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MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU, CHAIRMAN OF THE Entertainment Select Committee, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-
This question concerns the possibility of holding events such as conventions and trade fairs in the Hong Kong Coliseum.
One of the Urban Council's aims regarding the management of the Coliseum is to maximize usage of its facilities which are provided for the staging of major indoor sports events, family and other popular entertainment programmes, cultural presentations, conferences and exhibitions'. The Arena of the Coliseum, with an area of about 1680 square metres and a maximum seating capacity 12,500, is suitable for both large-scale conferences and exhibitions. The Piazza surrounding the Coliseum also offers ideal outdoor display space, totalling 2,875 square metres.
The Coliseum was hired to hold the Commonwealth Law Conference in September 1983, involving about 3,000 participants from some 50 territories. A private company has been hosting regular conferences for its distributors. The Coliseum has been booked for a trade fair in April 1986—the first ever at the Coliseum to promote the export of gifts and household products of Hong Kong. The usage of the Coliseum for conventions and exhibitions has so far been low, probably because greater emphasis has been placed on entertainment and sports events as the primary functions of the venue and with regard to exhibitions because of the relatively low proportion of exhibition space in relation to the seating area. In order to promote greater overall usage, the hiring policies and procedures of the Coliseum are currently under review, and ways and means of attracting more bookings for conventions and exhibitions (including trade fairs) are being actively explored.
It should also be noted that the availability of conference facilities is highlighted in all publicity material of the Coliseum, and special guide books have also been distributed to potential hirers as well as the Hong Kong Tourist Association and the Trade Development Council. The Tourist Association has been instrumental in bringing a large number of interested overseas visitors to the Coliseum. Furthermore, the Association will host a seminar on convention facilities in mid-March 1985, in which the Coliseum and other Council facilities will be covered.
6.
MRS. MARGARET LI asked the following question (in Cantonese):—I have noticed that most newspaper hawker stalls are largely given over to the sale of magazines. I should be grateful to know if the Council will look into the sale and placing of 'adult' publications on licensed newspaper hawkers stalls so that they are less accessible to children, if at all.
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question asks if the Council will control the sale of ‘adult publications' from licensed newspaper hawker stalls.