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CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-The question is now put to the vote. Would Members please vote with the computers? Those who favour the motion please vote for it while those who do not please vote against it. And those who refrain from voting please abstain from voting. Voting begins.
The question was put to the vote,
The motion was carried with 25 for, one against and four abstentions. (The record of voting on Mr. Li Wah-ming's motion is at Annex 1.)
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):--The motion was carried with 25 for, one against and four abstentions. The next motion is proposed by Mr. CHIANG Sai-cheong. Would Mr. CHIANG move his motion and speak?
MR. CHIANG SAI-CHEONG moved:-'In order to fully utilize the Council's venues and to attract citizens and tourists so as to stimulate the economy, RESOLVED that the Council actively study the setting up of flea markets at appropriate venues as soon as possible.'
He said (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, my motion today is as follows:
'In order to fully utilize the Council's venues and to attract citizens and tourists so as to stimulate the economy, RESOLVED that the Council actively study the setting up of flea markets at appropriate venues as soon as possible.'
It is generally recognized that for Hong Kong to come out of the economic plight, different attempts should be made. I consider the setting up of flea markets one of the ways to secure economic revival for the following reasons:
(1) The idea would stimulate the public's desire for spending; (2) The size of the unemployed stands at more than 160,000 people. At this time of economic recession, the duration of unemployment has extended from two to three months during the economic boom to almost a year or even longer. The setting up of flea markets will give the jobless a chance to run some small business so that they may make their own living, or provide job opportunities;
(3) The setting up of flea markets with basic or a series of themes, such as folk crafts, arts and culture, traditional industries etc. would facilitate the centralization of these scarce trades on a few sites so as to enhance their attractiveness and popularity and to ensure their survival; (4) The setting up of flea markets would bring more visitors to the districts concerned, thereby encouraging development in areas such as food and drinks, traffic etc. The economy would be stimulated while the rate of utilization of the Council's venues would be boosted;
(5) Since the Asian financial turmoil last year, the tourist industry of Hong Kong has borne the brunt of the blow in that the number of overseas visitors has dropped considerably from that last year while hotels...
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