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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL ADDRESS BY CHAIRMANCHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
MINUTESThe minutes of the meeting held on 14 February 1984 were confirmed.
PAPERThe following paper was laid on the table:-
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of February 1984.
QUESTIONS1. MRS. GRACE Ho asked the following question (in English):-
(a) What progress has been made to open a publications centre on the ground floor lobby of City Hall High Block?
(b) What are the plans for the temporary bookshop at the City Hall Low Block?
(c) What are the respective over the counter publications sales figures for the Lusitano and City Hall Low Block publications centres since the opening of the latter?
DR. KIM Y. S. Cham, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—The question is in three parts:
(a) What progress has been made to open a publications centre on the ground floor lobby of City Hall High Block?
(b) What are the plans for the temporary bookshop at the City Hall Low Block?
(c) What are the respective over the counter publications sales figures for the Lusitano and City Hall Low Block publications centres since the opening of the latter?
Plans for a publications centre on the ground floor of the City Hall High Block were prepared last year, when it was estimated that the work would cost about $60,000 and take three months to complete. However, some problems emerged: the proposed site is in a corner where it is not possible to install air-conditioners, and furthermore spot-lights would have to be used to illuminate the book display. This would make the area extremely uncomfortable for the staff, and possibly untenable in hot weather.
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In the light of these problems, a decision was taken to open a temporary bookshop in the ground floor of the foyer of the City Hall Low Block. This site is more convenient to City Hall patrons.
Sales at this bookshop since it opened in November have been highly encouraging, and between 24 November and 18 February, it handled $56,782.10 in over-the-counter sales, whereas the Council's old established Publications Centre, located in the Club Lusitano Building, handled $34,782.80 in over-the-counter sales in the same period, plus $136,918.84 in bulk lots to the book trade.
Because of the evident success of the temporary bookshop as illustrated by these figures, it is proposed that this becomes a permanent feature of the City Hall Low Block lobby and that plans for a bookshop in the High Block be dropped. It will operate extended trading hours tailored to service theatre-goers, that is, apart from Mondays, operating from noon to 8 p.m. daily including Sundays and public holidays.
Mrs. Ho (in English):---Mr. Chairman, could I ask whether in view of these figures there are any plans to extend the permanent bookshop at the City Hall Low Block and also whether there is any intention to close the Club Lusitano Bookshop which is in rented premises?
DR. CHAM (in English):-Mr. Chairman, in view of the encouraging sales of the City Hall Low Block Bookshop we are looking into the possibility of expanding the bookshop; this obviously will have a bearing on the future of the Club Lusitano Bookshop because if we can manage to get enough space in the City Hall Low Block plus areas for storing, it is then possible to consider the future of Club Lusitano Publication Centre in that particular light. Until the first step is taken, it would be premature to project the closure or continuation of the Club Lusitano Building, bearing in mind there are sales carried out in that particular Publication Centre plus bulk sales to the book trade as well.
2. Mrs. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question (in English):—It has been reported that the Urban Council's soccer pitches at the Ko Shan Road and Kwun Tong locations are being underused. Can it be clarified:
(a) Whether there is little need for soccer pitches in these areas, or whether the requirement of having to book three months in advance is a deterrent to potential users?
(b) Whether the staff are instructed to allocate bookings wherever there is a vacancy within three months of the time of any application, and if so, whether they are carrying out these instructions?
Mr. Kenneth T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question seeks to clarify the need for soccer pitches at Ko Shan Road and at Kwun Tong and the booking requirement for such pitches.
296
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to
order.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 14 February 1984 were confirmed.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and
Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of February 1984.
QUESTIONS
1. MRS. GRACE Ho asked the following question (in English):-
(a) What progress has been made to open a publications centre on the ground
floor lobby of City Hall High Block?
(b) What are the plans for the temporary bookshop at the City Hall Low Block! (c) What are the respective over the counter publications sales figures for the Lusitano and City Hall Low Block publications centres since the opening of
the latter?
DR. KIM Y. S. Cham, ChairmAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE. replied as follows (in English):—The question is in three parts:
(a) What progress has been made to open a publications centre on the
ground floor lobby of City Hall High Block?
(b) What are the plans for the temporary bookshop at the City Hall Low
Block?
(c) What are the respective over the counter publications sales figures for the Lusitano and City Hall Low Block publications centres since the opening of the latter?
Plans for a publications centre on the ground floor of the City Hall High Block were prepared last year, when it was estimated that the work would cost about $60,000 and take three months to complete. However, some problems emerged the proposed site is in a corner where it is not possible to install air- conditioners, and furthermore spot-lights would have to be used to illuminate the book display. This would make the area extremely uncomfortable for the staff, and possibly untenable in hot weather.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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297
bookshop in the ground floor of the foyer of the City Hall Low Block. This site In the light of these problems, a decision was taken to open a temporary is more convenient to City Hall patrons.
Sales at this bookshop since it opened in November have been highly encouraging, and between 24 November and 18 February, it handled $56,782.10 in over-the-counter sales, whereas the Council's old established Publications Centre, located in the Club Lusitano Building, handled $34,782.80 in over- the-counter sales in the same period, plus $136,918.84 in bulk lots to the
book trade.
Because of the evident success of the temporary bookshop as illustrated by these figures, it is proposed that this becomes a permanent feature of the City Hall Low Block lobby and that plans for a bookshop in the High Block be dropped. It will operate extended trading hours tailored to service theatre-goers, that is, apart from Mondays, operating from noon to 8 p.m. daily including Sundays and public holidays.
Mrs. Ho (in English):---Mr. Chairman, could I ask whether in view of these figures that there is any plans to extend the permanent bookshop at the City Hall Low Block and also whether there is any intention to close the Club Lusitano Bookshop which is in rented premises?
DR. CHAM (in English):-Mr. Chairman, in view of the encouraging sales of the City Hall Low Block Bookshop we are looking into the possibility of expanding the bookshop, this obviously will have a bearing on the future of the Club Lusitano Bookshop because if we can manage to get enough space in the City Hall Low Block plus areas for storing, it is then possible to consider the future of Club Lusitano Publication Centre in that particular light. Until the first step is taken, it would be premature to project the closure or continuation of the Club Lusitano Building, bearing in mind there are sales carried out in that particular Publication Centre plus bulk sales to the book trade as well.
2. Mrs. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question (in English):—It has been reported that the Urban Council's soccer pitches at the Ko Shan Road and Kwun Tong locations are being underused. Can it be clarified
a) Whether there is little need for soccer pitches in these areas, or whether the requirement of having to book three months in advance is a deterrent to potential users?
(b) Whether the staff are instructed to allocate bookings wherever there is a vacancy within three months of the time of any application, and if so, whether they are carrying out these instructions?
Mr. Kenneth T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT Committee, replied as follows (in English):-This question seeks to clarify the need for soccer pitches at Ko Shan Road and at Kwun Tong and the booking requirement for such pitches.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.