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Page 239 of 485
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
to add, the first point being on management and human touch, the second point being on environmental protection and air-conditioning.
MR. LAI WING-LIN (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I would like to raise a few points not covered in your motion speech. I hope we should not confine ourselves to using designs of the Architectural Services Department but should invite the private sector to take part.
Secondly, the design of markets should aim at one goal, that is to stop subsidies eventually. At present, each U.C. market receives millions of dollars in subsidy from the Council each year. This is quite beyond me, since U.C. markets do not entail premium, construction cost, depreciation cost (assuming that the market will be rebuilt after several decades), indirect management and operation costs. With all these, I wonder why we still have to subsidize the markets tremendously. I think we should make it our goal to render the markets self-financing or at least the markets themselves should be able to balance their own books so that we do not need to subsidize them. As several Members have pointed out, the present enclosed, fortress-like markets should be converted into open markets. If a market has shop premises on the ground floor opening to the street, the rents for these premises can probably rise by 10 times. The resulting increase in revenue for the Council will offset part of our subsidies to markets. As for the overall design of markets, it should aim at comfort and convenience for the customers. Their needs should also be catered to with good management service. Poor management will lead to a lot of problems. Moreover, ancillary facilities such as public scales should be provided so that the citizens will have confidence in the markets. At present, U.C. markets are provided with public scales. I hope when the relevant paper is submitted to the Committee, it will include such information. It is important to have these scales installed because they will attract customers and tourists on the one hand and also convey a message that no one will be cheated in U.C. markets.
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About installation of air-conditioning systems in markets, it seems that I am the only one who objects to this. I have just visited the mall on the Peak. The washrooms are very elegant, fully covered with marble tiles. But they smell because of the air-conditioning system. If a crowded market is installed with an air-conditioning system, it is difficult to deal with the smell technically. If we provide air-conditioning to all markets, can this problem be solved? Take public toilets as an example. People using such facilities sometimes have to stay there for over ten minutes but they don't feel hot there. Why? This is because the toilets are spacious and well-ventilated inside. The smell just fades in the air. Therefore, if the markets are spacious enough, it will not be hot or smelly inside. Therefore, I don't think air-conditioning is necessary.
MR. TO BOON-MAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I am very excited and happy when listening to your speech but on the other hand, I feel that we seem to be praising ourselves behind closed doors. Sometimes we have to be more objective. I agree that we should install air-conditioning systems in our new markets, and also