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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCILYour Council is a pioneer in municipal services in Hong Kong. And I hope that the extensive experience that you have garnered in over a century of operations will continue to be made available to us.
I would like to take this opportunity to invite Mr. Forsgate and Mrs. Tu to attend our Council meeting on 24 July 1986 at 10.00 a.m. as guests-of-honour. All Members of the Urban Council are welcome to attend any official discussions of the Regional Council and its committees.
A close cooperation between our two Councils will no doubt lead to a further improvement in the provision of municipal services throughout the territory and to the benefit of all the people. (applause)
(Mr. CHAN Kwok-ming arrived during Mr. CHEUNG'S address.)
CHAIRMAN (in English): Thank you very much indeed for these kind words, Mr. CHEUNG. VCUC and myself will be delighted to attend your meeting on 24 July 1986. Perhaps you would then care to hang around and listen to our conducting of business the rest of the afternoon.
CHAIRMAN, REGIONAL COUNCIL (in English): I am learning.
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 months of March and April 1986.
QUESTIONS1. THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English): Mr. Chairman, before I ask Question No. 1, may I declare a potential interest in the subject matter being over the age of 60? Can senior citizens 70 year and older be allowed to see space museum shows at half-price or thereabouts?
DR. PHILIP C. K. KWOK, CHAIRMAN of the Museums Select COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English): This question deals with concessionary rate admission tickets to the shows in the Space Theatre of the Space Museum, for Hong Kong residents who are 70 years of age and over.
Concessionary rate admission tickets for group bookings by elderly groups amongst others was first introduced in November 1981. At present a concessionary rate ticket costs $10, as against the full admission rate of $15. Between November 1981 and March 1986, 99 elderly groups have visited the Space Theatre, and it is estimated that some 5,400 elderly people have been able to see the various shows under the concessionary scheme.
However, at present we have no such concessionary scheme to cover individual bookings.
Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the fact that, as far as I know, there are no concessionary arrangements for elderly persons in other Urban Council activities, for example, concerts, film shows and sport programs, which require admission charges. May I suggest, through you, that we seriously consider adopting a more comprehensive concessionary scheme for the senior citizens. May I suggest also that in our deliberation, whether a threshold age of 65 is more appropriate than 70 or not.
CHAIRMAN (in English): I suppose you expect me to declare an interest now, do you? (laughter)
THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): Mr. Chairman, I am happy with the answer, unless other Members would like to ask supplementaries.
CHAIRMAN (in English): Possibly there should be such a select committee to deal with the problems suggested in Dr. Kwok's reply, may be if there is not one, we should set one up.
2. THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in Cantonese): Will a decision to license private billiard and snooker clubs be taken before the summer recess commences?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE Environmental Hygiene SELECT Committee, replied as follows (in English): This question asks whether a decision to license private billiard clubs will be taken before the summer recess commences.
Any decision to require private billiard clubs to be licensed, registered, or in any other way to become subject to control will have to amend the main Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, not just the subsidiary legislation thereto. This main amendment can only be done by the Legislative Council, and the decision as to whether the Legislative Council should be requested to amend the law is vested with the Executive Council.
At the moment the Department is consulting the urban area District Boards, and the Regional Services Department is consulting those in the New Territories on whether any legislative changes can be made, and, if so, in what form. This consultation exercise will be completed by the end of next month. Since a substantial amendment to the main Ordinance is in question views will be required on the subject by the Executive Council from both this Council and the Regional Council. Following this District Board consultation exercise,
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Your Council is a pioneer in municipal services in Hong Kong. And I hope that the extensive experience that you have garnered in over a century of operations will continue to be made available to us.
I would like to take this opportunity to invite Mr. Forsgate and Mrs. Tu to attend our Council meeting on 24 July 1986 at 10.00 a.m. as guests-of-honour. All Members of the Urban Council are welcome to attend any official discussions of the Regional Council and its committees.
A close cooperation between our two Councils will no doubt lead to a further improvement in the provision of municipal services throughout the territory and to the benefit of all the people. (applause)
(Mr. CHAN Kwok-ming arrived during Mr. CHEUNG'S address.)
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Thank you very much indeed for these kind words, Mr. CHEUNG. VCUC and myself will be delighted to attend your meeting on 24 July 1986. Perhaps you would then care to hang around and listen to our conducting of business the rest of the afternoon.
CHAIRMAN, REGIONAL COUNCIL (in English):-I am learning.
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 months of March and April 1986.
QUESTIONS
1. THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):- Mr. Chairman, before I ask Question No. 1, may I declare a potential interest in the subject matter being over the age of 60? Can senior citizens 70 year and older be allowed to see space museum shows at half-price or thereabouts?
DR. PHILIP C. K. KWOK, CHAIrman of the Museums Select COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question deals with concessionary rate admission tickets to the shows in the Space Theatre of the Space Museum, for Hong Kong residents who are 70 years of age and over.
Concessionary rate admission tickets for group bookings by elderly groups amongst others was first introduced in November 1981. At present a concessionary rate ticket costs $10, as against the full admission rate of $15. Between November 1981 and March 1986, 99 elderly groups have visited the
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 32 of 201
27
Space Theatre, and it is estimated that some 5 400 elderly people have been able to see the various shows under the concessionary scheme.
However, at present we have no such concessionary scheme to cover individual bookings.
Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the fact that, as far as I know, there are no concessionary arrangements for elderly persons in other Urban Council activities, for example, concerts, film shows and sport programs, which require admission charges. May I suggest, through you, that we seriously consider adopting a more comprehen- sive concessionary scheme for the senior citizens. May I suggest also that in our deliberation, whether a threshold age of 65 is more appropriate than 70 or not.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-I suppose you expect me to declare an interest now, do you? (laughter)
THE HON. HILTOn Cheong-leen (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am happy with the answer, unless other Members would like to ask supplementaries.
CHAIRMAN (in English):--Possibly there should be such a select committee to deal with the problems suggested in Dr. Kwok's reply, may be if there is not one, we should set one up.
2. THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in Cantonese): Will a decision to license private billiard and snooker clubs be taken before the summer recess commences?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE Environmental Hygiene SELECT Committee, replied as follows (in English):-This question asks whether a decision to license private billiard clubs will be taken before the summer recess
commences.
Any decision to require private billiard clubs to be licensed, registered, or in any other way to become subject to control will have to amend the main Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, not just the subsidiary legislation thereto. This main amendment can only be done by the Legislative Council, and the decision as to whether the Legislative Council should be requested to amend the law is vested with the Executive Council.
At the moment the Department is consulting the urban area District Boards, and the Regional Services Department is consulting those in the New Territories on whether any legislative changes can be made, and, if so, in what form. This consultation exercise will be completed by the end of next month. Since a substantial amendment to the main Ordinance is in question views will be required on the subject by the Executive Council from both this Council and the Regional Council. Following this District Board consultation exercise,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.