26
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(ii) how priority is set;
(iii) whether priority is given to District Boards in general and to the local District Board (i.e. Central and Western) in particular; if yes, how high is this priority compared to other applicant organizations and why; if not, why not;
(iv) whether the same answer to (iii) above applies to other similar venues of the Council and the reasons thereof;
(v) whether District Boards are well informed of the policy and booking arrangement of such facilities and the rationale behind.
MR. LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE Culture SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—This question concerns the booking arrangement for use of the City Hall facilities.
Generally, applications for use of the City Hall facilities are accepted seven months in advance, and considered monthly by the Culture Select Committee.
Each application is assessed in accordance with an approved point system, and dates are offered on the basis of the number of points scored in descending order of priority. Unsuccessful applicants, or applicants who are unable to secure preferred days (e.g. weekends) or the required number of consecutive dates, are advised to apply again for the subsequent month.
This point system is designed essentially to encourage activities of a high standard and wide variety, commensurate with the nature of the facility concerned, e.g. live performances of serious music, Chinese opera and dance in the case of the Concert Hall, live performances of drama in the case of the Theatre, and social, educational, scientific and trade promotions in the case of the Exhibition Hall. Other factors such as the frequency of past use, public attendance at the previous function of the hirer, and organization ability of the hirer, are also taken into account.
For the year 1984–85, bookings up to October 1984 have been allocated, and of the 298 applications received for use of the various facilities, 189 applications have been successful.
As the City Hall is a territory-wide cultural venue, application for use of the City Hall facilities are dealt with in accordance with the approved point system, i.e. no special priority is given to events sponsored by locally based organizations.
These procedures are well known to regular hirers and are carefully explained to new applicants. District officers are also familiar with the procedures.
With the advent of the District Administration Scheme, it has been recognized that there is a need to give applications for community building events from District Boards and District-based organizations special consideration. Proposals are now under consideration by the Department and the Regional Secretary (Hong Kong & Kowloon). It is expected that a revised point system which takes into account applications for community building events from District organizations, will be submitted to the Culture Select Committee shortly for consideration. Nevertheless, it is not considered that any special preference should be given to locally based organizations.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 31 of 233
27
Regional Secretary (Hong Kong & Kowloon). It is expected that a revised point system which takes into account applications for community building events from District organizations, will be submitted to the Culture Select Committee shortly for consideration. Nevertheless, it is not considered that any special preference should be given to locally based organizations.
9. MRS. MARGARET LI asked the following question (in Cantonese):—The next round of District Boards Elections will be held in 1985, but publicity and preparatory work will take place well before the elections.
Is the Council willing to make its venues and facilities available to candidates seeking election as well as to District Boards for publicity purposes, and if so, could guidelines be made known to District Boards?
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT RELATIONS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—This question concerns the provision of Urban Council venues and facilities to candidates seeking election to District Boards and to District Boards for publicity purposes.
It is Council policy to make available Council venues and facilities to District Board election candidates for campaigning purposes. In the September 1982 District Board elections, some thirty venues were provided free of charge for use by candidates subject to compliance with certain conditions (devised mainly to ensure that public recreational facilities were not totally taken over for long periods for political purposes). I will not parrot these conditions here, but for Members' information they are tabled at today's meeting. I would advise members that similar conditions would apply in the case of Urban Council elections.
In addition to this, Council venues are available for the registration of electors and for use as polling stations and counting centres; further, general publicity materials may be put up and registration papers distributed at Council venues upon request. Individual personal publicity for election purposes would not, however, be allowed since it would not be appropriate for Council premises to be used in this way. The Government also adopts this line.
Use of Council and other venues in connection with District Board elections and registration of electors is usually arranged centrally by the Government Secretariat. I understand that, for the coming District Board elections, written guidelines for the display of election posters and banners will be issued to all election candidates.
Conditions for use of Urban Council venues for DB Campaigning Purposes
(a) the users should go through the normal booking procedures for the use of the approved sites;