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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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MR. JOSEPH CHAN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, we can liaise with USD to see whether we can prosecute them once every hour around the clock.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): As we have a long agenda, I hope Members will ask questions in one go and do not repeat the questions otherwise the meeting will be unduly prolonged.
MR. WU CHI-WAI (in Cantonese): I hope Mr. CHAN can clarify the following question. As the RCB is now reviewing the legislation on penalty, is it necessary for the Council to review the licensing procedure?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN (in Cantonese): The RCB is reviewing the whole licensing system and not the particular legislation on penalty.
(8) MR. Wong King-cheung asked the following question (in Cantonese): I understand that the Urban Council intends to develop some water sports centres. The former boat club at St. Stephen's Beach would be an ideal site, however, the Lands Department will only allocate the land to the Urban Council for development in 1997. In fact, Stanley Main Beach is also an appropriate site for developing a water sports centre. I would like to ask:
(a) When will the Urban Council set up the first water sports centre?
(b) Could USD first set up a water sports centre at Stanley Main Beach so that the public can enjoy this kind of new activities?
MR. RONNIE WONG Man-chiu, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): The question is in two parts. The first part asks when will the Council set up the first water sports centre and the second part enquires if USD could first set up a water sports centre at Stanley Main Beach to allow the general public to enjoy this new kind of activities?
2. The answer to the first part of the question is that the Department has been discussing with Government the possibility of developing water sports centres on the southern coast of Hong Kong Island for some time and Members were advised of progress in December 1994 and April 1995. Based on current discussions with Government departments, the District Lands Office (Hong Kong South) has advised that the Stanley Services Sailing Centre (formerly known as the Stanley Services Boat Club) at St. Stephen Beach should be ready for handover to the Department in mid 1997. The St. Stephen Beach site is expected to be the first of the four sites being considered, to be ready. Assuming that the site is handed over in June 1997 and a normal construction time of 18 months, this centre is expected to be ready by early 1999. In the interim, the Department has arranged through the District Lands Office (Hong Kong South) to gain access to use the present site for the purpose of organizing water sports activities starting this summer.
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