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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
of the Capital Works Select Committee, I want to remind the Architectural Services Department solemnly again that the Council will continue to look squarely at their ineffective monitoring of projects.
On the other issue, the Urban Council spends half of its resources on the provision of cultural, entertainment and recreational activities for over 3 million people in the Urban areas, but it seems there are not enough popular recreational activities at present, so that certain age groups cannot enjoy the Council's services. In my opinion, swimming is the most popular activity at present. Urban Council swimming pools attract a lot of people every summer. Although the provision of leisure pools in UC swimming pools is a marvellous idea, it is a pity that leisure pools are only available in those swimming pools completed in the 90's. I think the Urban Council should speed up the construction work of the Stanley Main Beach Aquatic Leisure Centre so that the project can be started and completed as early as possible. There are many Urban Council beaches where natural resources abound. However, their development is belated for ten years. Therefore I hope the construction work of the Stanley Main Beach Aquatic Leisure Centre can start as early as possible so as to provide multifarious aquatic sports which can attract more youngsters to take part and develop their potential so that talented people can be trained there and get qualified to represent Hong Kong in competitions. I fully support the plan to develop the aquatic leisure centre and I also hope emphasis would be put on activities to train more people of talent.
Furthermore, I have an idea: set up a clubhouse style recreation and sports venue. In fact, similar mode of organization was adopted several years ago in certain UC indoor games halls such as the Hong Kong Squash Centre, Po Kong Village Road Indoor Games Hall, and Sai Wan Ho and Wah Fu Leisure Centres now under construction. However, each of these venues allows only one kind of recreation and sports activity, and thus people find it neither fish, flesh, nor fowl. Nowadays, certain large estates have established private clubhouses to provide some recreation facilities, but most members of the public are unable to afford the enrollment fees nor qualified for membership because the fees are so high and membership is limited to estate flat owners. So I think the Council may introduce such kind of service to cater for the people's need or enhance their quality of life and enjoyment. By clubhouse style facilities, I mean a multi-purpose holidaying venue which is an integration of recreation facilities like courts, swimming pools, cinemas, restaurants and libraries and allows people of different age groups and interests to enjoy the activities they like in the premises. Instead of the current USD-style management, clubhouse style management will be adopted to provide quality services. We should also set families as our target of membership, so that people after enrollment can spend their holiday in a UC Club. A UC Club can enhance the residents' sense of belonging to their district and help to achieve and intensify the concept of 'Enriching City Life'. It will be an achievement of
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