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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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within our society. Our existing Summary Offence Ordinance pinpoints obscene performances and vice operators and hence only performance that well exceed Cat.III are prosecuted. For performances not punishable under existing law but are sufficient to affect juvenile audiences, we have no way to monitor and supervise. As the provider of venues, the Urban Council should not merely consider administrative or commercial value. We should target at public interest and the protection of young people. As such, I propose that we
• consider and review how we can amend our terms and conditions of hire towards this end. Maybe we can consider other administrative means to take into account the complaints and opinions of the general public. For example, we can set up a telephone hotline.
Since performance venues are managed by the Urban Council and approval for their use are granted by the Urban Council, when problems arise, the Council cannot just sit on them. Sitting on the problems is an irony to our spirit of promoting healthy cultural and recreational activities. In fact, for public interest, the Council abides by certain unwritten rules in hiring out venues. For example, on the use of the Hong Kong Stadium, the Council imposed many restrictions on the staging of concerts there because of noise pollution. We do not want to cause discomfort to people in the neighbourhood.
I do not know if our practice of care can be described as censorship. Our premise is the protection of public interest. In fact, in the hire of the Hong Kong Stadium, the Urban Council has taken up the role of the first gatekeeper of the Environmental Protection Department. Similarly, in monitoring concerts which we agree should be the work of TELA, can we again consider to act as gatekeeper? I am sure noise pollution affects our health, but the effect is by far not as serious as the impact of indecent shows on young minds.
Finally, let me reiterate that I am heartily in support of artistic freedom and I encourage creativity. I hope the Urban Council will continue to promote the development of performing art in Hong Kong so that it can have more space for development in a healthy direction. With the same earnesty, or more so, I hope the Council will seek to protect the physical and mental health of our young people. I would like our young people to grow up unaffected by bad influence. I have so spoken in support of the amended motion.
MR. TIM S. MANUAL CHAN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I speak in support of the motion by Ms. Ada Wong. My reason is simple. Despite Mr. WEN's clarification in his reply of the policy of this Council and the Buddhist saying quoted by a Member, we cannot change the worry of the cultural circle and members of the public. I say so because for some time now, despite my limited knowledge of cultural matters, I have gathered a message. The LAM Yuk-wah case, the Poon Sing-lui case and the recent Leslie CHEUNG concert were all discussed at different meetings. Members who spoke on the topic extended a message of 'censorship'. The word may not have been used, to be
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