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Meanwhile, expansion work on the City Hall Public Library started in December to enable several improvements to be made. These will include a new audio-visual library to be provided on the 5th Floor of the City Hall High Block; the re-location of the newspapers and periodicals reading room from the 2nd Floor to the 5th Floor, where it will be considerably expanded; and the provision of a new extension activities room in the Junior Library.
I am also glad to report on the much increased popularity of the libraries' extension activities which are held in the form of book exhibitions, subject talks, interest clubs, hi-fi concerts, film shows, story hours and group library visits which are organized throughout the year for people of various age groups, backgrounds and interest to promote the facilities and services of the libraries." The total number of people taking part in the various library extension activities in 1984/85 totalled 1,351,000, a very significant increase of 50 per cent in the past four years.
In addition to such activities organized at branch level, large-scale extension activities such as competitions, creative writing for adults and children, best-produced books in Hong Kong, the Chinese Literary Week, publication of children's books, etc., have now become annual events in the programme of the Urban Council Public Libraries.
To keep up with the times, a pilot scheme on microcomputers for public use will be introduced in the Kowloon Central Library and the City Hall Library in 1986/87. Microcomputer clubs will be formed and courses on microcomputers organized in the two libraries.
The Council's library expansion programme for 1986/87 also includes a pilot scheme for lending video-cassettes to non-profit making organizations and educational institutions. Later the Council will explore the feasibility of providing a video cassette lending service to the public.
Looking further to the future, it is planned to turn the City Hall High Block into a Central Library for Hong Kong Island once the Hong Kong Cultural Centre now under construction in Tsim Sha Tsui is opened.
In addition to all this, a total of 10 district libraries and seven small libraries will come on stream over the next five years.
Finally, the Libraries Select Committee will continue to survey the market for a suitable automation system to use in its libraries which is capable of handling Chinese information as well as the large daily volume of work.
MOTIONS
1. THE CHAIRMAN, Urban Council, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Council should resolve itself into the Standing Committee of the Whole Council under Standing Order 2.'
He said (in English):--
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'RESOLVED that the Council should resolve itself into the Standing Committee of the Whole Council under Standing Order 2.'
Mrs. Elsie Tu, Vice-Chairman, Urban Council seconded (in English):— Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
(Note: The minutes of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council are recorded separately in Committee Minutes CW/2/86.)
2.
THE CHAIRMAN, Urban Council, moved the following motion:-— *RESOLVED that this Committee resumes business as the Urban Council.'
He said (in English):—
'RESOLVED that this Committee resumes business as the Urban Council.'
MRS. ELSIE TU, Vice-Chairman, Urban Council seconded (in English):— Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
3. MR. WALTER M. SULKE, Chairman of THE FINANCE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-
'THAT the Urban Council (Fees for Official Signatures and Miscellaneous Services) (Amendment) By-laws 1986 be made under section 41A of the Urban Council Ordinance, Cap. 101.'
He said (in English):- Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:-
'THAT the Urban Council (Fees for Official Signatures and Miscellaneous Services) (Amendment) By-laws 1986 be made under section 41A of the Urban Council Ordinance, Cap. 101.
These amending by-laws arise from Council's decision to revise the fees payable from $50 to $65 for official signatures and miscellaneous services provided by public officers on behalf of the Urban Council.