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users in the user liaison group into different categories and group the regular museum visitors together, including those who have joined our courses and talks or those who have visited our museums in groups. If we can have regular discussions with these people, then we can collect their views systematically.
Besides, I learnt recently that there is a group called 'The Friends of the Hong Kong Museum of Art'. However, this group fails to act as a bridge between the Museum of Art and the public, and basically the Councillors know nothing about its existence. Indeed, The Friends of the Hong Kong Museum of Art was formed in response to the request of the Council by a group of people who are enthusiastic about art. Members of the group are very active at the meetings and they also help to promote activities launched by the Museum. I think that the Council should set up a liaison group with The Friends of the Hong Kong Museum of Art as soon as possible so that we can listen to their views regularly. Moreover, we can also set up similar groups like Friends of the Museum of History, Friends of the Science Museum and Friends of the Space Museum.
Lastly, with regard to improving services, I think we should listen more to outside views because for those of us who are laymen, such views can help us considerably in formulating policies. I observed that in the Culture Select Committee there are a lot of advisory panels, but in respect of museum services, we only have a few. At present, the Science Museum does not have an advisory panel, nor does the Space Museum. The Museum of History does have an advisory panel, but it only gives views on the purchase of exhibits and on individual exhibitions. The Museum of Art also has an advisory panel, but its terms of reference are similar to those of the Museum of History. I think an advisory panel on museum services should be set up as soon as possible to give the Council an overall view regarding the operation of different museums, such as views on exhibitions, education plans and publications etc.
Mr. Chairman, museum and library services are provided for the public. Yesterday, a friend of mine who had just come back from Shanghai told me that he had visited the Shanghai Museum. This museum had just been commissioned and there were about 9,000 visitors a day. Of course, Shanghai has a larger population than Hong Kong, but if we compare the 400 visitors to our museums per day with the 9,000 visitors to the Shanghai Museum, we can find that the difference is very great. I hope that our museums will be popular and that when we map out our 5-year plan for all of our museums, we can make the best use of the user liaison group and the advisory panels as important channels for consultation.
Mr. Chairman, I move my amendment and I hope to have Councillors' support.
MR. LAM MAN-FAI (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I second this amended motion.
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