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MS. CARLYE TSUI WAI-LING, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
5. MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Pleasure Grounds (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1994 be made under section 109 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
He said (in Cantonese):-As Chairman of the Libraries Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:
'RESOLVED that the Pleasure Grounds (Urban Council) (Amendment) Bylaw 1994 be made under section 109 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
This amendment will enable full-time students to use certain Urban Council sports facilities at concessionary rates to take effect from 1 February 1994.
In November 1993, the Recreation and Finance Select Committees approved to extend concessionary rates to full-time students for the use of standard tennis court, squash courts and indoor games halls at half the normal rates during non-peak hours in order to encourage greater use. The loss in revenue would be about $0.2 million.
Against this background, Sir, I so move.
MR. YIM KWOK-ON, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
6.
DR. RONALD LEUNG DING-BONG, THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved the following motion:
'THAT this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1994/95.'
He said (in English):---I rise to move the motion in my name.
This is the most important debate by the Council every year when we review our work in the previous year and consider our way forward for the coming year.
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
There was considerable debate in 1993 between the British and Chinese Governments and among political parties and organizations in Hong Kong
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over Governor Patten's proposals on constitutional reforms. Of primary concern to the Urban Council is the abolition of ‘appointed membership' in the Council. Members' Consensus is that this category of membership should be retained since it would enable the Council to benefit from expertise from different professions to look after our works with its wide remit. This message had been clearly reflected to the Chinese Authorities by the Council's Delegation to Beijing in October 1993 and the Chinese Authorities were supportive of the Council's view.
The Council has discussed the matter at great length and the mandate which evolved was that the Council opposed to the introduction of the Bill until agreement was reached between China and Britain. The view of the Council had been put forward very clearly through the Council's representative at the LegCo. Though the Council is not a political body and that we have Members with different political aspirations, I am glad that we remain as a united and coherent entity and we are able to reach comfortable consensus even in some of the more controversial issues in this difficult and momentous year of political development in Hong Kong.
FORTHCOMING UC CAPITAL WORK DEVELOPMENTS
(a) Redevelopment of the Hong Kong Stadium
The redevelopment of the new Hong Kong Stadium was funded by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club with a donation of $850 million. This world class stadium is scheduled to be opened on 11 March 1994. The Council will continue to manage this venue and has agreed to advance a sum of $175 million for the fitting-out costs. I am most grateful for the hard work done by the Working Party on the Fitting-out Costs and the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Stadium. I would also like to register my appreciation for the understanding and co-operation of all our Council Members who are vital to the successful commissioning of this venue on time. Members may be delighted to learn that the venue has already been booked for a number of international events during the month of March 1994 and that all VIP suites have been fully taken up almost immediately after they were advertised. Let's hope that all the fitting-out and preparatory work will progress smoothly and be geared towards this world class Stadium's inauguration on 11 March 1994.
(b) Development in library facilities UC Central Library
There has always been a pressing need to expand the existing City Hall Public Library in view of its very congested condition. In the past year, I am glad that we were able to expedite the planning and the identification of the Moreton Terrace as the site for this purpose-built UC Central Library.
This new Central Library will provide adequate space (a total of 16 000m2) for all required library facilities, and in addition, it will house the administrative headquarters, an exhibition gallery and a Technical Processing Unit. The current price of building the new Central Library is $257 million, exclusive of soft landscaping and the 16% on-cost. It is scheduled to be completed in 42
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