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troupes, more younger, newer opera troupes will be given opportunities of performances and we will support them to a certain extent. I am therefore not able to give you the number of performances to be organized in the coming year.
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, Mr. Lo says that the main avenue of support is to promote appreciation of this art by presentations and to provide performance opportunities. In our recreation and sports activities, there are training programmes for instance to train people to play badminton and swimming. So this raises the question of training of new blood for Cantonese opera. Will the Council assume the role of training new artists in this field by holding seminars etc.?
MR. LO KING-MAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I think the question asked by Mr. TONG is a very important issue. Chinese traditional local art forms such as Cantonese and Chiu Chau opera have been facing very important problems mainly in the field of training new artists. This is very difficult within the purview of the Urban Council and with the resources available to us to take up professional training of this sort. Those who are familiar with training artists of Cantonese opera, are aware that the traditional way of training has to start very early when children are eight or nine. They are usually put in the custody of some very experienced artists. I am afraid no scientific or modern methods have been taken in this field. It will be very impractical for the Council to take up this sort of training. The executive arm of the Council, the Urban Services Department provides many opportunities whereby people can enhance their appreciation for different art forms such as at libraries and other venues.
2. THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in Cantonese): What progress is taking place on the redevelopment of the old Wong Nei Chung Market in Happy Valley?
MR. LEE CHIK-YUET, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-The question asks for a report on the progress of the redevelopment of the old Wong Nei Chung Market in Happy Valley.
The redevelopment of Wong Nei Chung Market was injected into the current UC Capital Works Programme last year. Efforts had been made, in vain, to find a suitable site for the temporary resiting of the existing stall lessees in the market during the construction period. The Architectural Services Department has thus been requested to design a phased in-situ redevelopment plan. Because of the small size of the site, the architect has advised that on-street loading and unloading would be necessary. However, this has met with objections from the Transport and other Departments. The implications of this are being examined by the Department, including the costly alternative suggested by the Transport Department of constructing a basement.
Separately, the Department is commissioning a research firm to conduct a survey on the demand and supply of market facilities in several districts, including Wan Chai. The results of the survey, which are expected to be available in August 1987, will certainly have a bearing on the redevelopment plan for Wong Nei Chung Market.
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I understand that Sham Shui Po district is also covered by the survey mentioned in the last paragraph of Mr. LEE's reply. The matter was raised at the District Board recently and Members were worried that the survey would delay the redevelopment of the market in Sham Shui Po District. I wonder if the District Board concerned could be assured that the redevelopment of the market will not be deferred as a result of the survey. I understand that this is a separate issue on the matter of the survey in Sham Shui Po District. Can that be done?
MR. LEE CHIK-YUET (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, if this is regarded as a supplementary question, I will try to answer it. Wan Chai, Central and Western and Sham Shui Po are targeted for this research and survey exercise. I would like to reiterate once again that the survey in respect of these districts will not affect the redevelopment exercise in these districts. The survey only needs a little time and it will be a double-track approach which will go on at the same time. The information obtained from the survey will definitely shed light on what will be done but it will definitely not result in any delay of the redevelopment programme.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I have a question for Mr. LEE. He is also a member of the Sham Shui Po District Board and Mr. TONG is also. I am a Member of the Wan Chai District Board. I wonder if the information could be made very clear that both projects—the redevelopment and the...
MR. LEE CHIK-YUET (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I don't quite understand the question.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-I rule it out of order.
3. MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG asked the following question (in Cantonese):-Does each of our recreation and sports venues such as indoor games halls, squash courts and district fitness centres have staff officers adequately trained with first-aid knowledge and how are they briefed with directives to deal with injuries and accidents occurring at these venues? What present and/or future measures have been or will be implemented in order to prevent and adequately cope with injuries and accidents which occur in sports activities and physical exercises at Urban Council venues?
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