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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL ADDRESS BY CHAIRMANCHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
MINUTESThe minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 1987, 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 1987.
QUESTIONS1.
THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):—Will it be possible to do more promotion and publicity for the newly-opened Lockhart Road Market Complex so as to attract more customers to buy from the stall-holders there, quite a number of whom are complaining that business is poor?
MR. LEE CHIK-YUET, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question asked whether it is possible to do more promotion and publicity for the newly-opened Lockhart Road Market Complex in Wan Chai so as to attract more customers to buy from the stall-holders there.
The short answer is yes—and I thank Mr. CHEONG-LEEN for asking this question, which will in itself generate some publicity for the new market. The official opening ceremony of the whole Complex, including the market, took place a week ago, and was performed by our gracious Vice Chairperson, Mrs. Elsie Tu, attracting widespread publicity.
The market has a total of 331 stalls, which are gradually finding occupants—and those stalls that are occupied are of course gradually finding customers. But this is a very big market, and it would be asking too much for it to be both fully let and fully patronised in a short period. As in other cases, it takes time.
One of the main purposes of building this market was to reprovision the stalls of the Southorn Temporary Market, and to provide spaces for licensed hawkers from Russell Street, and for licensed cooked food stalls formerly trading on-street in Luard Road, Thomson Road, and Amoy Street, Wan Chai.
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Some of these hawkers are reluctant to make the move to the new markets, and they are intending to go out of business when their present sites are cleared. This is delaying the occupation of stalls. However, plans are in hand to move licensed hawkers from other areas to take up the vacant stalls.
Also, the housewives of Wan Chai have been neither slow nor fast in patronising the new market; like the occupants of the stalls, they have come forward steadily and gradually to take advantage of this modern new facility in the heart of Wan Chai.
The occupation of a new market is usually a gradual exercise, and Lockhart Road is no exception. In time, I am sure that the stall-holders will be doing a brisk trade. Equally so, the housewives of Wan Chai and users of other facilities of the complex will be happy with this chance to carry out one-stop shopping or patronising the cooked food centre in a modern complex fitted with escalators for their convenience.
In the meantime, publicity and promotional work started by the grand opening ceremony will be continued to try to stimulate this process; this includes publicity being generated in the local District Board Newspaper, arranged visits, etc.
2. THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):—To what extent will it be possible for the Urban Council to join forces with the Regional Council to promote five-a-side soccer, which would include territory-wide competitions?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question asks to what extent will it be possible for the Urban Council to join forces with the Regional Council to promote 5-a-side soccer, including territory-wide competitions.
It is difficult to answer any question which seeks to ascertain to what extent we are able to join forces with any other body to do anything, as this requires ascertaining the potential co-operation and the resources both bodies are willing to allocate to any particular activity, and clearly, I cannot speak for the Regional Council.
I can, however, say that between October and December 1986, the first urban-wide 5-a-side soccer competition was organized, with preliminary rounds being held on a district basis. A total of 272 teams were involved. The finals were played at Victoria Park on 7 December 1986.
A similar urban-wide competition will be held between October and December 1987. It is intended that the finals will take place on 6 December 1987 at the Hong Kong Coliseum. I understand that the Regional Council, at the moment, has no plans to organize a comparable competition, although I am told that district 5-a-side soccer tournaments are held in the New Territories.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 1987, 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 1987.
QUESTIONS
1.
THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):—Will it be possible to do more promotion and publicity for the newly- opened Lockhart Road Market Complex so as to attract more customers to buy from the stall-holders there, quite a number of whom are complaining that business is poor?
MR. LEE CHIK-YUET, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question asked whether it is possible to do more promotion and publicity for the newly-opened Lockhart Road Market Complex in Wan Chai so as to attract more customers to buy from the stall-holders there.
The short answer is yes-and I thank Mr. CHEONG-LEEN for asking this question, which will in itself generate some publicity for the new market. The official opening ceremony of the whole Complex, including the market, took place a week ago, and was performed by our gracious Vice Chairperson, Mrs. Elsie Tu, attracting widespread publicity.
The market has a total of 331 stalls, which are gradually finding occupants- and those stalls that are occupied are of course gradually finding customers. But this is a vary big market, and it would be asking too much for it to be both fully let and fully patronised in a short period. As in other cases it takes time.
One of the main purposes of building this market was to reprovision the stalls of the Southorn Temporary Market, and to provide spaces for licensed hawkers from Russell Street, and for licensed cooked food stalls formerly trading on- street in Luard Road, Thomson Road and Amoy Street, Wan Chai.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
337
Some of these hawkers are reluctant to make the move to the new markets, and they are intending to go out of business when their present sites are cleared. This is delaying the occupation of stalls. However, plans are in hand to move licensed hawkers from other areas to take up the vacant stalls.
Also the housewives of Wan Chai have been neither slow nor fast in patronising the new market; like the occupants of the stalls, they have come forward steadily and gradually to take advantage of this modern new facility in the heart to Wan Chai.
The occupation of a new market is usually a gradual exercise, and Lockhart Road is no exception. In time, I am sure that the stall-holders will be doing a brisk trade. Equally so, the housewives of Wan Chai and users of other facilities of the complex will be happy with this chance to carry out one-stop shopping or patronising the cooked food centre in a modern complex fitted with escalators for their convenience.
In the meantime, publicity and promotional work started by the grand opening ceremony will be continued to try to stimulate this process, this includes publicity being generated in the local District Board Newspaper, arranged visits etc.
2. THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):—To what extent will it be possible for the Urban Council to join forces with the Regional Council to promote five-a-side soccer which would include territory-wide competitions?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION Select CommITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question asks to what extent will it be possible for the Urban Council to join forces with the Regional Council to promote 5-a-side socceer, including territory-wide competitions.
It is difficult to answer any question which seeks to ascertain to what extent we are able to join forces with any other body to do anything, as this requires ascertaining the potential co-operation and the resources both bodies are willing to allocate to any particular activity, and clearly I cannot speak for the Regional Council.
I can however say that between October and December 1986, the first urban wide 5-a-side socceer competition was organized with preliminary rounds being held on a district basis. A total of 272 teams were involved. The finals were played at Victoria Park on 7 December 1986.
A similar urban wide competition will be held between October and December 1987. It is intended that the finals will take place on 6 December 1987 at the Hong Kong Coliseum. I understand that the Regional Council, at the moment, has no plans to organize a comparable competition although I am told that district 5-a-side socceer tournaments are held in the New Territories.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.