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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Plans are in hand towards working out an opening ceremony as well as a series of spectacular opening programmes, to be worthy of the Stadium's name, examples are - 7 performances by the Saddlers Wells Royal Ballet in June 1983.
1981 is a year of rapid growth and expansion. It also marks a significant step forward in the Council's continuous efforts to provide a comprehensive sports and recreation programme for the public.
In 1981, the Council presented over 20 international tournaments. Among the bigger events were the Asian Preliminary Games in Volleyball for the World Cup, the First World Basketball Championship for Club Teams and the World Masters International Table Tennis Tournament, all of which took place in the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. Also worth mentioning is the recently completed Australasian Zone Qualifying Tournament for the Hockey Junior World Cup which was the first international event held at the newly opened astroturfed King's Park Hockey Ground.
The Council has provisionally approved a budget of $6 million for the year 1982. With the increased provision and the completion of the sophisticated Hung Hom Indoor Stadium by the end of 1982, the Council is looking forward to an even more encouraging year and to providing a better and more comprehensive programme to the public.
Along with the pressure for more district cultural facilities since the establishment of District Boards, this Council is subject to even greater pressure on provision of district recreational facilities. It is imperative that Government allocate more open space to the Council for this purpose. This Council should take up temporary allocation of open space even if the duration is as short as 2 years. With the number of recreational facilities increasing year by year coupled with better equipped and more sophisticated facilities, this Council cannot possibly manage the facilities with the present system of grade and quality of staff set up years ago. As a short term measure, the grade and rank of staff in this field must be raised to cope with the bigger responsibility and workload involved. The present recreational facilities which are managed by two separate departments which have gradually evolved from the old system is a fragmented arrangement which lacks close coordination and strategic long term planning and therefore cannot possibly cope with present and future developments. A long term solution is to streamline the departmental structure through establishment of a separate Recreation & Amenities Department which will bear overall responsibility of the management of all recreational facilities, including stadia, games hall, swimming pools, beaches, playgrounds, parks, etc.
Under this department, there should be a planning section which will be responsible for research into present and future demands, collection of relevant information from other countries and organizations, and formation of long term plans for the provision of active and passive recreational facilities.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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In Hong Kong there are many recreational facilities managed by private organizations without any subsidy from public funds and yet such facilities can be maintained at a reasonable standard and enjoyed by members of the public at reasonable cost. Public facilities are maintained at high standard and are available to general public at low cost as management of most public facilities are heavily subsidized by public money. It has been quite common in many other countries to lease public facilities to reputable organizations for management under strict terms and conditions in order to ensure that the general public would not be deprived of right of using the facilities. It is worthwhile for the Council to consider this approach as it might reduce the expenditure of the Council without any loss to the general public of the use of facilities, if it works.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
ADJOURNMENT - 4.22 p.m.
CHAIRMAN (in English): - Ladies and Gentlemen, the motion is now adjourned until Thursday, 14 January, 1982 on which day, the other Members will resume the debate. That concludes the business of today's meeting. The Council stands adjourned until Thursday, 14 January 1982 at 2.30 p.m.
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