1997

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

as to set the time limit at a time they believe business would stop. All parties concerned should work it out by consultation. We would like to see investors in business and we do not want to cause nuisance to residents in the vicinity. We are proceeding along this line. We will see how things work out.

As for the other question, I note from information in hand that 4 liquor licences have been issued for Tong Chong Street, 9 for Staunton Street. For new applications under process, 1 is for Tong Chong Street and 7 for Staunton Street. We can see that within 3 months, there has been a flood of 8 to 10 applications for Staunton Street. We are closely monitoring the situation. Mr. Ambrose CHEUNG can rest assured that each and every Member of the Board will bear in mind Members' views when processing applications.

(2) Ms. ADA WONG YING-KAY asked the following question (in Cantonese): 'The 'Urban Council Gold Card Fitness Scheme' has been in operation for more than 2 years. I have the following questions:

(a) What is the total number of people issued with the Gold Card up to now?

(b) On average, how many hours in a month does each cardholder hire a fitness room?

(c) How many fitness rooms are released in the mornings before office hours and in the evenings after office hours every month for holding Urban Council courses or for use by other organisations? What is the percentage of such uses when compared with the total opening hours?

(d) Has the Urban Services Department received any complaints from Gold Card holders, through different channels (including the press), that they found it very difficult to hire any fitness rooms in the mornings before office hours and in the evenings after office hours?

(e) Please give a breakdown of the full costs of the 'Urban Council Gold Card Fitness Scheme' last year, including the costs on promotional programmes and regular correspondence. Have the programmes achieved the anticipated effects and goals?

(f) How often does the Department conduct checks of the fitness equipment in fitness rooms? What is the procedure for replacement of equipment, and which grade of staff makes the decision?'

MS. GRACE AU YUK-HAR, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This question falls into 6 parts and the first part enquires about the total number of people issued with the Gold Card up to now.

Since the introduction of the scheme in late 1994, a total of 11,490 Gold Cards has been issued as at March 1997.

The second part of the question asks how many hours each cardholder hires a fitness room per month on average.