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lorry, it doesn't mean necessarily that they are not doing anything. Miss YEUNG has not told me about the circumstances she has witnessed, but from what I have heard, I know that some of these General Duties Team members do sit in lorries to watch over markets.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):—I received a complaint on the General Duties Team, for example in the hawker permitted places, there are conflicts but somebody told me that these General Duties Team members just sat inside the vehicles without doing anything about the situation. I received complaints that even if the General Duties Team members were present, they don't carry out their duties and they said it is a great waste of our tax-payers' money.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Are you asking him about whether he knows of this?
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):—Besides this, I want to know about the regulations controlling their behaviour.
MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):—As for this question, their duties always depend on different circumstances. If there are conflicts in the markets, the General Duties Team members should go to investigate. They are only responsible for the discipline of hawkers. Besides this, they can't really do much about it, perhaps it refers to the duties of the Police.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):—What I meant was that they should be in charge of the whole situation. If there were conflicts, they should do the work and not just leave it to the Police.
MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):—In talking about hawker stall-holders not abiding to our rules, I am sure that if members hear of such instances where the General Duties Team members were not performing their duties, they should inform us.
MRS. Ho (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I recall that the failure of the Hawker Control Force was because of their performance and another reason was that they were not satisfied with their salary and prospect. So, they decided to set up a new unit, it was to get better staff, raise their salary, and their prospects depend on their performance. I want to ask Mr. SHUM, after its setting up, whether there was dissatisfaction within the unit in any way.
MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):—As for the personnel and staff problem, the department is still improving on this. We are continuing with our improvement on every aspect of the General Duties Team. This is a very new unit. There is much room for improvement. We are improving not only on the personnel, on the quality of the staff, but also on the syllabus. If Members have taken notice, we will have a report on the improvement in the organization of the General Duties Team, both in the quality and the performance. There will be quite a big improvement.
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5. MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG asked the following question (in English):—What is the expected completion date of the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade? Is it on schedule or delayed? What amenities are available on the promenade for public use?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION Select Committee, replied as follows (in English):—This question concerns the expected date of completion of the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade project and the amenity facilities to be provided.
Construction of the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade started in April 1981. The project was originally scheduled to be completed in February 1982 but there has been some slippage mainly owing to inclement weather. The project architect has now advised that the promenade is due for completion in late April this year.
The promenade which measures about 600 metres in length is primarily designed as a waterfront pedestrian precinct where the public can stroll at leisure. The amenities provided will include flower beds, planted areas, water features, benches and arbours.
MR. YOUNG (in English):—Would measures be taken after the completion of the promenade to ensure that these fine amenities are not taken over by hawkers doing business, especially during weekends?
MR. Lo (in English):—Yes, Mr. Chairman.
Dr. Huang (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Mr. LO has told us that the construction work was delayed because of weather. Is it because of the weather being too sunny, shortage of rain?
MR. Lo (in English):—It is one of the reasons. In my answer, I've said that some slippage mainly owing to inclement weather. There are other reasons, I think, but in any case, the delay is only 2 months which is not in the context of construction work in Hong Kong so unexpected.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):—I am going to ask if the Chairman of the select committee referred to the weather met by the Urban Council when they visited Britain, or to Hong Kong weather?
MR. Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, Kowloon weather. (laughter)
6. MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):—In view of the increasing demand for stadia facilities, I should like to know:—(a) To what extent Mong Kok Stadium is currently being utilized?
(b) Is it possible to erect a roof over the spectator stands to shelter them against the elements?
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