HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SULKE (in English):-It seems a long time has elapsed between the department asking Highways Department to cooperate and its reply. Can I therefore ask that this matter be expedited?
MR. LO (in English):-Mr. Chairman, certainly, about half a year has elapsed since we asked for this to be reviewed last autumn, I will certainly ask the department to press for a quicker answer.
5. MR. FRANCIS CHAINE asked the following question (in Cantonese):---- The Hong Kong Football Association has recently complained that the flood-lighting at the Mong Kok Stadium does not provide adequate illumination for league football matches and has requested that it be upgraded to the standard provided at the Hong Kong Stadium. Due to the poor lighting in the Mong Kok Stadium football matches, which might otherwise be played there, are held at the Hong Kong Stadium. This means that the Kowloon public are deprived of seeing matches close to home and leads to over-use of the Hong Kong Stadium's grass pitch. In the circumstances:-
(a) Is the Council willing to upgrade the flood-lighting at the Mong Kok Stadium to an acceptable standard to allow greater usage, both for football and other sports and as a bonus save unnecessary wear of the Hong Kong Stadium's pitch?
(b) If Council is willing to do this, could the work be completed before the commencement of the 1982–83 football season in October 1982?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, Chairman of the RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—The first part of this question concerns the upgrading of the floodlighting at the Mong Kok Stadium. There have been various proposals to improve the floodlighting at this Stadium. However, the Government requires the Council to re-imburse to it the cost of such major improvement. The Council has so far not felt able to agree to this. Under paragraph 4.7 of the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements, alterations and extension to stadia are to be paid for by the Government, but if the Government does not wish to carry out such work then the Council may do so at its own expense.
I understand that as a result of representations received from various sports bodies the department is already reviewing the facilities provided at the Mong Kok Stadium to see what improvements are possible, taking into account the requirements of the national associations involved and the alternative facilities available. Once proposals have been drawn up, a decision will be required on whether funds can be made available.
The second part of the question concerns timing. It is not possible at this stage to say when work can be completed pending consideration of what is to be done. Certainly, the department will move with all possible speed once the necessary decisions have been made.
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG arrived at this point.)
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MR. CHAINE (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, can I ask Mr. Lo if the Urban Council needs to await the Government's decision as to whether funds would become available from the Central Government or if we are going to go ahead by ourselves? Do we have to wait for the Government's decision first?
MR. LO (in English): Mr. Chairman, my understanding is that the Government has been approached in the past, and has refused to carry out any improvements or extensions to this particular stadium. It is for us to decide whether once the proposal had been drawn up, whether we should approach the Government again or simply anticipate the negative answer and decide for ourselves whether we want to go ahead and carry out these improvements and extensions and pay them for ourselves.
MR. CHAINE (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, can I ask when was the refusal by the Central Government received by the Council?
MR. Lo (in English):----I don't remember exactly when it was received, Mr. Chairman, but my impression is one or two years ago.
MRS. Ho (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I think there is a point of order. I believe MR. CHAINE asked item 5(a), and Mr. Lo replied to both (a) and (b). Isn't there a question of order somewhere?
MR. CHAINE (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I am still on question No. 5(a). Since it had been 2 or 3 years ago that a refusal was received from the Central Government, why did the Council take so long to arrive at a decision or a solution to improve the flood-lighting? Why are we so undecided?
MR. Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, the position is that since Government refused, we, at that time, considered the matter and decided that we would not pay for these improvements and so they were not carried out.
MR. CHAINE (in Cantonese):-Can I ask Mr. Lo to tell us whether the Urban Council could change its mind now. Since we have decided not to improve the flood-lighting previously, would there be any prospect of Council changing its mind now?
MR. Lo (in English):-The Recreation Select Committee and the Council will consider it, Mr. Chairman, I don't think I should speculate on the result of the deliberation.
MR. CHAINE (in Cantonese): Can I ask Mr. Lo when the proposals for the improvements will be ready for discussion in the Recreation Select Committee?
MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as I have stated in my reply, the department is drawing up proposals. When these proposals are ready, a paper...