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Meanwhile, we can also see that in handling the problem of 767 IHL-holders (mostly senior citizens), the Council was full of human touch and settled things in a reasonable, rational and legitimate manner. In the next three months, we will try our best towards achieving the goal of resiting the 767 licensed itinerant hawkers prior to implementing the policy to eliminate itinerant hawker licences. In this connection, I would like to thank fellow colleagues for the support they gave to the Working Group, which will certainly continue to perform its role conscientiously so as to come up with a solution shortly.
Besides this human touch, the Council has also demonstrated its determination and enterprise in other areas of work. Let me cite the management problem of the Hong Kong Stadium as an example. We had been annoyed with the many management problems of the Hong Kong Stadium for quite some time. With the close co-operation of fellow colleagues and the Department, we pursued the matter unwaveringly and took over the management of the Hong Kong Stadium in 1998. Now the problems with the Hong Kong Stadium are being smoothed out and the maintenance works of the pitch and some facilities, in particular, have commenced as scheduled and the result has so far been satisfactory. On the use of the Hong Kong Stadium as a leisure and recreation venue, we have presented a new concept that it should be used as a golf course, and this is to be implemented through public tender. The first meeting and briefing session for the tender exercise was held last week. The initial feedback and response have been very positive as many management companies have expressed interest in tendering for the operation of a golf practice ground in the Hong Kong Stadium.
Besides the Hong Kong Stadium, we have also endeavoured to finalize some items of the West Rail and Lai Chi Kok Park projects with the Government in 1997 and 1998. We can see that, through the efforts we made in the past two years, we have, by degrees, reached agreement in principle with the Government on the alignment of the West Rail and the layout of Lai Chi Kok Park. It is expected that we will soon be able to reach a consensus with the Government. At present, the district committee responsible for monitoring the construction of the West Rail has commenced its work.
Mr. Chairman, I would also like to thank all of you for giving me an opportunity to represent the Council in the Legislative Council. In the past few months, despite the arduous work, I have learnt a lot at the Legislative Council and enjoyed my work there. I would like to reaffirm my continued commitment to reflect Councillors' views at the Legislative Council and fight the Government's plan to scrap the two Municipal Councils.
I wish to draw the Chairman's attention to the last point I am going to make. Mr. Chairman, I know that you are always concerned about environmental protection, particularly about incinerators. During the motion debate on the strategies for waste reduction last week, the Government responded that the administration supported in principle the construction of
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