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certain conditions including the 65 decibel limit will have to be met. That is a direct answer. We have asked Wembley a direct question on whether this particular event would lead to noise pollution. Wembley gave us a direct answer and that was in the negative. So we have to await the result.
MR. WONG SIU-YEE (in Cantonese): At the end of October 1993, Wembley informed USD that they could not comply with the Noise Control Ordinance. They informed USD that there were two options: to receive continuous injunctions from the court, or to amend the Noise Control Ordinance. I wonder if the BOG has received that letter from USD. If the answer is in the affirmative, what has the BOG done? And has the BOG reported the matter to or consulted the Urban Council?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): I don't have the information on this. Perhaps the Department can give a direct answer to Mr. WONG later on. Because that question in fact is not directly related to the question.
CHAIRMAN (in English): Maybe we can supply it at our next standing committee.
MR. WONG SIU-YEE (in Cantonese): But part (d) of Mr. Ma Lee-wo's question is: Does the Board of Governors consider it unsuitable for the Stadium to stage concerts again? I think the question should be answered. My question is: Has the BOG received the copied letter from Wembley? Your answer should be either yes or no. Maybe you failed to report it to the Urban Council after receiving it!
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. WONG has asked whether the BOG considers the Stadium a suitable venue for concerts. According to Standing Order 12(13), if you ask the views of the BOG, then I am afraid I cannot speak on behalf of BOG members. In other words, I cannot represent them. I can only give you the facts. I cannot tell you how other BOG members feel about it. At the last UC open meeting, I did say that it was only on the 22nd February that BOG received papers in relation to noise. What Mr. WONG referred to was a letter in August 1993, I don't believe I received a copy of that letter as Council was in recess in August.
CHAIRMAN (in English): His answer is 'no'.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman. I have a question concerning the Asian Youth Orchestra. I understand that the Council has been making some improvement work on the sound system covering the stands. By 31 July or before the concert commences, can we expect these improvement works to be completed? In other words, the sound should not be emanated by one main speaker but should be dispersed through various points at the spectator stands.
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): As I've said, fine-tuning of the sound system will be completed in mid May, so it will only be a couple of days away. But there may not be tests to try out what the sound distribution is like.
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MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese): I have a number of questions. The first is in relation to summonses. I know that today we will have to appear in court. If found guilty, will the Stadium Manager be responsible for the fines or will the UC be responsible? Will that be included in the expenses of the Stadium? Will we be asking the hirer to bear that? My second question is whether the Stadium is a suitable venue for staging concerts. Mr. LAU says that he will consider the matter and make a recommendation to the SCWC in due course. What is meant by ‘in due course'? The concert by the Asian Youth Orchestra which will be held in July was approved on last Saturday. What are we going to do in future? Are we going to deal with the applications on a case by case basis? We have 9 provisional bookings. Will we be dealing with those 9 bookings in a similar manner? When will the BOG be making a recommendation to SCWC in relation to the suitability of the Stadium for holding concerts? Another question is related to the 9 provisional bookings. Do we have rules and regulations prescribing a time limit within which potential hirers must be informed on whether their applications are accepted or not? Or do we just let it drag on till they lose interest and decide that they won't go ahead with the events?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in relation to summonses, I don't wish to comment on that because as Mr. MA Lee-wo has said the case is being heard, and we can't speculate on whether fines would be imposed either. So let's wait till everything is concluded and I will answer that question at the SCWC meeting. The second question is in relation to approval of applications and report to SCWC. Our established practice now is that at every second SCWC meeting of the month there will be a report from the Stadium Manager, which would include venue applications. Thirdly, regarding whether there is a time or a deadline to inform potential hirers, we do not have any set rule. If we do approve the application we will inform them as early as possible. But if we can't give them an affirmative reply, then we will not notify them as yet. In the next couple of months, we do not have any applications for concerts, so that is not our immediate worry.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese): I am not satisfied with the reply. First, in relation to fines-who is going to bear the fines? Is it going to be the UC or Wembley? I don't think that will affect court judgement. I don't see why Mr. LAU can't answer that question. As to when you will make a recommendation to SCWC in relation to the staging of concerts, that has not been answered. Finally, concerning new applications for concerts in the coming few months, your replied that there are 9 provisional applications. I would like to know when will the next concert be staged?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): According to our existing agreement, the hires will have to be accountable to the Stadium Manager. The Urban Council, in certain areas, have the responsibility to protect the Stadium Manager. But if the Manager breaches the law, then the Urban Council will be absolved of all responsibilities. As to whether there is a time limit to inform
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