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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
There are in urban Hong Kong and Kowloon 51 markets—28 in Hong Kong and 23 in Kowloon—which provide a total of 6,025 stalls for rent. The new, large market building is capable of accommodating about 500 to 600 stalls and based on the approximate number of 29,000 licensed hawkers in Hong Kong, we would require 50 to 60 such large market buildings to accommodate all the presently licensed hawkers. It is really difficult to find a solution.
To build a large market building, we must have a suitable site and sufficient funds. It is certainly no easy task to find a centrally located site with an area of over 10,000 square feet in a prosperous area to build a market. The costs of construction of a large, modern market building often run to HK$50,000,000. In the present recession, the provision of funds of such magnitude is indeed a real problem.
According to the Council's planning, about 20 new market buildings will be built within 3 years. The following projects will be completed this year (1983): Aberdeen Urban Council Complex, To Kwa Wan Market, Tsun Yip Street Cooked Food Bazaar, Kwun Tong Ferry Concourse Cooked Food Centre, Kowloon City Temporary Market, Sai Wan Ho Urban Council Complex (Stage 1), and Shui Wo Street Market Complex.
The question of building more markets to accommodate all hawkers has been raised time and again at the Council's annual debates, but the allocation of sites for such buildings depends on government. I hope that in future, government will pay attention to the hawker problems and give higher priority to the building of more markets.
Outdoor Entertainment
The Council provides many outdoor entertainment activities to the residents of Hong Kong throughout the year. In 1982, 977 entertainment programmes were organized, attracting a total audience of about 1,240,000. The outdoor entertainment programmes regularly held each month include music, dance, theatrical, choir, and folk song performances, dancing parties, acrobatics and children's parties etc., of which Cantonese opera and variety shows are the most popular.
Each year, the Council invites some famous groups from overseas to give outdoor performances in Hong Kong. Last year we invited the U.S. 7th Fleet Military Band and the British Folk Dance Troupe to perform here. During the 7th Asian Arts Festival, artists from 12 Asian countries and territories have come to Hong Kong and, together with local artists, given 81 free outdoor performances, drawing a total audience of 130,000.
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The Council also co-operates frequently with other government departments or civic bodies to organize various activities. During the Chinese New Year Festival, celebrations appropriate to the occasion were held, and during the summer vacation, summer celebrations. At the Dragon Boat Festival, an international dragon boat race was organized with the Hong Kong Tourist Association and at Christmas and Easter, dancing parties were held at some reputable hotels.
After the summer holidays, large-scale lantern carnivals were held at the Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island and Morse Park in Kowloon to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival which attracted 300,000 visitors. At the same time, another 110,000 residents also attended the supporting carnivals held in the various districts under joint sponsorship of the Urban Council.
To add to the festive spirit of the coming Chinese New Year, the Council will hold a large-scale Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival at the Kowloon Park on 26 and 27 of February. Also, a full programme of performances lasting the whole afternoon will be held at the Landmark on 27. In addition, many District Boards, such as those of Kwun Tong and Wan Chai etc. will also be supporting the Chinese New Year Lantern Carnival by holding some programme of entertainment in their own districts.
The Ko Shan Theatre will be completed this year which will provide another venue with facilities for free cultural entertainment.
To facilitate the provision of outdoor entertainment, the Council will soon have a 28-foot modern mobile stage, and plans are also afoot to improve on the open theatre at Morse Park. Both projects will offer valuable facilities for the provision of outdoor cultural entertainment activities.
Last year, the Urban Council spent $6,160,000 on outdoor entertainment and we have budgeted a sum of $6,690,000 for this year. If we cut down on the amount, some ordinary residents will lose their opportunity for free entertainment, with particular effect on the young people and children.
With these words, Mr. Chairman, I beg to support the motion.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Ladies and Gentlemen, the motion is now adjourned until Thursday, 13 January 1983, 2.30 p.m. on which day other Members of this Council will resume the Debate. Before adjourning today's meeting, may I say how glad I am that Councillor Walter SULKE is back with us. He's recovered the health from his recent illness and I understand that he'll be speaking at the resumed debate day after tomorrow.
ADJOURNMENT—4.23 p.m.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—The Council stands adjourned until Thursday, 13 January 1983 at 2.30 p.m.
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