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in no way be handled separately. Actually, this is the way the OC is doing at the moment. On the other hand, there is absolute need to separate the administrative staff from the minutes of the meetings. It is because people who are acquainted with international sports events should understand clearly that the sports events mentioned above are held in different years, and there is an interval of 2 years between the games. After 1997, we shall not take part but just talk about the two sports events only as Hong Kong will no longer be eligible to join the Commonwealth Games, so I do not see any need to deal with these Games separately.
I think that the operations of the Olympic Committee at present should be strengthened and that various working groups should be established under the Committee. I also agree to what was stated in the report, i.e., the Olympic Committee should employ more paid staff to share responsibility for administrative work and extend its sphere of influence. Through the establishment of such ad hoc groups, the services of professionals in various fields may be enlisted.
A report entitled 'Sport in Education' was also mentioned in the Report. I am also a member of the Working Party in that regard. I strongly subscribe to the recommendations stated in the report that the role played by athletic activities in the educational system of Hong Kong should be strengthened; and that the public, especially parents, should be educated at the basic level to develop a right concept on sports activities, so that they will understand that their children may benefit a lot by participating in sports activities. Moreover, the career prospect for pursuing in sports may not necessarily be poorer than that for engaging in other trades. If we can just accomplish our tasks at basic level and obtain an increase in the number of participants in athletic activities, the standard of our sportsmen will naturally be improved. In order to improve the standard of our sportsmen, it is very important that we should cultivate our elitist sportsmen apart from ensuring a great number of athletes at basic level. The establishment of the Jubilee Sports Centre just caters for the need mentioned above. However, when the JSC was first set up, it did not win the support and cooperation of various governing bodies of sports. But as stated in the Report, the JSC is, after a few years of operation, going in the right direction now as it has gradually gained the confidence of various governing bodies of sports and has established a channel of communication with the governing bodies of sports. I am also strongly in favour of what is stated in the Report, i.e., it is necessary for the JSC, as a development centre for elitist sportsmen, to be linked to the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee and to maintain a very close relationship with the ASF & OC. As for the linking method, the OC may invite the JSC to appoint some representatives to attend the meetings of the OC regarding the training and development of elitist sportsmen.
In Chapter IX of the Report, mention is made of the options concerning the structure, organization and administration of sports activities in Hong Kong in the future. Regarding these points, I have the following views.
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I think that Hong Kong should maintain its 'status quo'. I believe that it is very difficult to establish the 'Executive Council'. If an 'Executive Council' is set up to coordinate all sports activities, problems will arise because only through the OC can the link with the International Olympic Committee be maintained. Therefore it would be better to reorganize the existing Council for Recreation and Sport and extend its terms of reference, particularly in respect of the acquisition of more funds for various governing bodies of sports and for the development of elitist sportsmen, so as to raise the standard of sportsmen in Hong Kong.
Lastly, I would like to point out a problem which is not mentioned in the Report. All organizations set up for the promotion of sports should pay attention to the problem of ageing among the population of Hong Kong. Attention should be paid to this problem when the UC is designing its facilities or when the Council for Recreation and Sport is formulating the guidelines for development of sport so that more sports activities and facilities will be provided for the elderly in the future.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.
VICE-CHAIRMAN (in English):—Mr. WONG, would you like to reply?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in English):—Madam Chairman, I am not really replying but I would like to say a few words that from the attendance of this monthly meeting, I am glad to say that Hong Kong people are more interested in the Basic Law than in the sports and recreation. After all, the success of the Basic Law is grossly based on two things in future, one is carried on racing, the other of course is carried on dancing which are closely related, if I may say so, to recreation. As I have mentioned, Madam Chairman, Mr. JONES recommended that the formation of the Sports Council as a totally independent body with power to promote and develop sport generally and I can safely say that Members of this Council do not readily agree to such a proposal. In other words, the autonomy of the Urban Council must be intact. I have said that the Council had been invited to comment on the Report and in this afternoon we had a few inspiring speeches and together with the views expressed by Members, also in Committee meetings etc., will be of course passed to Government for their attention. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
VICE-CHAIRMAN (in English):—The Secretary will convey your views on the Report to the Government for consideration.
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