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# 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 8 November 1983 were confirmed.
## STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—
### Urban Council's Library Services
Since the Council's financial autonomy in 1973, the number of public libraries provided by the Council has increased from five to twenty. There are at present twelve district libraries, six small static libraries and two mobile libraries. Four more new libraries will be opened before the end of this financial year, namely, a small arts library in the Hong Kong Arts Centre, a district library in To Kwa Wan and two small libraries in Kowloon, one in Pak Tin Estate, Sham Shui Po and the other in the Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate.
It is the Council's policy to provide one district library for every 200,000 people. Pending the availability of permanent accommodation in suitable Council premises, small static libraries are provided in densely populated areas where library facilities are inadequate or not yet available. In the financial year 1984-85, the Council plans to set up an additional four small static libraries.
Usage of the Council's libraries has remained high since the first library was opened in the City Hall in 1962. The number of books borrowed has increased thirty-fold. Over 5 million books were borrowed for home reading in the last twelve months and some 9.5 million books were used in the libraries. The number of registered readers has increased to 1.1 million, which is about one-third of the urban population.
The Council's library service has diversified in the past decade to include audio-visual materials in both English and Chinese. The public can listen to music, watch video cassette programmes in the audio-visual libraries and borrow audio-cassette tapes for home use in twelve district libraries.
A wide variety of extension activities in the form of book exhibitions, subject talks, interest clubs and seminars are regularly organized to promote the use of libraries and to inculcate healthy reading habits among the younger generation. The highlight of the activities are no doubt the four Urban Council Awards to encourage the publication of good quality reading material. In addition to the two Urban Council Awards for Creative Writing in Chinese, one for adults and one for children, and the Urban Council Award for the Best Produced Books in Hong Kong, a new award for creative writing in English will be organized this year. Entries will be invited for poetry and essays and the awards will be presented in late 1984.
The aim of the Council's libraries is to make information easily accessible to residents of all walks of life and age groups. Materials are provided for relaxation and pleasure as well as for continuing education, the profitable use of leisure and the fostering of peace and understanding. Through the 1.2 million books in stock, the Council hopes to help the people of Hong Kong to keep abreast of progress in science and arts and to develop their creative and critical capabilities and powers of appreciation. Consideration is being given to computerizing various aspects of library operations with a view to providing an even better service to the public.
As Councillors are aware, the Exhibition of Books and Paintings on Charles Darwin was recently displayed at the Urban Council Wan Chai Library. There should be further opportunities in future for more of such exhibitions to be held at other district libraries without having to await allocation of space at the Low Block Exhibition Hall or at the High Block of City Hall.
The impressive Science in Action Exhibition, which has been exhibited at the City Hall, should also be exhibited at district libraries both in the urban areas as well as in the New Territories during the coming months.
## PAPER
(Miss Cecilia L. Y. YEUNG arrived during the Chairman's address.)
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 November 1983.
## QUESTIONS
1. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):—The Council has been accused that by stopping the issuing of some hawker licences and increasing the licence fees for those licences still extant, we are creating more and more illegal hawkers and thereby making hawker control more difficult and more expensive. Is this accusation borne out by facts, and if so, should the present policy be changed?
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—This question concerns the effectiveness of Urban Council's policy regarding the licensing of hawkers.
The Urban Council stopped the general issue of hawker licences in the mid-1970s. This decision was taken as a positive measure to alleviate the severe
Page 88 of 194
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Page 88 of 194
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called te
order.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 1983 were confirmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—
Urban Council's Library Services
Since the Council's financial autonomy in 1973, the number of public librarie provided by the Council has increased from five to twenty. There are at preser twelve district libraries, six small static libraries and two mobile libraries. Four more new libraries will be opened before the end of this financial year, namely.. small arts library in the Hong Kong Arts Centre, a district library in To Ku Wan and two small libraries in Kowloon, one in Pak Tin Estate, Sham Shui P and the other in the Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate.
It is the Council's policy to provide one district library for every 2000 people. Pending the availability of permanent accommodation in suitable Council premises, small static libraries are provided in densely populated area where library facilities are inadequate or not yet available. In the financial year 1984-85, the Council plans to set up an additional four small static libraries.
Usage of the Council's libraries has remained high since the first library was opened in the City Hall in 1962. The number of books borrowed has increased thirty fold. Over 5 million books were borrowed for home reading in the las twelve months and some 9.5 million books were used in the libraries. The number of registered readers has increased to 1.1 million which is about one- third of the urban population.
The Council's library service has diversified in the past decade to include audio-visual materials in both English and Chinese. The public can listen to music, watch video cassette programmes in the audio-visual libraries and borrow audio-cassette tapes for home use in twelve district libraries.
A wide variety of extension activities in the form of book exhibitions, subje talks, interest clubs and seminars are regularly organized to promote the use of libraries and to inculcate healthy reading habits among the younger generation The highlight of the activities are no doubt the four Urban Council Awards t encourage the publication of good quality reading material. In addition to the two Urban Council Awards for Creative Writing in Chinese, one for adults and one for children, and the Urban Council Award for the Best Produced Books in
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
year. Entries will be invited for poetry and essays and the awards will be Hong Kong, a new award for creative writing in English will be organized this
presented in late 1984.
The aim of the Council's libraries is to make information easily accessible to residents of all walks of life and age groups. Materials are provided for
relaxation and pleasure
as well as for continuing education, the profitable use of
leisure and the fostering of peace and understanding. Through the 1.2 million books in stock, the Council hopes to help the people of Hong Kong to keep abreast of progress in the science and arts and to develop their creative and critical capabilities and powers of appreciation. Consideration is being given to computerizing various aspects of library operations with a view to providing an
even better service to the public.
As Councillors are aware, the Exhibition of Books and Paintings on Charles Darwin was recently displayed at the Urban Council Wan Chai Library. There should be further opportunities in future for more of such exhibitions to be held at other district libraries without having to await allocation of space at the Low Block Exhibition Hall or at the High Block of City Hall.
The impressive Science in Action Exhibition which has been exhibited at the City Hall should also be exhibited at district libraries both in the urban areas as well as in the New Territories during the coming months.
PAPER
(Miss Cecilia L. Y. YEUNG arrived during the Chairman's address.)
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 November 1983.
QUESTIONS
1. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):—The Council has been accused that by stopping the issuing of some hawker licences and increasing the licence fees for those licences still extant, we are creating more and more illegal hawkers and thereby making hawker control more difficult and more xpensive. Is this accusation borne out by facts, and if so, should the present policy be changed?
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):―This question concerns the effectiveness of Urban Council's policy regarding the licensing of hawkers.
The Urban Council stopped the general issue of hawker licences in the mid- 1970s. This decision was taken as a positive measure to alleviate the severe
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