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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):--Maybe I will answer the second follow-up question raised by Mr. Li first. As it is a bit difficult for the Council to exercise control over enrollment by telephone and the Council wishes to be more flexible in this aspect, especially in the peak season when the activities we organize are very popular and a large number of people wish to get enrolled, we normally adopt the fair method of drawing lots. I have some data for explaining the criteria adopted by the Council. In the peak season (that is, the summer vacation), we use the first-come-first-served method less frequently than the off-peak seasons. The percentage of enrollment by drawing lots in the peak season is almost 50% while that in the off-peak seasons is 10%.
This also serves to answer the first follow-up question raised by Mr. Li. The criterion is that for venues or activities with a large number of applicants, the method of drawing lots is mostly used. This is actually the answer given in paragraphs 1 and 2 of the written reply, but it probably has not met Mr. Li's requirement in terms of wording. As to the target participants of the activity, apart from senior citizens and the disabled, there are some activities catered to singles or a team of two. If lots were drawn for this type of activity, it might end up that both would not turn up when only one of them gets enrolled. Hence, very often it has to depend on the type of activity, the popularity and the seasonal needs. In fact I consider that none of the methods of enrollment is perfect, be it the drawing of lots, first-come-first-served or enrollment by telephone. You can't please them all. Nevertheless, the Department has begun to take note of this. They are now conducting a review, particularly of the need to set an upper limit for enrollment by telephone as recommended by Mr. Li, because it is not possible to confirm the attendance of applicants getting enrolled by telephone and if they did not turn up after enrollment, not only would the rate of utilization be affected, it would also be unfair to other applicants. In this respect, I would therefore see to it that the Department re-considers Mr. Li's recommendation in detail and identifies the areas for improvement.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Ronnie WONG, may I ask whether you have noticed in particular the problem of lining up raised by Mr. Li just now, that is, even the first one in the line could not get enrolled. Can the Select Committee follow up on this?
MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—In some cases, one fails to get enrolled because there is no upper limit for enrollment by telephone, but upper limits are set for enrollment on the first-come-first-served basis and by drawing lots for some activities. The above-mentioned situation arises when an applicant who wishes to get enrolled on the first-come-first-served basis by lining up arrives at the enrollment office but finds that the places available for the activity he intends to get enrolled in have already been fully booked. The Department will review this.
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