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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
It has been found that the By-laws, as they are at present, make no provision for the Council to charge admission to activities which it organizes within public pleasure grounds. Likewise, others using public pleasure grounds, with the Council's permission, cannot charge for activities which they sponsor. With the construction of an open air theatre at Morse Park, the provision of seating for 11,000 spectators at the Boundary Street Sports Ground, and the introduction of public entertainments, it is desirable to enable charges to be levied if deemed fit.
The purpose of these amendments to the By-laws is to provide that the Council may charge an admission fee for public entertainments organized by it and, also for a percentage of the receipts to be paid to the Council if the exclusive use of a pleasure ground is granted to any person and an admission fee is charged by that person for the public to enter. Provision is also made for a reduced rate applicable to organizers of religious, charitable, cultural or educational activities. I so move.
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu:-Mr. Chairman, I have great pleasure in seconding Mr. Sonny SALES' first Motion today.
CHAIRMAN:-The Motion has been moved and seconded, does any Member wish to speak? If not, I shall take a vote on this Motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
CHAIRMAN:-Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, the Motion is carried. This is the first day of the 1970 Annual Conventional Debate. The Motion to be debated is "That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1971”. I now call on Mr. SALES to move the Motion.
(2) MR. A. de O. SALES moved the following Motion:-
"That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1971."
He said: Mr. Chairman, I take pleasure in proposing the adoption of the Statement of Aims for 1971 on behalf of the Urban Council.
The Urban Council-all 26 Members-has worked as a very happy team, excepting perhaps when Official Members have been called upon to give replies to questions put down by the Unofficial colleagues. Sir, we are particularly grateful for all the work that has been done by the Urban Services Department, notably the Council section. Mr. TINSON, as usual, has been a tower of strength, and all the Assistant Secretaries working with the various select committees have done well by us. Mr. Chairman, you have shown a remarkable degree of understanding and forbearance-sometimes not as much as we would have liked (laughter), nevertheless to a very great degree. For all these reasons, the Council is deeply appreciative of the co-operation, support and good work done by you and all members of the Urban Services Department as well as the Official Members who are with us and their respective departments.
The Urban Council is marking time perforce. The Government conducts a holding operation to all intents and purposes. The evolution of our Council is virtually at a standstill as a result. It is in these circumstances that our Annual Meeting is held.
Mr. Chairman, summer 1970 demonstrated an unprecedented demand for leisure-time facilities which in many ways caught the Government napping. For ten years and more, the Urban Council has pressed the Government for land and money for sports and other recreational installations and also for qualified staff to manage them properly. While we readily recognize that much has been achieved, much more still remains to be done specially in the old built-up areas. The ability of the Government to complete play and amenity projects expeditiously is not impressive in our experience over the years although I understand the P.W.D. has now set up a section to deal with minor projects. Demand for all types of play opportunities continues to far outstrip supply. Unless the Government truly resolves to complete without delay our many outstanding schemes for recreational facilities, the experience in 1971 is likely to be worse.
The Urban Council carefully examines recreational requirements, amenity zone by zone, as the urban areas are divided. This is done in terms of land area and play facilities and is related to density of population and location of schools. Yet, Mr. Chairman, this exercise may be in vain if the decisions reached as a result are not put into effect in quick time.
The Recreation and Amenities Select Committee hears that construction programmes are delayed for one reason or another. The construction of swimming pools seems always to be beset with difficulties. The three complexes currently under construction are two seasons behind schedule if my memory serves me right. I urged the Government to work round-the-clock so that they might have been ready for summer 1970 but this was not done. We would like to see the Government acting with the initiative which would have been shown had our officials been elected and directly accountable to the voters, and so stood to lose office for poor performance. When one project falters for whatever reason, the public should not be expected to make sacrifices; another project should be put in hand immediately. Take
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