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sports venues. It seems to me that the success or failure of Council's activities depends entirely on these figures. I agree that when we organize events or provide facilities, we must look at value for money, or cost effectiveness. But I think we should not forget that our primary objective of providing recreational, cultural and sports activities for our people and building these facilities is to improve the quality of life for people and to let them relax in this tense environment. We should not only look after the food hygiene and environmental hygiene of our people, but also look after their mental and physical health. These abstract things should not be measured solely against money which should not be taken as yardstick for success or failure. Therefore, I think that we should not merely base on the usage rate and attendance rate for the provision of these cultural and sports activities because the society of Hong Kong is unique, the way of living and the work of the people in Hong Kong are very different. For example, in Hong Kong parents always have to go out to work. Since Hong Kong is a very small place, we have convenient transport and it is easy to get from one place to another and the time spent on the road is minimal. We have different mode of schooling—we have morning and afternoon sessions. Our interest and habit are very unique and people like to play mahjong more than rugby. Therefore, all these factors affect the attendance and usage rates of our cultural and recreational activities. In other words, the attendance and usage rate are not absolute and could not be taken as yardstick for success or failure. For example, since people have to go to work and children have to go to schools in the day time, these facilities should not have been well patronized by a lot of people. However, this is not the case in Hong Kong. As I have said, we have morning and afternoon classes and we have shift work. We cannot deny that departmental staff are always thinking ways and means of increasing the usage rate. The success is beyond our expectation. For sports facilities the standard usage rate of Europe and USA is 30% whilst the usage rate in Council facilities on the average is 50% to 85% and this far exceeds the international standards. Actually, for some sports facilities such as indoor games hall and fitness centres, the usage rate is as high as over 90%.
As a matter of fact, if departmental staff are always so anxious to increase the usage rate of cultural and recreational facilities, they will on the one hand be so tense all the time, which will be hazardous to their health and what is more important is that it is no good to the ordinary man in the street. It is because if our cultural and sports facilities are allocated solely to our recreation and sports offices, schools and national sports bodies, our recreational sports activities could be fully utilized. The usage rate will be very high but the ordinary man in the street would not be able to use these facilities when they are free. Therefore, I think the best method is not to be unduly concerned about the usage rate. We should ask for more sites from the Government to build more sports and recreational facilities, so as to facilitate the people to make better use of our facilities.
I support the motion, Mr. Chairman.
(Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN left the meeting at 4.59 p.m.)
ADJOURNMENT—5.13 p.m.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Ladies and Gentlemen, as agreed in the Standing Committee, my right of reply would take place at the next meeting of the Council on 14 February. That concludes the business of today's meeting. As this is the last meeting of the year of the Dragon and the year of the Snake is approaching, I would like to wish all Members a happy new year. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 14 February 1989 at 2.30 p.m.
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