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MR. CHOW WAI-KEUNG (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I have received many complaints concerning problems in applying for the hiring of sporting venues. I think to review the booking procedures over a year is too long. Moreover, I think in the interim period, it is most important to seek public views. We can even ask the hirers to suggest ways as to how we should review and amend the booking procedures in a fair manner. I think we should allow the public to participate more in the review and it should be expedited to complete in less than one year. I hope the relevant Select Committee could consider my two suggestions.
MR. JOHN K. P. FAN (in Cantonese):-Thank you for Mr. CHOW Wai-keung's suggestions. The reason why it takes more than one year to complete the review of booking procedures for various venues is that as I have stated in my answer to Mr. SULLKE, there are many different types of venues for different purposes. Moreover, we are looking into the feasibility of introducing a fully computerized admission system. Mr. CHOW's suggestion will be taken into account. However, his suggestion has some contradictions. If we have to consult various hirers, it will take even more time to complete all the programme of reviews.
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I heard that when some prominent persons or famous organizations in our society intended to book or hire our facilities in accordance with the booking procedures strictly, they criticized our booking procedures as bureaucratic. I would like to ask will special consideration be given to these prominent persons or organizations when they hire our sporting venues?
MR. JOHN K. P. FAN (in Cantonese):—I think the answer is quite simple. First, I have pointed out in the Annual Conventional Debate that at least there are four different categories of hirers. If we try to arrange our recreational and sports activities to meet public demand then in fact we can fully take up all our own venues, not to mention the need to accommodate the activities organized by schools, sports organizations and casual users. In fact, the pressure is far beyond our imagination. That is why we have introduced the system of booking the venues seven days or one month in advance. It will be rather difficult to accommodate the needs of casual users on the spots. As regards the so called privileged class, my answer is that there is no exception. In fact, we should be fair to everyone.
3. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):—In view of the proliferation of boarding house or small hotel-type establishments in multi-storey building, some multi-storey building Owners Management Committees have suggested that the Keep Hong Kong Clean Committee should print posters concerning basic hygienic requirements required within multi-storey buildings; can the Urban Council prepare such posters, on its own or in cooperation with District Boards, for free distribution to multi-storey building management committees which have such a need or problem?
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DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—The question asks whether the Keep Hong Kong Clean Committee or the Council would print posters about basic hygiene requirements for free distribution to multi-storey buildings which have boarding houses or small hotel-type establishments.
The short answer to the question is 'no'. Members may wish to know that the government has taken note of the development of guesthouses and similar establishments in multi-storey buildings. The City and New Territories Administration has already set up a Planning Committee to look into the feasibility of controlling these establishments. This Committee which comprises representatives from several departments, including the Urban Services Department, is actively involved in finalizing the control measures for guesthouses and similar establishments. As the government has taken up the issue, it would seem more appropriate to leave the matter, which is specific to guesthouses, to the said Committee.
Despite the above, the Council is constantly taking action in other aspects to improve the environment of multi-storey buildings. Apart from the regular block-to-block hygiene inspections made to multi-storey buildings by Health Inspectors, the Health Education Unit of the Municipal Services Branch also prepares leaflets and posters concerning basic hygiene requirements of residents for free distribution to Mutual Aid Committees and Owners Incorporations of multi-storey buildings. I have brought along some of such leaflets and posters for Members' information after the meeting. Such distributions are normally done during hygiene inspections or during health education campaigns. These measures are adequate to alert residents of multi-storey buildings having guesthouses or similar establishments about basic hygiene requirements.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, who distributes the leaflets and posters which are made by the Health Education Unit of the Municipal Services Branch? Is it their own staff or the staff of Urban Services Department and does Dr. LEUNG know whether these leaflets and posters are distributed widely i.e. to all Mutual Aid Committees and Owners Incorporations of multi-storey buildings within the urban area which this Council is responsible?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in Cantonese):- -Mr. Chairman, such posters and publications are distributed by the Health Inspectors during their inspection visits. Moreover, the distributions are done during health education campaigns to the MACs and the OCs. As far as I know, being the Chairman of the Owners Incorporation of a building, I have received such publications and displayed them in conspicuous places. In addition, the District Health Inspectors distribute these leaflets and posters during routine inspections to multi-storey buildings.