XN000022-1994-12-14 — Page 44

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In order to deter abuse of the additional expenditure limit of $20,000, the independent Boundary and Election Commission has suggested that any candidate who wishes to make use of it must first make a report of damage or theft, as the case may be, to the Police. It is a suggestion, not, I repeat, not a decision. I know that some members of this Council consider that this is cumbersome; if they have other better ideas I am sure the Boundary and Election Commission would be happy to consider them. But we do not believe that this question of implementation is insoluble; it certainly does not obviate the case for the additional expenditure limit itself. So both the Hon Steven Poon's motion, as well as a subsequent motion by the Hon Dr Yeung Sum on the same subject, do seem to us rather like throwing the baby out with the bath-water. Except they do so in different directions.

Mr President, ex-officio Members of this Council will vote against both the Hon Steven Poon's motion, as well as against the Hon Dr Yeung Sum's subsequent motion.

End/Wednesday, December 14, 1994

Sports and entertainment programmes tickets

Following is a question by the Hon Henry Tang Ying-yen and a reply by the Secretary for Recreation and Culture, Mr James So, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is reported that the World Heavy Weight Boxing Championship Event originally scheduled to be held in the Hong Kong Stadium was called off as the organiser failed to pay the boxers, and that there are still some ticket holders who have not yet received refunds. According to the statement made by the Chairman of the Urban Council, organisers who rent Urban Council venues for hosting such events are not required to sell tickets through the URBTIX, make a bank deposit as a reserve fund or pay a certain amount of money as security so as to allow them to achieve cost- effectiveness and maximum cash flow. In view of this, will the Government inform this Council whether there are any measures to safeguard the interests of consumers so that they will not suffer any loss from the cancellation of scheduled programmes while at the same time protecting the interests of the organisers?