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of what the Council can do is the provision of sitting-out areas in all districts where senior citizens can exercise or relax at any time, morning, noon or night. We are already co-operating with several voluntary agencies on special programmes for the elderly and I hope that this type of Council activity can be expanded.
New ideas as they come from Council Members, the Urban Services Department, or the public are continuously being explored. For example, the idea of building a recreational fun-pool complex is being pursued in connection with the Hammer Hill Sports Ground Project. The proposal is to revise the standard swimming pool complex originally approved by the Council to introduce novel features like wave pools and slide pools. As soon as details are worked out, the proposal will be examined by the Recreation Select Committee.
In view of the growing tendency to camp on beaches, the Recreation Select Committee is considering developing as camp sites a number of vacant sites obtained from the demolition of old bathing sheds located at Middle Bay and South Bay after sufficient land has been reserved for providing service facilities such as changing rooms, toilets and showers, etc. If this idea proves practicable, it is hoped that camping on beaches can be placed under some degree of supervision and control.
Entertainment and Culture
By way of a wide variety of entertainment at the district level in parks, playgrounds and other venues, the Council, through its Culture and Entertainment Select Committee, expects to spend $5.6 million during the coming fiscal year.
In addition, the Council will give its full support to District Board cultural and entertainment programmes whenever they so request and the budget for each of such programmes is fully justified.
The Council's Chinese Orchestra, the Repertory Company, the newly-formed Dance Company and the Council-supported Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (which is markedly gaining in reputation from year to year), all have full programmes to perform both within the urban areas and in the New Territories to bring enjoyment and culture to Hong Kong's five million residents. The Libraries Select Committee has a forward-looking plan to provide district libraries, mini-libraries, mobile libraries, audio and video services to the community. Furthermore, it is planning to make available good reading material for children at economical prices during the next twelve months, and the budget for this programme could well exceed $1 million.
The Museums Select Committee's priority is to keep up the momentum on the planning and building of the Museum of Science and Technology, the Museum of Art and the Museum of History, all of which will expand the realm of information and knowledge and raise the quality of life for our community.
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On the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Complex, we hope that the piling for the new Concert Hall with 2300 seats, and the new Lyric Theatre for Chinese and Western opera and for ballet and dance, with 2000 seats, will commence at the beginning of next year.
Meantime, the Urban Council will work closely with the Government's Recreation and Culture Department in supporting cultural groups and youth activities wherever it is justifiable to do so through the judicious use of Council funds and other resources.
Finance and Administration
On the finance side, the Council through its Finance Select Committee seeks to strike a proper balance between giving maximum service to the public and ensuring that there is no overspending of Council funds. Priorities are carefully weighed and linked with manpower and other resources.
The Administration Select Committee keeps a close watch to ensure that establishment resources are not squandered, but are fully related to the effectiveness and changing structure of the Urban Services Department in line with new functions and programmes.
It is the responsibility of the Capital Works Select Committee that the Council's programme of market building, new playgrounds, swimming pools, libraries, etc., will be built to optimum cost-effectiveness according to the standards laid down and without loss of time.
It will be of interest to note that 1243 new posts are expected to have been created by the end of the current financial year as against the deletion of 714 posts, the functional need for which has been replaced or disappeared altogether. Such is an indication of the tightness of control which the Council exercises over its establishment resources, the motto being "more efficiency and productivity". Modern technology is being applied by the Council to increase efficiency and to save manpower. A financial computer has recently been installed in the Urban Services Department, and a tender has just been awarded for a ticketing computer for cultural services for installation by the end of this year. Also, a feasibility study is underway for a computer for the library service.
Conclusion
This Council aims to be democratic in spirit and in procedures. Next year, Council membership will be increased from 24 to 30, and elected members will be elected on a constituency basis. All Urban Councillors will be expected to participate in District Board work, thus acting as a vital link between the Boards they serve on and the Council.
When all ten urban District Boards are established, there will be a clearer indication of the manner and extent to which the Urban Council's present scope and functions can be expanded to relate to the important role of the District Boards.
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