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Apart from the publicity campaign, it has also been suggested that a request be made to the Police for two visiting books to be placed inside the Gardens, and that the staff should be supplied with two-way radios so that they can communicate with the office and assist one another when dealing with mischief-makers. This proposal is being considered and further investigated by the department. The Council has considered making a small charge for admission as a means of improving the standard of behaviour in the Gardens, but after weighing the pros and cons, has decided not to introduce charging for the present.
MR. F. K. Hu (in English):-Mr. Chairman, can I be advised what is the practice in other countries in regard to the charging of entrance fees? If so, how effective is it in improving the situation?
MR. KENNETH Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, we have been advised by our Honorary Adviser for both Mammals and Birds and also our Honorary Adviser for Gardens that, in the experience of zoos outside of Hong Kong where they do charge for admission, the behaviour is noticeably better. Where they do not charge, the behaviour is worse and there is more vandalism.
MR. HENRY H. O. LUK (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a question concerning the restriction of numbers within the parks. What number do you have in mind for admission?
MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, at present there is no limit on the numbers of people going into the Botanical Gardens or any of our pleasure grounds. Without a perimeter fence and turnstile, obviously there is no way of controlling the numbers that come in. The present proposal is to have a perimeter fence and to have turnstiles, but there is no fixed limit at present. We will certainly consider doing so if the ground becomes unmanageable.
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, is it not correct that the crowds on Sundays and Public Holidays are currently reaching saturation point and this constitutes part of the trouble?
MR. Lo (in English):-Yes, that is quite true. I believe that over 20,000 people go into the gardens on a fine day over the weekends. Just what is the saturation point is difficult to say. In any case, we cannot do anything until we have the perimeter fence and the turnstile installed.
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MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):-Sir, on a point of order. I have given notice of a question under Standing Order 12(4) which says a Member may, with the permission of the Chairman, ask a question so long as a copy of the question reaches the Secretary before 10 o'clock and I think the question was asked last night and the event did not happen until last Thursday, that is, after the closing time. May I ask whether the question is going to be allowed by you, and to be answered here, or are you going to adjourn it to the next meeting or whether any statement will be given about what arises in this question-the operation in the Yung Shu Tau hawker area?
CHAIRMAN (in English):-No. Please state your point of order and not put the question instead. (Laughter).
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):-The point of order is (1) have you received the question; (2) what is your ruling, and if your ruling is against me, what would be the outcome.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-May I say firstly that that was not a point of order. (Laughter). Secondly, to indulge you, Mr. CHAN, since this is an interesting situation, I am answering it. First, a point of order can only be raised on the proceedings before the Council. At this moment there is only one question and the question has been amply dealt with, and also supplementary questions put and answered. What you ask me is a different matter altogether: why I exercised the Chairman's discretion against a question you put, or wished to put. I think that should properly be put to the Standing Committee because it is not a point of order. However, since you raised it in public, and in order to play along with the melodrama you had in mind. (Laughter) I would like to say once and for all that I, as long as I am Chairman, will never exercise my discretion should I ever think the Member who wants me to waive Standing Orders will have what I consider to be an unfair advantage over his colleagues in consequence. In any case, I considered the question; the Secretary made investigations; we consulted the Chairman of the Select Committee concerned. And, I accepted the advice of the Secretary that there was no urgency, that this question was not of public consequence and that it can be raised in the Select Committee concerned. I made the point of telephoning you to let you know at once, and we had a pleasant conversation on the telephone; I explained the circumstances to you then and also told you that I could not, and will never, exercise my discretion if I believed that by doing so I would be unfair to the other Members of the Council. So, this question is being referred to the relevant Select Committee, if you
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