1998

Page 487 of 606

of work in the neighbourhood, and not the swimmers. Moreover, the swimming pools were only closed for a very short period of time at noon in the past 3 months. Starting from 1 July, the closing period has been shortened from the original 1½ hours to 1 hour. In view of the nature of the swimming-pool restaurants and the short closing period, the daily closure of swimming pools at noon should not have any significant impact on the business of the swimming-pool restaurants.

The second part of the question asks whether the Council has considered any measures to assist the swimming-pool restaurants if they suffer losses on sales revenues due to the closure of swimming pools at noon.

As the closure of swimming pools at noon should not have any significant impact on the sales revenues of the swimming-pool restaurants, the Council does not have any special measures to assist the restaurant operators. Besides, according to the agreements signed between the Council and the restaurant operators, these restaurants should be open throughout the year. Even when the swimming pools are closed and there are no swimmers in winter, the restaurants should remain open for business and the set amount of monthly rent should be paid in full to the Council. The agreements signed with the swimming-pool restaurants also clearly stipulated that the Council may at any time at its sole discretion close the whole or any part of the swimming pool complex as it may deem necessary without incurring any liability to the restaurant operators in respect of loss of business consequent thereon, and the restaurant operators shall not be entitled to claim for compensation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

THE HON. LI WAI-MING (in Cantonese):—I have 2 follow-up questions. Firstly, from the reply, it is said that to the best knowledge of the Department, most of the patrons of swimming-pool restaurants are not swimmers but those who work in the neighbourhood. As far as I know, there are 16 PUC swimming pools, 13 of which have restaurants therein. I understand that some of them are located at more inconspicuous locations which are not easily accessible so that they can't really attract the public to visit them. So, most of their patrons are swimmers. These restaurants suffer most. Now I would like to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee whether the Department or he himself knows which of these 13 swimming-pool restaurants have such a problem, making it particularly difficult for the operators to operate?

Secondly, it is said that the sales revenue of swimming-pool restaurants would not be adversely affected by the daily closure of the swimming pools at noon. I hope that the Chairman of the Select Committee can provide some statistics to show that their sales revenue has not reduced because of the daily closure of the swimming pools for 1 hour at present and for 1½ hours over the last 3 months. What is the evidence to show that such a decision should be made?

Page 487 of 606