reasonably good for the evening hours?
MRS. ELLIOTT:--Mr. Chairman, I wonder if Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has any information on this. It is a bit off the question, but I certainly would like to check.
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