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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
been introduced. The other facilities—the multi-purpose hall, gymnasia, squash courts which are to be used mainly for minor competitions, training and practices, are available for booking by individuals and organizations from one week to 4 months in advance. Since the opening of the stadium, all these facilities have been extensively used by the public.
First World Cup Table Tennis Championship and the Eight Asian Basket-ball Championship for Women were organized in the Queen Elizabeth Stadium by the Council in conjunction with relevant governing bodies. These events helped to promote the standard of sports in Hong Kong and also proved to be most entertaining to thousands of spectators.
Both the Queen Elizabeth Stadium and Hung Hom Indoor Stadium will be used primarily for sports activities. It is necessary to ensure maximum utilization of facilities provided, therefore, entertaining programmes will be organized in these stadia periodically to ensure full usage, which will help to generate revenue in making the stadia financially self-supporting. The Council will have to review the operation of the stadia from time to time in order to minimize the operating cost without lowering the management standard and to make necessary adjustment of hiring charges in line with operating cost. A separate system of subsidy to non-commercial stadia hirers should be introduced in due course to help them to reduce the financial burden. Events with limited spectators attendance and requiring non-sophisticated facilities should be encouraged to be held in district-based indoor games halls, operation of which have been heavily subsidized by the Council.
Whilst I am satisfied that there is definitely requirement for a 12,500 seats Hung Hom Indoor Stadium, I am concerned over the unavoidable high hiring charges of this Stadium which might affect the usage of the Stadium. I would therefore suggest that consideration should be given to provide built-in ice skating rink in the Stadium arena which could not only provide a new form of healthy recreation for the general public at a reasonable rate, but will also go a long way to maximizing usage and meeting the operating cost.
In addition to constructing new facilities, more staff have recently been added to the Sports & Recreation Promotion Unit which is responsible for implementing the Council's sports and recreation programme. With the gradual availability of up-to-date facilities, even for minor sports, and the increase in manpower, the Council is more prepared in the years to come to meet new challenges and to venture into new areas with a view of offering a more comprehensive sports and recreation programme to the public.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG (in English):—Mr. Chairman,
Factory Canteens
147
Last year, the Urban Council intended to help workers in industrial buildings to solve the difficult problem of meal catering. At present, most workers in industrial areas have their lunches on the streets provided by legal or illegal hawkers. It is easy to understand what a mess it would be in bad weather or under burning sun. And more important, the hygienic conditions of illegal hawkers are always questionable. If we adopt strong measures to suppress all those hawkers around the industrial areas, it may create great inconvenience to many workers.
New regulations for factory canteens have been proposed under these circumstances.
Up to December, 1980, 155 applications for factory canteens had been received and 104 applications are being processed, and 51 cases have been turned down. The reasons for objection are sometimes due to the following:—
(a) A canteen is not permitted under the lease terms of the property; or
(b) The ground and 1st floors of an industrial building are generally not allowed to have factory canteens.
It is hoped that manufacturers are alive to the fact that the ground and first floors of industrial buildings are not allowed for canteens. At the same time, it is also hoped that the government can have sympathetic approach to help to solve the difficulties facing workers when they go for lunch.
In general, manufacturers do not know how long it takes to modify the land lease. It would be very helpful for the government to let them know how to expedite the process. If the spaces on the ground and first floors of an industrial building in certain areas are not so badly needed for manufacturing purpose, leniency should be exercised in considering the applications. It is quite logical that the ground floor of an industrial building should be reserved for manufacturing use, but it is also important to find a suitable place for workers to eat. If a canteen is not viable, the small manufacturers cannot afford to have a canteen. It may be worthwhile for the authority to consider each application on its own merit and allow canteens on the ground and first floors in some buildings provided that there is a great need for eating places for workers, and no food shops in the neighbourhood within a certain distance.
