1979 — Page 126

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MRS. HO (in Cantonese): --Mr. Chairman, since the Government has no plans to deal with the matter, can the Urban Council go ahead and bring up the proposal? I hope the Urban Council will go about this matter actively.

MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, the Markets and Abattoirs Select Committee has a representative of the Agriculture & Fisheries Department and I hope that the representative of this Committee will bring the matter up during the meetings with Agriculture & Fisheries Department so that the matter can be considered. It is really a traffic problem if the flower sellers sell in the day-time as well.

MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW (in English):—Mr. Chairman, how about those flower retailers in other areas such as in D'Aguilar Street near Wellington Street in Central? I understand that some 2 or 3 years ago, Council resolved to supply or provide other places for these hawkers. Can the Chairman of the Street Traders Select Committee confirm this and can the Chairman also tell this Council what plans and/or progress has been made in this respect?

MR. SHUM (in Cantonese): --Mr. Chairman, for the flower sellers in Central, if they are hawkers, the Urban Council does have plans to move them into the market once it is completed. However, in Central, the market has not yet been completed and they have not been moved, but once the market is completed, we will give this matter consideration.

2. MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG asked the following question (in English): – What provisions does the Council have for easing the burden on non-profit-making voluntary agencies who wish to hold educational or cultural functions at the City Hall but who also cannot afford to pay commercial rates for the facilities? In the event of conflicting demands from commercial and non-profit-making users, what criteria are applied to decide priorities?

THE HON. F. K. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):---This question deals with the hire charges payable by non-commercial organization wishing to use the City Hall facilities. It also deals with the criteria adopted in determining the priority of applications for booking.

The Council provides financial assistance to non-profit-making organizations using City Hall venues in the form of subsidies.

Assessments of applications for subsidies take into account the nature of the function and its significance as a cultural event as well as the nature of the organization applying and its financial position. Subsidies granted have ranged from 25% to 100% of the total hire charges payable. With the revision of the scale of hire charges for City Hall facilities effective from 1 June 1980, larger subsidies ranging from 50% to 100% of the hire charges will be payable in order to give greater financial assistance to deserving applicants.

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In 1978-79, a total of $115,956 in subsidy was granted to 84 applicants. In 1979-80, an amount of $300,000 has been provided for the sub-head: Subsidy to City Hall Hirers. Up to February 1980, the Council has approved payment of $99,950.50 to 64 applicants for subsidy.

The criteria for determining the priority of booking applications for City Hall venues include the frequency of previous bookings as well as the nature, merit and popularity of the proposed function. Whether the applicant is a non-profit-making society is not by itself a criterion, but well-established non-commercial cultural organizations presenting worthwhile events usually given priority over commercial functions in the City Hall Concert Hall, Theatre and Exhibition Gallery. In the Exhibition Hall, however, Social, Educational, Scientific, Technological as well as Industrial & Trade Development Exhibitions are accorded higher priority.

MR. YOUNG (in English): ----Mr. Chairman, since it has been stated that 64 applicants did get a total of $99,950.50 subsidy which works out in excess of $1,500 subsidy per application, is it correct to say that these subsidies do in fact form a substantial part of the regular hire charges that they have to pay?

MR. HU (in English):--Mr. Chairman, in the last few years, the subsidy amounted to about 50% of the hiring charge. When the new hiring charges become effective from 1 June 1980, I reckon the subsidy will be as much as 65%.

Mr. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—I have personally received a complaint from the Hong Kong Association for Continuing Education that it is next to impossible for the majority of the non-profit-making voluntary organizations to hire the City Hall accommodation at reduced rates. Is that true or not?

CHAIRMAN (in English):--First of all, may I ask how many Members did not receive this circular letter. (No Member indicated that he had not received a copy of the letter.) So, everybody has received it. Mr. F. K. Hu, would you answer that?

MR. HU (in English):--Could Mr. BERNACCHI repeat the question again just to make sure that I answer correctly?

MR. BERNACCHI (in English):--I have personally received a complaint from the Hong Kong Association for Continuing Education that it is next to impossible for the majority of the non-profit-making voluntary organizations to hire the City Hall accommodation at reduced rates. Is that true or not?