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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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The third question concerns the monitoring of Wembley International. I can only reply to Miss WONG that, in fact, the BOG's role is to monitor the management company and it has no special plan to review whether the performance of Wembley International is satisfactory. On this point, if Miss WONG thinks there is such a need, I can bring it up for discussion at the meeting of BOG and consider if there is need for conducting a review,
The fourth question concerns 19 to 31 events. I believe the numbers refer to items of activity. 52 events, as mentioned in my reply, show that the forecast of 19 to 31 has been exceeded. One can say that there was more promotion work and that, in terms of numbers, more than 31 events as forecasted were staged.
The last question is to do with the advance of $175 million. I can clearly say to Miss WONG that the Stadium is a venue of the Council and it is not itself a body corporate, so to a certain extent the funds of the Stadium cannot be separated from the Council's accounts. However, I can tell Miss WONG clearly that this sum of money is a temporary advance to the Stadium as operating funds which will have to be paid back to the Council in future. I am certain about this point, and the above are my answers to the questions put by Miss WONG.
Mr. Ambrose Cheung Wing-SUM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have two follow-up questions. The first one relates to paragraph 6 of the reply on how we deal with operating funds and the remuneration of Wembley International. We understand that, in the last few years, the Department in fact took up the role of a bridge. It directly input manpower, time and technicality for the management of the Hong Kong Stadium. Paragraph 6 gives an example of the large amount of UC resources put in by the USD in the last two or three years for dealing with turf problems. If we follow normal procedures, the manpower, technicality and time resources should be regarded as items on the Stadium's operating funds. My question is whether the Department has listed out a special item in respect of the funds used in the past for the operation of the Stadium. If the answer is 'yes', I would like to know the exact amounts for each year in the past. If it is ‘no', I want to ask if BOG will consider including such items. You see, the remuneration for Wembley International is calculated at a percentage after deducting operating costs from the total revenue. The point has a direct bearing on the remuneration of Wembley International. This is my first follow-up question.
My second follow-up question refers to paragraph 12 of the Chairman's reply. I am a member of BOG, but from my participation in its work, I cannot draw a conclusion as stated in paragraph 12 that 'the Stadium Manager has been successful in promoting the use of the Stadium'. The criteria I am applying are, as stated in paragraph 8 of the reply, to expect Wembley International 'to bring in quality sport, culture and entertainment events to Hong Kong; to promote the Stadium as an internationally recognised venue'. Mr. Chairman, when comparing 31 with 52 events as stated in paragraph 12, the nature of events has not been taken into account. Of the 52 events, my understanding is that 80% or more than
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Page 23 of 498