HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Members' concerns, i.e., why is the construction time for some U.C. projects significantly longer? Projects of other departments may take a short time to construct but our projects take longer time. In this respect, I believe that we need a mechanism to be confirmed by both the Department and the A.S.D.. It is hoped that in the coming future, such slippages do not occur in our capital works projects any more.
4. MR. WU CHI-WAI asked the following question (in Cantonese):—In order to protect the courts of Indoor Games Halls, the Urban Council stipulates certain requirements on the sports shoes and sports equipment of the court users. I would like to ask:
(a) What are these requirements?
(b) What are the criteria adopted in setting these requirements?
(c) Is it considered that the present designs of sports shoes and sports equipment would cause damage to the courts?
(d) If not, should the requirements be amended for the convenience of users?
Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR, Vice-Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—The question consists of four parts. The first part seeks details about the requirement on the sports shoes and sports equipment of the court users of the U.C. Indoor Games Halls.
The requirements on the shoes to be used in the courts of the Indoor Games Halls are that the shoes must be clean, non-marking and flat rubber-soled.
As regards sports equipment, at the moment there are no specific requirements so long as the equipment used is appropriate to the type of sport activity. Nevertheless, since squash rackets may in certain circumstances come into contact with the walls of the squash court thus leaving marks on the walls, squash players are usually advised to apply white tapes onto the colour rim of their rackets. The rationale for such a measure is to reduce as far as possible unsightly markings on the walls. It also provides some protection to the players' own rackets. Notice displayed at the squash courts to such effect are advisory in nature. Players may obtain white tapes from the venue staff.
As regards the second part of the question, the criteria adopted in setting the above requirements are as follows:
(a) To keep the floor surface in a clean, hygienic and usable condition;
(b) To protect the floor surfaces from unnecessary abrasion;
(c) To protect the floor surface from being defaced by marking shoes as the marks would affect both the cleanliness and line markings of the courts;
(d) To ensure the safety of the users (this applies particularly to the requirement for the wearing of flat-soled rubber shoes).
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