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(a) Can this Council be informed as to how this charge is calculated?
(b) In view of the increasing interest in the proceedings of this Council, particularly by students, could consideration be given to reducing the charge so as to enable them to afford them more easily?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
This question concerns the sale of Urban Council Official Records.
When it was decided in 1964 to put the Council's Records on sale, the estimated average cost per copy was calculated at $5. It was, however, realized that few people would purchase copies at this price and approval was given to apply a flat charge of $2 per copy. Production costs of those copies so far printed in 1969 (which do not include any handling or retailing costs) show an average of $4.60 per copy.
In answer to the second part of this question I would, of course, be prepared to ask that consideration be given to reducing the cost of the Record, so as to make copies available to students at a cheaper price, if it is thought that a demand exists. However, in considering this request no doubt account will be taken of the present price, which is already well below half production costs, and the fact that copies are available in public libraries where they can be read free of charge.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, just a supplementary. How many copies per library are available?
CHAIRMAN:-I would need notice of that question. Sorry.
MR. HU:--Mr. Chairman, I would ask a supplementary. How many copies do we print each year, each private record.
CHAIRMAN:--Well, we have to satisfy the needs of all Councillors, the Secretary of State, senior officers in the Secretariat, the Governor and the Information Services Department so that takes almost fifty. In addition all senior officers of the Department get copies and I see here (the Chairman was referring to notes) there is one copy for each of the Public Libraries.
MR. FORSGATE:-Mr. Chairman, as we get copies of Hansard from Legco, would it not be a good idea if we sent them copies of our proceedings, don't you agree?
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CHAIRMAN:-As I think I said in my answer, if there is a demand, I would be happy to let people have copies.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, there is no demand on our part for copies of the proceedings of Legislative Council. I speak for myself. Why is it that this reciprocal treatment is not extended to the Legislative Council as proceedings of this Council would set a very fine example of public service to them. (Laughter).
MR. C. K. CHAN:-The reason why I asked this question is because I have been approached by groups of students, sometimes teachers and headmasters, about this record. Sometimes I send them the proof which I discard normally after the confirmation of the official record. Would it be causing too much trouble to your Department, or to any of the Government Departments, to send out a questionnaire to schools, through the Education department, to see whether their students are interested in this and what kind of prices they can afford. Then we will consider this to see if students want it and will be able to afford them.
CHAIRMAN:-I would like to think about this one, Mr. CHAN. It would certainly involve a lot of distribution.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, the copies which are not sold, are they destroyed or are they given further distribution among schools, universities and other interested premises.
CHAIRMAN:-I wouldn't have thought they were distributed, Mr. SALES, but I do not think there are that many copies printed because there is no demand. In fact we sell, I think, about two per month and sometimes there is no demand at all for their purchase. (Laughter).
MR. SALES:-My question is simple, Mr. Chairman, if you only have ten copies and you sell two, what do you do with the remaining eight copies. That is a question you have not answered.
CHAIRMAN:-We only take what we require, Mr. SALES. As far as I know, the rest remain with the Government Printer.
MR. SALES: Are they destroyed or are they distributed to organizations likely to be interested?
CHAIRMAN:-I think the Government Printer is not likely to be in any position to know who is likely to be interested, and I am sure he doesn't distribute them.
MR. SALES:--Well, could you, Mr. Chairman, find out and let us know, particularly the Standing Committee of the Whole Council, so
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