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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1978
SURVEY ON USE OF PRIVATE CLUB FACILITIES
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THE GOVERNMENT IS CONDUCTING A SURVEY TO DETERMINE, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE FACILITIES OF PRIVATE RECREATIONAL CLUBS HAVE BEEN USED BY OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS AND THE FREQUENCY OF REFUSAL BY THE LESSEES BECAUSE OF MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS OR BECAUSE THE APPLICATIONS INTERFERE WITH THE CLUBS' OWN USE.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY HE HON. T.S. LO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MR. LO HAD ASKED: +HAS PROPER USE BEEN MADE BY GOVERNMENT OF THE RIGHT RESERVED TO IT IN THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF RECREATIONAL LEASES TO REQUIRE THE LESSEES TO ALLOW ITS SPORTING FACILITIES TO BE USED BY SCHOOLS, YOUTH CLUBS OR WELFARE ORGANISATIONS?+
MR. LI SAID: +WHEN THE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY HAVE BEEN ANALYSED, GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT TO DETERMINE HOW THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF GRANT CAN BE MODIFIED ON RENEWAL SO AS TO ALLOW FOR MORE CONTROLLED USE OF THE SPORTING FACILITIES.
MR. LI REVEALED THE MAJORITY OF THE PRIVATE LEASES FALL DUE FOR RENEWAL IN 1981 AND 1982.
HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE SPECIAL CONDITION MENTIONED IN MR. LO'S QUESTION IS NOT ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY FOR TWO REASONS.
+FIRSTLY, A CLUB IS ONLY REQUIRED TO MAKE AVAILABLE ITS GROUNDS FOR OUTSIDE USE, BUT NOT ANY BUILDING OR STRUCTURE ERECTED ON THE LOT CONSEQUENTLY, A CLUB IS NOT OBLIGED TO MAKE ITS CHANGING AND TOILET FACILITIES AVAILABLE.
+SECONDLY, THE COMPETENT AUTHORITY FOR THE SPECIAL CONDITION MUST BE SATISFIED THAT USAGE BY SCHOOLS AND OTHERS WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE LOT OR THE CLUB'S OWN USE, HE SAID.
BUT MR. LI SAID THAT IN MANY CASES THE FACILITIES WERE QUITE WIDELY USED BY OUTSIDE ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL BODIES AND SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS AND NOT RESTRICTED TO SCHOOLS, YOUTH CLUBS OR WELFARE ORGANISATIONS.
LAST YEAR THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE HAD ORGANISED A TOTAL OF 300 COACHING SESSIONS, PHYSICAL EDUCATION LESSONS AND
INTER-SCHOOLS COMPETITIONS USITS THE FACILITIES OF PRIVATE RECREATIONAL LEASES, MR. LI POINTED CUT.
NO STATISTICS WERE KEPT DEFORE 1977, HOWEVER, NOR HAVE ANY STATISTICS BEEN KEPT IN RESPECT OF DIRECT APPROACHES TO THE LESSEES BY SCHOOLS, YOUTH CLUES OR ELFARE ORGANISATIONS.
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