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has not been cleaned for quite some time. Is it not possible to clean the street? Could Mr. Hu tell me whether Tung Choi Street is the only exception or whether other streets are in the same condition and, secondly, in streets similar to Tung Choi Street, can we allow our cleansing staff to do the job that they ought to do?
MR. HU (in English): -About the first part of the question, so far as I know, Tung Choi Street is the only street. About the second part of the question, the experience we gained from Tung Choi Street, should be taken into consideration.
(2) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):---
What improvements will very shortly be introduced into the Hawker Permitted Areas, especially in those H.P.A.s where shopkeepers have lost a tremendous amount of business due to the setting up of the H.P.A.s?
(Note: The reply to question (2) was included in the reply to question (1))
(3) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):-
To what extent are some Urban Council playgrounds being controlled by youth gangs or triads, and what is being done to bring about an improvement in the situation?
MR. F. K. HU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
Mr. Chairman, there is no clear evidence that any Council playgrounds are fully controlled by triads or youth gangs. Where such attempts have been made ground staff have been able to take action with police assistance as necessary. After a thorough review last year by the department in conjunction with C.D.O.'s and the police, special instructions were given to ground staff to ensure that they keep their eyes open for the first signs of trouble.
The fact that gangs or triads do not appear to control playgrounds does not preclude the possibility of other malpractices. Where these are known, action is taken through by-law amendments and police activity.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
77
practices. Where these are known, action is taken through by-law amendments and police activity.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, could a survey be made, particularly on playgrounds in the heavily populated areas, as to whether at certain times of the day, particularly in the evening hours, if such playgrounds come under triad activities or may not be as heavily used as they ought to be because of possible fear of triad gangs operating, and if such a survey is carried out, could the results be placed before the Select Committee for consideration?
MR. HU (in English):-As I mentioned, the Department will seek the aid of the Police. They did a thorough review to ascertain the type of activities going on in order to handle any problem and, of course, the youth gangs may exist in some playgrounds. They tend to react to situations and come and go according to what they can get away with. But actually the number of cases the Department is aware of at present is not very high.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): -The last survey was made last year and perhaps another one could be made towards the end of this year.
MR. HU (in English):-I think the Department will keep this matter under review all the time. As a matter of fact, they are studying various ways as to how to improve the situation. I would like to say this Council fully supports the operation of "Playleadership Scheme" operated by various voluntary agencies, that is one way to ensure the proper usage of the playground and I think the Department will continue to take action.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a supplementary question and that is on our ground staff. How many staff are there in each playground at any one time? My purpose is if anything happens to them, do they have a kind of insurance because the gangs could retaliate and could use physical force against the ground staff.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-I regret I must remind you again that, under Standing Order 12(15), a supplementary question must not be used to introduce any new matter. I will ask for your supplementary question to be referred to the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee for it to be given consideration and a reply made to you.
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(empty lines removed and text reflowed for readability)
has been revised to the following:Page 54 of 154
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
has not been cleaned for quite some time. Is it not possible to clean the street? Could Mr. Hu tell me whether Tung Choi Street is the only exception or whether other streets are in the same condition and, secondly, in streets similar to Tung Choi Street, can we allow our cleansing staff to do the job that they ought to do?
MR. HU (in English): -About the first part of the question, so far as I know, Tung Choi Street is the only street. About the second part of the question, the experience we gained from Tung Choi Street, should be taken into consideration.
(2) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):---
What improvements will very shortly be introduced into the Hawker Permitted Areas, especially in those H.P.A.s where shopkeepers have lost a tremendous amount of business due to the setting up of the H.P.A.s?
(Note: The reply to question (2) was included in the reply to question (1))
(3) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):-
To what extent are some Urban Council playgrounds being controlled by youth gangs or triads, and what is being done to bring about an improvement in the situation?
MR. F. K. HU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
Mr. Chairman, there is no clear evidence that any Council playgrounds are fully controlled by triads or youth gangs. Where such attempts have been made ground staff have been able to take action with police assistance as necessary. After a thorough review last year by the department in conjunction with C.D.O.'s and the police, special instructions were given to ground staff to ensure that they keep their eyes open for the first signs of trouble.
The fact that gangs or triads do not appear to control playgrounds does not preclude the possibility of other malpractices. Where these are known, action is taken through by-law amendments and police activity.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
77
MR. CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, could a survey be made, particularly on playgrounds in the heavily populated areas, as to whether at certain times of the day, particularly in the evening hours, if such playgrounds come under triad activities or may not be as heavily used as they ought to be because of possible fear of triad gangs operating, and if such a survey is carried out, could the results be placed before the Select Committee for consideration?
MR. HU (in English):-As I mentioned, the Department will seek the aid of the Police. They did a thorough review to ascertain the type of activities going on in order to handle any problem and, of course, the youth gangs may exist in some playgrounds. They tend to react to situations and come and go according to what they can get away with. But actually the number of cases the Department is aware of at present is not very high.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): -The last survey was made last year and perhaps another one could be made towards the end of this year.
MR. HU (in English):-I think the Department will keep this matter under review all the time. As a matter of fact, they are studying various ways as to how to improve the situation. I would like to say this Council fully supports the operation of "Playleadership Scheme" operated by various voluntary agencies, that is one way to ensure the proper usage of the playground and I think the Department will continue to take action.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a supplementary question and that is on our ground staff. How many staff are there in each playground at any one time? My purpose is if anything happens to them, do they have a kind of insurance because the gangs could retaliate and could use physical force against the ground staff.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-I regret I must remind you again that, under Standing Order 12(15), a supplementary question must not be used to introduce any new matter. I will ask for your supplementary question to be referred to the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee for it to be given consideration and a reply made to you.