Street Traders
Two important resolutions for hawkers were passed by the Urban Council last year, i.e. the re-ordering exercise for hawkers and revision of hawker licence fees.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
been introduced. The other facilities--the multi-purpose hall, gymnasia. squash courts which are to be used mainly for minor competitions, training and practices, are available for booking by individuals and organizations from one week to 4 months in advance. Since the opening of the stadium,
all these facilities have been extensively used by the public.
First World Cup Table Tennis Championship and the Eight Asian Basket- ball Championship for Women were organized in the Queen Elizabeth Stadium by the Council in conjunction with relevant governing bodies. These events helped to promote the standard of sports in Hong Kong and also
proved to be most entertaining to thousands of spectators.
Both the Queen Elizabeth Stadium and Hung Hom Indoor Stadium will be used primarily for sports activities. It is necessary to ensure maximum utilization of facilities provided, therefore, entertaining programmes will be organized in these stadia periodically to ensure full usage, which will help to generate revenue in making the stadia financially self-supporting. The Council will have to review the operation of the stadia from time to time in order to minimize the operating cost without lowering the management standard and to make necessary adjustment of hiring charges in line with operating cost. A separate system of subsidy to non-commercial stadia hirers should be introduced in due course to help them to reduce the financial burden. Events with limited spectators attendance and requiring non-sophis- ticated facilities should be encouraged to be held in district based indoor games halls, operation of which have been heavily subsidized by the Council.
Whilst I am satisfied that there is definitely requirement for a 12 500 seats Hung Hom Indoor Stadium, I am concerned over the unavoidable high hiring charges of this Stadium which might affect the usage of the Stadium. I would therefore suggest that consideration should be given to provide built-in ice skating rink in the Stadium arena which could not only provide a new form of healthy recreation for the general public at a reasonable rate, but will also go a long way to maximizing usage and meeting the operating
cost.
In addition to constructing new facilities, more staff have recently been added to the Sports & Recreation Promotion Unit which is responsible for implementing the Council's sports and recreation programme. With the gradual availability of up-to-date facilities, even for minor sports, and the increase in manpower, the Council is more prepared in the years to come to meet new challenges and to venture into new areas with a view of offering a more comprehensive sports and recreation programme to the public.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG (in English):-Mr. Chairman,
Factory Canteens
147
Last year, the Urban Council intended to help workers in industrial buildings to solve the difficult problem of meal catering. At present, most workers in industrial areas have their lunches on the streets provided by legal or illegal hawkers. It is easy to understand what a mess it would be in bad weather or under burning sun. And more important, the hygienic conditions of illegal
hawkers are always questionable. If we adopt strong measures to suppress all those hawkers around the industrial areas, it may create great incon-
venience to many workers.
New regulations for factory canteens have been proposed under these
circumstances.
Up to December, 1980, 155 applications for factory canteens had been received and 104 applications are being processed, and 51 cases have been turned down. The reasons for objection are some times due to the
following:-
(4) A canteen is not permitted under the lease terms of the property; or (b) The ground and 1st floors of an industrial building are generally not
allowed to have factory canteens.
It is hoped that manufacturers are alive to the fact that the ground and first floors of industrial buildings are not allowed for canteens. At the same time, it is also hoped that the government can have sympathetic approach to help to solve the difficulties facing workers when they go for lunch.
In general, manufacturers do not know how long it takes to modify the land lease. It would be very helpful for the government to let them know how to expedite the process. If the spaces on the ground and first floors of an industrial building in certain areas are not so badly needed for manu- facturing purpose, leniency should be exercised in considering the applications. It is quite logical that the ground floor of an industrial building should be reserved for manufacturing use, but it is also important to find a suitable place for workers to eat. If a canteen is not viable, the small manufacturers cannot afford to have a canteen. It may be worthwhile for the authority to consider each application on its own merit and allow canteens on the ground and first floors in some buildings provided that there is a great need for eating places for workers, and no food shops in the neighbourhood within a certain distance.
Street Traders
Two important resolutions for hawkers were passed by the Urban Council last year, i.e. the re-ordering exercise for hawkers and revision of hawker
licence fees.
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