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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
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mainly take the following factors into consideration when deciding whether the enrollment method of drawing lots should be adopted:
1.
2.
3.
popularity of the activity;
seasonal needs; and
targets of the activity (senior citizens or disabled persons in particular). In the second part of the question, Mr. Li asks whether there is any upper limit for enrollment in an activity by telephone.
At present, there is no upper limit for enrollment by telephone. Telephone enrollment service is provided by URBTIX to facilitate the public to enroll for sports and recreational activities. Telephone enrollment is offered in parallel with personal enrollment at Recreation, Amenities and Sports Offices, and participants will be enrolled on a first-come-first-served basis.
The third part of the question relates to the number of complaints about the enrollment methods received by the Department in July and August.
About 35,000 people participated in the sports and recreation activities in July and August. During this period, the Department only received five complaints, of which three were about the futile efforts of people queuing up for enrollment, one was on the arrangements of drawing lots and the remaining one complained about the unsuccessful attempt to enroll by telephone.
"THE HON. LI Wai-ming (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ronnie WONG has not answered my question. I asked what criteria are adopted in deciding the enrollment method to be used—by drawing lots or on a first-come-first-served basis, but the written reply only lists out factors such as the popularity of the activity. Does it mean that if the activity is popular, enrollment will be made by drawing lots and queuing? My question has not been answered. Only some criteria have been given. I hope Mr. Ronnie WONG will elaborate the reply. What criteria are used in deciding the method of enrollment? This is the first follow-up question.
The second follow-up question. There is at present no upper limit for enrollment by telephone. I have five complaint cases in hand, the five cases which the Department received for the entire summer vacation as mentioned in the written reply and cases referred to me by the complaint columns of the press. I scrutinized all the complaints. Some complainants pointed out that even the first one in the line failed to get enrolled because the places had been fully booked by telephone enrollment. The complainant was very angry because despite the fact that he had been lining up for two hours since 6:00 in the early morning and was the first one in the line, he did not get enrolled. Would the Chairman of the Select Committee explain why no consideration has been given to setting an upper limit such as a specified percentage for telephone enrollment in activities which are more popular? In principle, enrollment by telephone is available for all activities.
Why hasn't this been ever considered?
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