1980 — Page 43

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QUESTION

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG asked the following question (in Cantonese): Regarding the First World Cup Table Tennis Championship held in Hong Kong last month:

(a) Was it presented by the Urban Council or the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association?

(b) If, as reported in the Council's 'City News', the event was presented by the Council while the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association was only a co-sponsor, would it make one feel that the sauce is better than the fish as such international events have rarely been organized by government departments?

(c) In the future, would it be more appropriate for the Council to be co-sponsor rather than an organizer of similar international events?

MR. LAWRENCE H. L. FUNG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURAL SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English): The first two parts of this question deal with the position of the Urban Council in respect of the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association in the presentation of the First World Cup Table Tennis Championship held from 29 to 31 August at Queen Elizabeth Stadium. The final part of the question is more general and speculates whether it would be more appropriate for the Council to be a 'co-sponsor' rather than an 'organizer' of similar international events in the future.

Under the terms of contract covering the First World Cup Table Tennis Championship, specifically Clause 9(A), all publicity material, programmes, advertising etc. relating to the event read "The Urban Council presents the First World Cup Table Tennis Championship'. The other parties to the contract were International Merchandising Establishment, represented here by International Management Group, and the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association. All parties had specific roles laid down under the contract.

It was correct therefore for 'City News' to have referred in the English text to these other bodies as being in association with the Council and in the Chinese text it was intended to convey the same meaning.

On the general question of whether for future events the Council should be a co-sponsor rather than an organizer, each case will, I believe, have to be taken on its merits because the extent of the Council's participation may vary. In this instance, the organization involved not only the sports aspects in the hands of the International Table Tennis Federation and its affiliated body, the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association, but also the management responsibilities of the Stadium staff and the Council's overall financial backing. Where the Council's role is substantial, as it was in the case of the First World Cup Table Tennis Championship, the description which was agreed for that event would seem to be appropriate.

(Mr. CHAN Chi-kwan arrived during Mr. Lawrence H. L. FUNG's address.)

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DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, may I thank Mr. FUNG for his answer. I quite understand what the contract is about, but unfortunately, because the report in the newspaper mentions something about the protest raised by the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association etc., could I ask two further questions? Firstly, for any international events, is it correct to say that normally they are organized by local or national sports associations or by government bodies? Secondly, I understand many of the general public think that the Urban Council is one of the major entertaining organizations in Hong Kong, so I hope that since it is the Urban Council's responsibility to promote cultural and sport activities, I think it is most important to take care of our image.

MR. FUNG (in English): Can I request that I answer the first question first and then Dr. Denny HUANG can repeat his second question?

CHAIRMAN (in English): Not the whole statement, I trust. (Laughter).

MR. FUNG (in English): Not the whole statement.

CHAIRMAN (in English): Good, Mr. FUNG, go ahead please.

MR. FUNG (in English): As far as whether there was any difference of opinion between the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association and the Council was concerned, the matter was really that there was no dispute at all. Even before the commencement of the table tennis competition, the two parties were on the most friendly terms. As far as whether government bodies normally organize sport events is concerned, I think the distinction should be made between the technical organization of sport events and financial and other forms of support. I certainly do not believe that the Council's financial support of this event is something of a departure from practice.

CHAIRMAN (in English): Thank you. Second question.

DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): My second question, maybe, I could simplify it this way. Of course, the responsibility of the Urban Council is to promote all cultural, sports and entertainment programmes and activities in Hong Kong but say, for instance, we should not try to get our name in the first column. Since we have spent a lot of money as pointed out by Mr. FUNG, we should get all credits for that. I do not know whether we would consider this point in the future because my point is that our main purpose is to promote the activity, we should not try to get our name in the first column.

MR. FUNG (in English): Mr. Chairman, Dr. Denny HUANG is under the misconception that because the Council was the major financial backer for this particular event we insisted on getting all the publicity, that is far from the truth. In fact, there were more than three meetings held amongst all the parties concerned.

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