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for the Council by private developers and then handed over for Council management, contain facilities that Council wants, are built to an acceptable standard of finish and that the work is properly supervised.

The Council has considerable experience in handling projects of this nature mainly in the environmental hygiene field and most are similar. The number of recreation and open space projects is much smaller, but each is different because of variations in sites and facilities. In every case, after the developer's initial approach has been evaluated and assessed, Council is consulted and if a favourable decision is given, the Department draws up a schedule of accommodation for approval. In the case of smaller projects the developer will produce a layout plan on which the department will comment.

For all such projects, the Architectural Services Department draws up a Technical Schedule specifying the scope of the project, the standard of finish, hard and soft landscaping, and external works and standards of workmanship etc. Works have to comply with all statutory ordinances, regulations, standards, specifications and codes relevant to building works and public works contracts in Hong Kong.

For large projects, a letter entrusting the developer with the works is also enacted. This document safeguards Council's interests and rights in matters such as design standards, and provides an indemnity against damage, claims, etc. In the case of such areas as the Open Space adjacent to the Cultural Centre, a third document is required, namely a Management Agreement. The Management Agreement covers such matters as responsibility for maintenance and repair of shared facilities, definitions of which facilities will be the responsibility of which party, etc.

MR. RONNIE M. C. WONG (in English):—Even though a lot of facilities are donated by the companies, most of these facilities are being built on Government's land. How can we ensure that the facilities donated to this Council can be handed over on time?

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, with the best will in the world I think ASD acting on behalf of the USD as its project manager would make sure that the project is handed over on time. Usually a project of this nature is integrated with other development be it residential or commercial. It is to the advantage of the developers that this affiliated facility is completed in time so that they will have a whole project completed in totality and on time.

MOTIONS

1. MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, I rise on the motion standing in my name:

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'RESOLVED that the Pleasure Grounds (Urban Council) (Amendment) By-laws 1989 and the Public Swimming Pools (Urban Council) (Amendment) By-laws 1989 be made under Sections 109 and 42 respectively of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132,'

I would like to explain something of the rationale behind the revisions which will take effect as from 1 April 1989. Hire charges for indoor games halls and squash courts were last revised in October 1986. Recently the Department completed a costing review on indoor games halls and squash courts; from which certain significant points have emerged.

The total cost including staff, maintenance, equipment, fuel, light and power and non-cash cost etc. are expected to continue to increase.

As a result, the overall deficit on the operation of indoor games halls went up from $11.82 million for 1986-87 to $17.01 million for 1987–88. If hire charges remain unchanged, the loss will rise to $26.11 million in this new financial year, with the subsidy level rising from 73 per cent in 1987-88 to 75 per cent in 1988-89.

Under the new scale of fees, normal hire charges for use of the facilities in the indoor games hall will be increased by approximately 25 per cent. A new scale of fees for use of air-conditioned arena and games rooms in indoor games hall will be introduced. Furthermore, a new scale of fees at $10 per person per hour will be introduced for use of the games rooms. Schools which are currently charged a reduced rate for the use of these facilities will no longer be given this privilege. However, schools will only start to pay the full rate of charges with effect from 1 September 1989, to enable the Education Department time to revise the levels of subvention to reflect these highest charges.

The costing review on squash court operations revealed that the overall deficit on the operation of squash courts also increased from $0.39 million for 1986-87 to $0.85 million for 1987-88. If hire charges remain unchanged, the deficit will rise to $2.29 million in this new financial year, with the subsidy level rising from 11 per cent in 1987-88 to 20 per cent in 1988–89.

Under the new scale of fees, normal hire charges for non-air-conditioned squash court will increase from $9 to $10 per half hour and for air-conditioned squash courts, from $14 to $16 per half hour. The rate for the Exhibition Court at the Hong Kong Squash Centre will be double those for standard courts.

In March 1988 the Council approved the introduction of concessionary rates for senior citizens, aged 60 and above, for use of Urban Council facilities during non-peak periods. In line with this policy, concessionary rates equivalent to half the normal rates should be introduced for senior citizens for use of certain facilities in indoor games halls, and for the hire of squash courts, sports pitches, tennis courts, bowling greens and obstacle golf courses. The Council has also agreed to introduce an entrance fee for senior citizens at swimming pools which is half the normal rate.