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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Mr. Francis Tang Chi-ho (in Cantonese):-I have an opinion regarding Mr. CHAN's motion. Firstly, as a Council owning most of the recreational facilities, it is necessary for us to review the development plan for the future. In particular, 50% of our venues are now left unused during normal office hours. How should we handle and use these venues? This is a topic which needs special attention. Thus, the Democratic Party is in support of the motion. But two Members just mentioned about elite training which may be somewhat different from our original idea of sports-for-all. This is worth studying. Therefore, I hope this can be discussed in our Five-Year Plan. Another point I very much agree is the use of venues by the disabled. I think this aspect also worths our discussion in the Five-Year Plan. Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
Chairman (in Cantonese):-Thank you. Mr. WU Chi-wai, you have put up your hand, do you want to speak?
MR. WU CHI-WAI (in Cantonese):-I originally did not intend to speak, but it seems that the problems faced by the Urban Council's recreation and sports activities and our cultural and art activities are quite similar, so I want to say something. We have the Sports Development Board and the Hong Kong Sports Institute which are obviously the venue and institution meant for providing training to sports talents. However, the objective of the Urban Council is sports-for-all, or participation by the general public. This should be regarded as one of our directions. I think there is an actual need in this. As the money we spend is given to us by the public, the services we provide should be designed for the use by the general public. I don't think there is anything wrong with this objective.
However, as the society progresses, my experience reminds me that whether an activity can be developed comprehensively or whether it can last long depends on whether it is backed up by sports stars. For example, ordinary football training classes may not be popular. However, if we have Kwok Ka-ming and Li Kin-wo to be the coaches, then the situation is different. Therefore, we can see that there is actually no conflict between elite training and promotion of sports activities by the Urban Council. It is not a black-and-white situation.
Therefore, I am very much in support of Mr. Tim S. Manuel CHAN's motion that we should have a comprehensive review on these problems. But I think that in reviewing the directions, we should also take the development of the society into account. We should consider how the Urban Council can make use of the expertise of the professionally trained sportsmen in the field to help us promote our sports activities. With these remarks, I support Mr. Tim S. Manuel CHAN's motion.
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