HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
71
all the stipulated procedures are met. Whether an activity is of high risk and beneficial to the community depends on its nature and its effect to the participants. To facilitate the Council's consideration of an activity which is new to them, the Department will collect information on the activity based on the researches conducted locally and overseas. The information collected will then be presented to the Council for making a decision. The bungy jumping activity is considered a high risk activity and this assessment has been made after making reference to the experience in overseas countries.
(b) The second part of the question asked whether the Department had considered the risk and benefit of the trapeze performance before recommending it for the Council's consideration. This activity was first developed in January 1993 for promoting a new form of artistic expression in the field of trapeze with a 15-member group consisting of 9 aerialists, contemporary lyric singer, 1 classical cellist, 1 lighting engineer and other technical staff. The trapeze artists who performed in a pyramid-like metal structure were trained in French circus schools. This performance was for public viewing only. In accepting this application, the Cultural Activities Sub-Committee at its meeting on 1 February 1996 had considered the safety aspect as well as the risk that the show might attract an exceptionally large crowd to the venue to view the performance.
(c) Trapeze and bungy jumping are different in nature. The former is a performance carried out by well trained trapeze artists and members of the public attending as spectators. However, in the application on bungy jumping, the applicant stated clearly that he expected that some 200 members of the public would participate as jumpers by paying a set fee. The participants may not have the training and experience in this activity and this may increase the level of risk.
It is worth mentioning that the first bungy jumping application for use of the Hong Kong Stadium aimed at promoting this activity through public participation. After this application was declined, the organiser applied for holding a demonstration in front of the Urban Councillors at the Stadium with a view to convincing them to accept his bookings for organizing this activity. The Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Stadium at its meeting on 11 April 1996 considered that they had already acquired sufficient information regarding the bungy jumping activity from researches and codes of practice in overseas countries, and a demonstration as proposed by the organiser would not be necessary.
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I have 2 follow-up questions. The first one is to do with the reply stating that trapeze is a performance carried out by well trained artists. If, similarly, the bungy jumping show is to be performed by specially trained people, will the Council support it on the same principle?
Page 74 of 498
Page 74 of 498