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this new and large-scale sports complex can cater for sports which are already very popular in other countries.
As for cultural, entertainment and recreational facilities, I hope we can construct more amenities in that vicinity or in Yau Ma Tei. As the supply of land on Hong Kong Island is short, we can only try to bid for sites in the new reclamation area in Kowloon. I hope we can start planning now though it will be a long time before we can come to the actual construction. I hope that after the removal of Kai Tak Airport, we can start planning for the construction. I also earnestly hope that the facilities will be ready for commissioning before the year 2000 so that the essence of the slogan 'Enriching City Life' can really be achieved. Mr. Chairman, with these remarks. I hope to strive with my colleagues in this Council to construct some of the venues that we are short of. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I support the motion.
The Hon. Li WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—In this year's Annual Debate, I am the first one to speak on behalf of the Democratic Party; the other eleven Urban Councillors of the Democratic Party will speak on policies of their concern later. I will focus on two aspects: democratization of the political system and financial arrangements involving the Hong Kong Stadium.
Before speaking on these topics, I would like to go back to my speech during last year's debate in which I mentioned five wishes. Of these only two-and-a-half have materialised. They are:
The first thing is improvement in the management of Urban Council markets. The Urban Services Department should be praised for having set out to solve problems in this area. For example, the open space at the escalator of Shui Wo Street Market in Kwun Tong has already been cordoned off. The problem of illegal hawking there has shown a marked improvement.
The second thing is the provision of concessionary rates for the disabled (like the elderly) using Urban Council facilities. This has also been implemented.
Apart from these, I also hoped last year that the turf and noise problems of the Hong Kong Stadium could be completely solved. Unfortunately, we have only found an initial solution to the turf problem and there is no improvement at all in the noise problem. Therefore only half of my wish has come true.
It is regrettable that my other two wishes have not realized. I still want to call on the Urban Council to co-organise more grassroot-level activities with local groups and cut certain extravagant and showy large-scale cultural and entertainment activities so as to waste less money. Another thing which I have always emphasized since I joined the Council is the hope that the Council can conduct effective clearance operations at the blackspots of illegal hawking. Despite my repeated urges over the years, not much improvement has been made.
This year, I would like to make these two-and-a-half unfulfilled wishes again, hoping they will materialize next year.
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