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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
think that there should be design competitions for these projects. Yet recreational and sports facilities should basically be functional, and their overall outward appearance and design are not the most important factors. What is most important is the provision of venues for the public to engage in sports, recreation, games, and rest. Therefore, it is best to be able to furnish the various facilities in a most efficient manner. How can we achieve the highest efficiency? I think the most effective way is to complete the projects within the shortest possible time so that the public could use and enjoy them as soon as possible, and, most importantly, to shorten construction time in order to save vast quantities of resources. The funds thus saved could be used for the construction of other new facilities for more citizens to use. Take for instance the reconstruction programme of Victoria Park. After the Architectural Services Department proposed a design, there were incessant delays. In the end, an open design competition was considered. Owing to such delays, the completion date of the reconstruction project might be postponed for one or two years, and an additional expenditure of 100 to 200 million dollars in resources might be incurred. We should ask if it is actually worthwhile. As I have just mentioned, recreational and sports facilities should basically be functional. If the Urban Council wishes to have more choices, then it could request the Architectural Services Department to come up with more designs for it to choose from. I believe that this is already adequate. When the public have an early opportunity to enjoy recreational facilities, it will help them a great deal in keeping healthy both physically and mentally and in reducing their chances of falling ill. Such positive factors should not be overlooked. A senior citizen told me that when the plan for the reconstruction of Victoria Park was first proposed, he felt that he would have an opportunity to enjoy it, but as decision was postponed repeatedly and a very long period of time would have to be spent on the solicitation of designs from various sectors, he feared he would no longer be there to enjoy the park upon its completion. What he said represented the views of most of the citizens in Hong Kong. The efforts of the Department in providing the public with different kinds of recreational and sports activities and various facilities in different districts are commendable. but I still opine that more new concepts and variations in the promotion of activities should be sought, and that as many changes as possible should be introduced in the types and content of activities. Monotony should be avoided. If there are no relatively significant breakthroughs or new concepts in the activities organised by the Department, it would be very difficult to attract juveniles nowadays. One ought to know that the world is changing very quickly. Just now, Ms. Carlye Tsui Wai-ling mentioned that information technology was undergoing rapid development in the world, especially in Hong Kong. Because of the development of information technology, juveniles have access to news from various networks, and their interests and tastes may change greatly. Hence, when we organise activities, we should seek change in those areas in order to enhance the users' interest and increase the utilization rate of venues. Since recreational and sports activities must certainly change
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