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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
The third part of the question asks about the existing measures taken by the Council against organizers who cancel the activities after their bookings are approved.
For recreation venues, the using of parks or playgrounds for holding activities by any organizations is rent free at present. For those organizations which booked these venues and later on cancelled their activities without giving reasonable explanations, the Department will, in processing their future applications, consider their previous booking records before deciding whether to accept their applications or not.
As regards venues for which hire charges is required, such as sports grounds or indoor games halls, the organizers are required to pay the hire charges in full 10 days before holding the activities; otherwise the reserved venues will be released for use by other persons. For those organizers which do not show up at the booked venues without giving any reasonable excuse, the hire charges will be forfeited. Moreover, in processing their future applications, the Department will consider their previous booking records before deciding whether to accept their applications or not.
For cultural venues and stadia, the Terms and Conditions of Hire of the venues concerned clearly stipulates that if a confirmed booking is cancelled, the hire charges paid will be forfeited, regardless of whether any reason is provided, to compensate for the loss incurred by the cancellation of booking.
MR. WU CHI-WAI (in Cantonese):—According to paragraphs 4 and 5 of the reply document, 10 activities were cancelled after giving prior notification to the Department. I would like to know what are these activities.
Secondly, how many days in advance did the Department receive notice of cancellation and what were the reasons of cancellation?
Thirdly, are there channels for other organizations to know of vacated slots so that they may apply for use of the venues?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—In response to Mr. Wu's question, 7 activities were cancelled by the Association after giving prior notice to the Department. They include use of the Victoria Park from 31 May to 1 June for a Chinese folk art variety show for which written notice of cancellation was given on 28 May, a carnival at Li Cheng Uk Playground scheduled for 15 June which was cancelled by written notice on 4 April, another carnival at Ko Shan Road Park scheduled for 27 to 28 June which was cancelled by written notice on 22 June, a variety show at Choi Hung Road Indoor Games Hall (including the main hall, the table-tennis room and 2 other activity rooms) and 2 basketball pitches of Choi Hung Road Playground which was cancelled by written notice on 2 June, a carnival at Kwun Tong Playground from 30 June to 2 July which was cancelled on 4 April and a
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