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profit-making organizations? Are they not given priority, all things being equal? Would you please answer that?
MR. CHOW (in English):-If all things are equal, non-profit-making bodies are usually given the priority.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Mrs. ELLIOTT, would you please carry on.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I was going to ask Mr. Hu to answer my question.
MR. HU (in English):-We will certainly bring that to the attention of the Select Committee. I must also point out that the City Hall is to provide functions for the benefit of the general public. The interest of the general public will have to be considered too.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, may I repeat my question because Mr. HU did not seem to get it. Would he mind discussing this matter with his Committee again?
MR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, everything has already been answered when I answered the questions raised by Mr. Brook BERNACCHI.
DR. KIM Y. S. CHAM (in English):-In order to ascertain the percentage better, can I ask the Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Select Committee to confirm that 42% are made use of by commercial users which includes technology, trade, etc. This means that 58% are being used by non-commercial users, so the 50-50 mentioned earlier can be identified very clearly with this comparison.
MR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, it seems that what Dr. CHAM referred to is the Exhibition Hall. In the Exhibition Hall, the usage by the Urban Council is 30%, by non-profit-making organizations 28%, and by commercial hirers 42%.
DR. CHAM (in English):-In order to assess the impact of the increase in cost, can I ask what is the extent of the expected deficit of the City Hall in terms of rentals and charges, etc.
MR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, in 1979-80 when we were still based on the old hiring charges, the deficit in the running of the City Hall facilities would amount to $820,000 which has already taken into consideration the income derived from the City Hall Restaurant. If we exclude the income from the City Hall Restaurant, the deficit would be close to $2.8 million.
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MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I hope I am right in saying that the Urban Council itself is a non-profit-making body, particularly when it comes to cultural affairs, so judging from the figures just quoted by Mr. Hu, am I correct in assuming that if one takes into account U.C. functions and bookings by non-profit-making organizations, one can see that the City Hall is devoting more than half its time already to non-profit-making activities.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-(Addressing Mr. Hu) Can you confirm that or not?
MR. HU (in English):-Yes, I can.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Mr. Howard YOUNG, have you finished? Mr. CHEONG-LEEN please.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I believe that all Members have received a letter dated March 5 from the Hong Kong Association for Continuing Education on this subject. Could the Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Select Committee be so kind as to check with the department to see that they get an early reply explaining the Council's policy on this particular matter?
MR. HU (in English):-I understand the department has already sent a reply to the organization.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-They have probably sent a reply in regard to the first letter which they wrote to all Members of the Council on February 4. There has been a subsequent letter dated March 5, and if new points are raised in the second letter, perhaps Mr. Hu can consider whether a second reply is required.
MR. HU (in English):-Yes, I would certainly do that, but I am sure that the answer given in this Council meeting will adequately answer the points raised.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Does any other Member wish to take the floor? Miss Cecilia YEUNG please.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I understand that an Adult Education Committee has discussed the point of rental increase of the hiring of City Hall facilities and a certain Member has mentioned the percentages. I also believe that because of the increasing cost, we have to make adjustments but they objected to the increase of 200% and that is what I have just received. Comments have just received from the Caritas after a meeting with them and I hope their remarks could
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profit-making organizations? Are they not given priority, all things being equal? Would you please answer that?
MR. CHOW (in English):-If all things are equal, non-profit-making bodies are usually given the priority.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Mrs. ELLIOTT, would you please carry on.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I was going to ask Mr. Hu to answer my question.
MR. HU (in English):-We will certainly bring that to the attention of the Select Committee. I must also point out that the City Hall is to provide functions for the benefit of the general public. The interest of the general public will have to be considered too.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, may I repeat my question because Mr. HU did not seem to get it. Would he mind discussing this matter with his Committee again?
MR. HU (in English): -Mr. Chairman, everything has already been answered when I answered the questions raised by Mr. Brook BERNACCHI.
DR. KIM Y. S. CHAM (in English):-In order to ascertain the percentage better, can I ask the Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Select Committee to confirm that 42% are made use of by commercial users which includes technology, trade, etc. This means that 58% are being used by non-com- mercial users, so the 50-50 mentioned earlier can be identified very clearly with this comparison.
MR. HU (in English):---Mr. Chairman, it seems that what Dr. CHAM referred to is the Exhibition Hall. In the Exhibition Hall, the usage by the Urban Council is 30%, by non-profit-making organizations 28%, and by com- mercial hirers 42%.
DR. CHAM (in English):--In order to assess the impact of the increase in cost, can I ask what is the extent of the expected deficit of the City Hall in terms of rentals and charges, etc.
MR. HU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, in 1979-80 when we were still based on the old hiring charges, the deficit in the running of the City Hall facilities would amount to $820,000 which has already taken into consideration the income derived from the City Hall Restaurant. If we exclude the income from the City Hall Restaurant, the deficit would be close to $2.8 million.
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223
MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I hope I am right in saying that the Urban Council itself is a non-profit-making body, particularly when it comes to cultural affairs, so judging from the figures just quoted by Mr. Hu, am I correct in assuming that if one takes into account U.C. functions and bookings by non-profit-making organizations, one can see that the City Hall is devoting more than half its time already to non-profit-making activities.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-(Addressing Mr. Hu) Can you confirm that or not?
MR. HU (in English):-Yes, I can.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Mr. Howard YOUNG, have you finished? Mr. CHEONG-LEEN please.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I believe that all Members have received a letter dated March 5 from the Hong Kong Associa- tion for Continuing Education on this subject. Could the Chairman of the Cultural Affairs Select Committee be so kind as to check with the depart- ment to see that they get an early reply explaining the Council's policy on this particular matter?
MR. HU (in English):-I understand the department has already sent a reply to the organization.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-They have probably sent a reply in regard to the first letter which they wrote to all Members of the Council on February 4. There has been a subsequent letter dated March 5, and if new points are raised in the second letter, perhaps Mr. Hu can consider whether a second reply is required.
MR. HU (in English):—Yes, I would certainly do that, but I am sure that the answer given in this Council meeting will adequately answer the points raised.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Does any other Member wish to take the floor? Miss Cecilia YEUNG please.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I understand that an Adult Education Committee has discussed the point of rental increase of the hiring of City Hall facilities and a certain Member has mentioned the percentages. I also believe that because of the increasing cost, we have to make adjustments but they objected to the increase of 200% and that is what I have just received. Comments have just received from the Caritas after a meeting with them and I hope their remarks could
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