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CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. The debate on the Statement of Aims for the year 1993/94 which was adjourned from Tuesday, 12 January 1993 will now resume. May I call on the first speaker, Miss Christina TING Yuk-chee.
MISS CHRISTINA TING YUK-CHEE (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, in recent months, the Chinese and the British governments have engaged in an unpleasant dispute over our political system, resulting in economic losses on the part of Hong Kong. Although some economists and government officials assured us, in unison, of the firm foundation of our economy and anticipated further economic growth this year, I am afraid that Hong Kong, being just a small community, cannot withstand successive blows. I believe the general public are in favour of democracy, yet still more I believe they yearn for continuous stability as well as prosperity, and would never want to witness another confidence crisis in Hong Kong again. I therefore urge both governments to refrain from adopting 'microphone' diplomacy and, in the long term interests of Hong Kong, reopen negotiations to settle their political dispute. It is my wish, as well as the wish of the general public that in the coming year, Hong Kong will regain its momentum and the Sino-British-Hong Kong relations become normal again, so that the people of Hong Kong will be at ease again and the economy keep on thriving.
In evaluating the Council's performance over the past year, I would say it is one of initiative and enterprise. Many projects have been completed one after another. Take the Eastern District for example, there are the Chai Wan Park, the Java Road Complex and the Electric Road Complex. Other projects like the renovation of the City Hall and the construction of the Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground are also in good progress. I have long been asking the Government to build a sports ground in the Eastern District so as to cater for the needs of the schools on Hong Kong Island since the District alone is crammed with more than 170 kindergartens, primary, secondary and post-secondary schools. I am glad that the Government has finally accepted my proposal and allocated a site at the Siu Sai Wan Reclamation of the Eastern District for the building of a sports ground. However, I hope the departments concerned will make sure that the project will be completed by early 1996, and that the new sports ground is able to accommodate 12 000 spectators who will not be affected by unfavourable external factors such as nuisances caused by the refuse transfer point and strong wind. Mr. Chairman, another proposal which I have put forward to the Council is to provide a children games room in each Urban Council Complex. I am happy that my suggestion has been adopted by the Council and the Java Road Complex will soon have such a room. It is indeed commendable for the Council to take my advice so readily. I hope this new facility can be extended to every Urban Council Complex so that the local residents can be provided with better service.
Last year, when the Urban Council consulted the Eastern District Board on the Five-year Capital Works Programme, members strongly urged the Council
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to build a swimming pool in the central part of the district with a view to meeting the local demand for swimming facilities. I fully endorse their view. The population of the Eastern District has been on the rise due to such factors as the Shau Kei Wan public housing development and the housing projects in the Siu Sai Wan and Aldrich Bay reclamation areas. The existing swimming pool in the Victoria Park, owing to its good accessibility, is frequented by the residents of various districts rather than those of the Eastern District alone. The Chai Wan Swimming Pool, on the other hand, has a low usage rate because of its unfavourable location. Although the Council has incorporated some leisure pool facilities in it to boost its usage, the Eastern District residents still yearn for a new swimming pool. The Department has subsequently presented a paper on the feasibility of incorporating leisure pool facilities in the Victoria Park Swimming Pool, but the Eastern District Board is still of the opinion that the best option is to build a swimming/leisure pool in the central part of the district where dense population and good accessibility warrant its construction. Moreover, a new swimming/leisure pool can help to divert pool users from the Victoria Park Swimming Pool and prevent it from being over-crowded. I therefore hope the Council can give serious consideration to the proposal.
The Council has spared no efforts in providing and organizing cultural and entertainment activities for the public. Other than organizing local activities and various joint programmes with other organizations, the Council also presents cultural and entertainment programmes by overseas artists such as those staged in the International Arts Carnival. Besides, the Council has made improvements and modifications to existing facilities, like renovating the City Hall and upgrading the Ko Shan Theatre, with a view to providing better services to the public. These endeavours are also commendable. However, as far as cultural and entertainment programmes are concerned, I think too much heed has been paid to the young people. Although there is a larger proportion of the young people than senior citizens in Hong Kong, I hope that the Council can plan more activities for the latter to meet their needs and preferences. For recreational activities well received by senior citizens, the Council should organize more of these and simplify the admission procedures to make it even more convenient to the senior citizens. At present, they are enjoying half-price concessions for the cultural and entertainment programmes presented by the Council and the booking of recreational venues, but I would propose that such a concessionary policy be made more flexible. For their favourite programmes such as Cantonese opera, the Council should enlarge the concessionary quota, so that they can have more opportunity to enjoy the programmes they like on concessionary terms.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, as the representative of the Eastern District Board, I hope that the building of Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground, the redevelopment of Causeway Bay Market and the construction of the UC Chai Wan Complex can be carried out as scheduled; and that the proposals of the construction of a swimming/leisure pool in the central part of the Eastern District and a new market in Shau Kei Wan can be duly considered by the Council. I also wish to
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