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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
more information from the market; secondly, formulate an objective and comprehensive policy on recreation and sports, and consider its further development and its way forward. With these remarks, I support Mr. Tim S. Manuel CHAN's motion.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): Ms. Jennifer CHOW Kit-bing has registered to speak.
Ms. JENNIFER CHOW KIT-BING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the present sports policy in Hong Kong is mainly to identify sports activities for development and provide additional resources to promote sports development. In this regard, the supporting role of the Urban Council is particularly important because the Council owns a lot of recreation and sports venues and plays an important role in the development and management of sports facilities and venues such as playgrounds, indoor games halls, holiday villages, swimming pools and beaches, etc. Moreover, we organize training courses, sports competitions and other activities for public participation and provide parks and sitting-out areas etc. for the public as well. In order to achieve the target of wide public participation, the Council should have a set of comprehensive plans to ensure efficient allocation of resources and provision of a wide variety of activities for people of all walks of life and different age groups as well as for the disabled. In this regard, I think coordination is very important. A set of long-term and comprehensive plans should be formulated especially in respect of venues, education and promotion. In view of the Council's important role in recreation and sports development, we should take the following considerations into account in formulating a set of forward-looking plans which can keep pace with the ever-progressing society:
(1) While providing sports activities at the district level, we should try to identify those who have talents in the sports field and give them proper training to train them into elites in the field.
(2) In provision of recreation and sports facilities, we should make the best use of the facilities and venues. At present, many schools lack sports venues. We should consider marking certain time slots of some venues for regular school use and open such venues for public use during other times.
(3) In formulating plans in respect of venues, we should conduct surveys in various aspects to obtain correct information on population mobility and community development. With the changes and developments in the society, people's demand for recreation and sports activities has also changed. The public have higher expectations on the Council. Therefore, as our society progresses, the Urban Council should make improvements on recreation and sports policies and provide sufficient recreation and sports facilities and activities to the public in order to fulfill our goal of 'Enriching City Life'.
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