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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Annex to Mr John MacKenzie's Speech
Half-Yearly Report 1978-79
INTRODUCTION
With the setting up of an Establishment Select Committee this year, the name of the Committee was changed to the General Administration Select Committee. At the same time opportunity was taken to simplify the committee structure by discontinuing a number of Sub-Committees such as the Advertisements Sub-Committee, the Public Relations Sub-Committee and the Street Names Sub-Committee and absorbing their work. The Management Consultants Sub-Committee covering more specialized nature involving direct contracts with the Consultants, was retained.
The main areas of responsibility are outlined in the Statement of Aims attached under Appendix A, and cover:
Organization
Office accommodation
Staff development and training
Public information
Publications
Advertisement signs and posters
Street Names
Consultancy services
Ward Offices
Urban Council Chambers
Urban Council Secretariat
Other general matters.
During the half-year under review the Committee met 5 times and discussed 109 papers; the Management Consultants Sub-Committee met once.
OFFICE ACCOMMODATION
With the rapid expansion of USD Headquarters and the Cultural Services Division, the problem of leasing of office accommodation has become more urgent. To speed up the administrative process the Chairman and the Director of Urban Services were delegated with authority to approve the leasing of office space within approved limits. The main areas considered when assessing the suitability of premises offered are the rental and air-conditioning charges, the location and the length of the lease measured against amortization costs.
In order to allow for a more intensive examination of the many problems faced by the department, a new Sub-Committee called Working Party on USD accommodation was set up on 24 July 1978 with delegated authority to approve leases and also to look into the department's long-term requirements. The Working Party met twice with the last meeting attended by the Chairman, Planning and Development Select Committee and the Principal Government Architect. The main findings of the Working Party already endorsed by the Select Committee, are:
(a) that Council should erect its own building, consisting of a 37-storey tower block with 300,000 sq. ft of office accommodation plus car parks. The site chosen is the present City Hall Multi-Storey Car Park opposite Tamar, and the Committee has strongly recommended a bid for this site;
(b) that the building should take about 4 years to complete from the time a firm decision on the site is made, and all other requirements are known and approved;
(c) that the department should commence negotiation with the owners to lease about 24,200 sq. ft of office accommodation in one location in Central. If the negotiations are successful it is anticipated that there should be sufficient office accommodation to meet current requirements and expansion for the next 4-5 years;
(d) that there was considerable merit in a permanent building project and that the placing of this project on the Public Works Programme be given a high priority.
The Committee intends to keep under active review the progress on the leasing of office accommodation and the new permanent building.
TRAINING
During the period, the Urban Council approved a number of training programmes, mainly overseas training for the next few years. These include: (a) sending 4 Amenities Assistants in 1979-80 to receive specialized training in Arboriculture and Nursery Practices in the United Kingdom, as part of a long-term overseas training programme for the Amenities Assistant; (b) sending 2 Assistant Managers/Senior Assistant Managers instead of 1 on an overseas short course in Arts Administration in United Kingdom in the second half of this financial year;
(c) 16-year internship training programme starting from 1979-80 for the Space Museum production staff;
(d) a 6-week overseas attachment for 2 Assistant Librarians in each of the 5 years starting from 1979-80;
(e) sending 1 Health Inspector on a Diploma Course in Health Education in United Kingdom in each of the 6 years starting from 1979-80 and (f) engaging the Hong Kong Productivity Centre to conduct 9 more Supervisory Training Courses for first-line supervisors in the rest of this year and next year.
The above proposals, in addition to those approved prior to the period under review, indicate that more officers will receive specialized training overseas in the years to come. After their return, these officers should be able to carry out the Council's various commitments more competently.
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