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therefore, a paper will be presented both to this Council and to the Regional Council detailing the views presented in the District Boards and making certain recommendations. Given the complexity of the issue and the substantial number of views presented it will be unlikely that this paper will be ready before the July meetings of the Councils.
It is hoped, therefore, that a decision in principle will be able to be taken by the two Councils as to what, if any, legislative changes they wish to recommend to the Executive Council on this matter before the summer recess commences.
Following the decision of the Councils, however, the legislative amendments will be required to be drafted to permit submission to the Executive Council. This will take some months, and it is most unlikely that it will be possible to approach the Executive Council for a decision until autumn. It is, equally, unlikely that any bill can be presented to the Legislative Council before early 1987.
THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): So is the timing i.e. the mentioned date of early 1987 before any bill will be presented to the LegCo. As the timing is most unsatisfactory, can all possible steps be taken to see whether it could be done earlier, i.e. having the bill ready for presentation to the LegCo before the end of this year?
DR. LEUNG (in English): This Council, especially the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, is trying very hard to speed up the matter. As I have just mentioned, that all these various legislative changes will take time and one step can only be taken after the other, so I am afraid that this tight schedule we have been trying hard to achieve.
THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): Would Dr. LEUNG and his Committee make representations to the authorities concerned that it is a most unsatisfactory length of time that is required for having this bill ready to present to LegCo and could he ask for the cooperation of the other authorities concerned to expedite the process?
DR. LEUNG (in English): Yes, we will.
MR. YOUNG (in English): Mr. Chairman, is it correct to summarize the Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee's reply by looking at the question, which said 'before the summer recess commences', by saying that had Mr. CHEONG-LEEN meant this summer, the answer is no, and had he meant the next summer 1987 the answer is yes?
THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): Can I have a point of clarification, I gather from Dr. LEUNG before the end of this summer recess, it seems to be virtually impossible and, therefore, I may ask the next best available time-frame which is for the end of this year.
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3. THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English): To what extent and in which way is the Urban Council cooperating with the Hong Kong Miniature Football Association to promote mini-soccer?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): The question asks to what extent and in which way the Urban Council is cooperating with the Hong Kong Miniature Football Association to promote mini-soccer.
The Urban Council has cooperated with the Hong Kong Miniature Football Association (whose activities are confined to Hong Kong Island) in the development of this sport for more than 20 years. Since 1964, Council has made an office in Southorn Playground available to the Association at a minimal rent, to assist it in carrying out its administrative work.
Since 1981, some $240,000 has been granted by Council to the Association for the purpose of promoting mini-soccer and over 20,000 young people have benefited.
In addition, since Council assumed responsibility for the direction and funding of the Recreation and Sports Service in the urban area in April 1985, Council has assisted in the promotion of some 240 mini-soccer matches. These arrangements have allowed some 2400 youngsters to test their skill in a competitive atmosphere. Moreover, from 1 April 1986, following discussions with the Chairman of the Association and in pursuance of Council's policy to promote elementary training of sports at the district level through Council's Recreation and Sports Service, Council will assume direct responsibility for a youth mini-soccer training course. This will enable the Association to concentrate on other more competitive activities which, subject to detailed scrutiny in the usual way by the Sports and Activities Sub-Committee, will include financial assistance from Council of about $50,000 for approximately 2,100 participants in 1986–7.
Finally, Council will continue to provide free use of certain mini-soccer pitches at Victoria Park and Southorn Playground. In 1985-6, such use of these facilities amounted to some 1,760 hours.
4. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English): I understand that there are suggestions for the redevelopment of Statue Square which would inter alia include the felling of all the mature 20-year-old trees in the Square. Could I please have an assurance that if ever Statue Square is redeveloped these trees will not be touched?
MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG, Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, replied as follows (in English): This question concerns the possible redevelopment of Statue Square and the future of the trees in the Square.
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