Page 54 of 154
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The final output is the same as the revised output. The changes made were minor formatting adjustments to comply with the HTML output requirement. The final answer is:Page 54 of 154
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has not been cleaned for quite some time. Is it not possible to clean the street? Could Mr. Hu tell me whether Tung Choi Street is the only exception or whether other streets are in the same condition and, secondly, in streets similar to Tung Choi Street, can we allow our cleansing staff to do the job that they ought to do?
MR. HU (in English): -About the first part of the question, so far as I know, Tung Choi Street is the only street. About the second part of the question, the experience we gained from Tung Choi Street, should be taken into consideration.
(2) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):---
What improvements will very shortly be introduced into the Hawker Permitted Areas, especially in those H.P.A.s where shopkeepers have lost a tremendous amount of business due to the setting up of the H.P.A.s?
(Note: The reply to question (2) was included in the reply to question (1))
(3) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):-
To what extent are some Urban Council playgrounds being controlled by youth gangs or triads, and what is being done to bring about an improvement in the situation?
MR. F. K. HU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
Mr. Chairman, there is no clear evidence that any Council playgrounds are fully controlled by triads or youth gangs. Where such attempts have been made ground staff have been able to take action with police assistance as necessary. After a thorough review last year by the department in conjunction with C.D.O.'s and the police, special instructions were given to ground staff to ensure that they keep their eyes open for the first signs of trouble.
The fact that gangs or triads do not appear to control playgrounds does not preclude the possibility of other malpractices. Where these are known, action is taken through by-law amendments and police activity.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
77
MR. CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, could a survey be made, particularly on playgrounds in the heavily populated areas, as to whether at certain times of the day, particularly in the evening hours, if such playgrounds come under triad activities or may not be as heavily used as they ought to be because of possible fear of triad gangs operating, and if such a survey is carried out, could the results be placed before the Select Committee for consideration?
MR. HU (in English):-As I mentioned, the Department will seek the aid of the Police. They did a thorough review to ascertain the type of activities going on in order to handle any problem and, of course, the youth gangs may exist in some playgrounds. They tend to react to situations and come and go according to what they can get away with. But actually the number of cases the Department is aware of at present is not very high.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): -The last survey was made last year and perhaps another one could be made towards the end of this year.
MR. HU (in English):-I think the Department will keep this matter under review all the time. As a matter of fact, they are studying various ways as to how to improve the situation. I would like to say this Council fully supports the operation of "Playleadership Scheme" operated by various voluntary agencies, that is one way to ensure the proper usage of the playground and I think the Department will continue to take action.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a supplementary question and that is on our ground staff. How many staff are there in each playground at any one time? My purpose is if anything happens to them, do they have a kind of insurance because the gangs could retaliate and could use physical force against the ground staff.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-I regret I must remind you again that, under Standing Order 12(15), a supplementary question must not be used to introduce any new matter. I will ask for your supplementary question to be referred to the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee for it to be given consideration and a reply made to you.
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1
L
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
has not been cleaned for quite sometime. Is it not possible to clean the street? Could Mr. Hu tell me whether Tung Choi Street is the only exception or whether other streets are in the same condition and, secondly, in streets similar to Tung Choi Street, can we allow our cleansing staff to do the job that they ought to do?
MR. HU (in English): -About the first part of the question, so far as I know, Tung Choi Street is the only street. About the second part of the question, the experience we gained from Tung Choi Street, should be taken into consideration.
(2) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):---
What improvements will very shortly be introduced into the Hawker Permitted Areas, especially in those H.P.A.s where shopkeepers have lost a tremendous amount of business due to the setting up of the H.P.A.s?
(Note: The reply to question (2) was included in the reply to
question (1))
(3) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):-
To what extent are some Urban Council playgrounds being controlled by youth gangs or triads, and what is being done to bring about an improvement in the situation?
MR. F. K. HU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
Mr. Chairman, there is no clear evidence that any Council playgrounds are fully controlled by triads or youth gangs. Where such attempts have been made ground staff have been able to take action with police assistance as neces- sary. After a thorough review last year by the department in conjunction with C.D.O.'s and the police, special in- structions were given to ground staff to ensure that they keep their eyes open for the first signs of trouble.
The fact that gangs or triads do not appear to control play- grounds does not preclude the possibility of other mal-
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
77
practices. Where these are known, action is taken through by-law amendments and police activity.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, could a survey be made, particularly on playgrounds in the heavily populated areas, as to whether at certain times of the day, particularly in the evening hours, if such playgrounds come under triad activities or may not be as heavily used as they ought to be because of possible fear of triad gangs operating, and if such a survey is carried out, could the results be placed before the Select Committee for consideration?
MR. HU (in English):-As I mentioned, the Department will seek the aid of the Police. They did a thorough review to ascertain the type of activities going on in order to handle any problem and, of course, the youth gangs may exist in some playgrounds. They tend to react to situations and come and go according to what they can get away with. But actually the number of cases the Department is aware of at present is not very high.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): -The last survey was made last year and perhaps another one could be made towards the end of this year.
MR. HU (in English):-I think the Department will keep this matter under review all the time. As a matter of fact, they are study- ing various ways as how to improve the situation. I would like to say this Council fully supports the operation of "Playleadership Scheme" operated by various voluntary agencies, that is one way to ensure the proper usage of the playground and I think the Department will continue to take action.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a supplementary question and that is on our ground staff. How many staff are there in each playground at any one time? My purpose is if anything happens to them, do they have a kind of insurance because the gangs could retaliate and could use physical force against the ground staff.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-I regret I must remind you again that, under Standing Order 12(15), a supplementary question must not be used to introduce any new matter. I will ask for your supplementary question to be referred to the Recreation and Amenities Select Com- mittee for it to be given consideration and a reply made to you.
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