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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Mr. JONES' report is a wide ranging and though provoking document. He has highlighted a number of areas of concern which have led to problems in the past. These include funding arrangements, accommodation for sports associations, the formation of sports clubs and the provision of facilities for sports in the territory.
If the recommendations contained in the report are to be implemented, wholly or in part, it is essential that the Urban Council is consulted at every stage. This will ensure that implementation may be achieved without impinging on the Council's authority, and without obstructing or adversely affecting the Council's support of sport in Hong Kong and so that where appropriate the Council can respond and adapt to the changing needs of sport in Hong Kong. Council has been invited to comment on the report. Members' views expressed here and in committee discussions, will be passed to the Government. However I hope that this will not be the extent of consultation on this important issue. There must be a continuous dialogue between the Urban Council, Government and the relevant sports authorities in the months to come.
Madam Chairman, I beg to move.
MR. FAN KAM-PING, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE seconded the motion (in Cantonese):-Madam Chairman, the Consultancy Report on Sport in Hong Kong 'The Way Ahead' published some months ago mainly aims at consulting the public as to whether there is a need to set up an 'Executive Council' with executive power, or would they prefer to maintain the status quo. An account of the services provided by the Urban Council in respect of sports and recreation is also specifically given in Chapter VI of the report.
At the beginning of that Chapter, a praise is bestowed on the successful operation of devolving responsibility from Government to the Urban Council and Regional Council for the provision of recreational facilities and services. The agreement officially introduced since 1986, which lays down the lines of demarcation for the funding responsibilities of the Council for Recreation and Sport and the two Municipal Councils in respect of sports activities, is a good measure to avoid chaos brought about by duplicated and overlapping applications from governing bodies of sports for subsidy of sports events as happened before. In simple terms, the new policy stipulates that the Council for Recreation and Sport is responsible for funding international sports events, national squad training, involvement of Hong Kong's national teams in overseas sports events and the training of sports officials and coaches, while the two Municipal Councils are to be responsible for subsidizing grass roots and intermediate training and events at territorial, regional or district levels.
In 1974, the Government officially offered the Urban Council a statutory status for the promotion of recreational activities. Over the years, the Urban Council has been actively building recreational and sports venues in various districts, like swimming pool complexes, indoor games halls, squash courts and tennis courts. Numerous lowly charged or free sports and recreational activities like 'Learn-to-swim' courses, 'Learn-to-play' courses for all types of ball games and gymnastic courses have also been organized in various districts. Despite limitations in terms of manpower and venue resources, substantial growth has been achieved every year in the sports and recreational activities organized by the Urban Council. This can be verified by quoting some figures. For instance, the number of sports and recreational activities organized in various districts has been increased from 4,800 in 1986 to 5,400 in 1987, which further increased to 7,900 this year.
To expand the quota of the sports and recreational activities organized by the Urban Council so as to fully cope with the need of the public, we have to make use of all the sports and recreational venues we constructed, let alone making some time during which the venues are available for public's free use and hiring by sports bodies for holding training courses or competitions.
Though I support the proposal that the Government should strengthen the existing Council for Recreation and Sport or replace it with a statutory body governing sports throughout Hong Kong, I believe that the scope of responsibilities and scale of funding borne by the Urban Council for organizing sports and recreational activities should not be affected or altered as a result. In fact, the number of sports venues of the Urban Council is already inadequate for our running of sports activities to fulfil the Council's statutory duty in the promotion of sports and recreational activities. Moreover, in the Annual Debate held earlier this year, I have already urged the Council to improve the qualifications and quality of Departmental staff who are responsible for the management of the expensive sports and recreational facilities of the Council for the purpose of formulating policies efficiently and on a value-for-money basis, as well as meeting the needs of the local residents who will be using these facilities. I have also suggested that these advanced and expensive sports facilities should be widely introduced to the residents of the district in which the sports venues are situated so as to make these venues into distinguished centres for holding sports and recreational activities and even to make them a subject matter that the district residents will like to talk about them in their social gatherings. With regard to my suggestions, Mr. FORSGATE, Chairman of the Urban Council, has given me an affirmative reply in the Annual Debate. Therefore it is envisaged that the Council will be more active and more dynamic in the promotion of sports activities. So the demand of the Urban Council for sports venues will be higher than any time experienced before. If the power for governing sports and recreational venues of the Urban Council is transferred to any other organization or institution, the existing function of the Urban Council in the promotion and provision of sports and recreational activities for the citizens of Hong Kong will be seriously affected.
Many people will agree that Hong Kong is a unique place and that things and models of foreign countries may not be suitable for Hong Kong. Personally, I have reservations on the proposal for setting up an 'Executive
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Page 80 of 182
152
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Mr. JONES' report is a wide ranging and though provoking document. He has highlighted a number of areas of concern which have led to problems to the past. These include funding arrangements, accommodation for sports associa tions, the formation of sports clubs and the provision of facilities for sports in the territory.
If the recommendations contained in the report are to be implemented, wholly or in part, it is essential that the Urban Council is consulted at every stage. This will ensure that implementation may be achieved without impinging on the Council's authority, and without obstructing or adversely affecting the Council's support of sport in Hong Kong and so that where appropriate the Council can respond and adapt to the changing needs of sport in Hong Kong. Council has been invited to comment on the report. Members' view expressed here and in committee discussions, will be passed to the Government. However I hope that this will not be the extent of consultation on this important issue. There must be a continuous dialogue between the Urban Council, Government and the relevant sports authorities in the months to come.
Madam Chairman, I beg to move.
MR. FAN KAM-PING, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE seconded the motion (in Cantonese):-Madam Chairman, the Consultancy Report on Sport in Hong Kong 'The Way Ahead' published some months ago mainly aims at consulting the public as to whether there is a need to set up an 'Executive Council' with executive power, or would they prefer to maintain the status quo. An account of the services provided by the Urban Council in respect of sports and recreation is also specifically given in Chapter VI of the report.
At the beginning of that Chapter, a praise is bestowed on the successful operation of devolving responsibility from Government to the Urban Council and Regional Council for the provision of recreational facilities and services. The agreement officially introduced since 1986, which lays down the lines of demarcation for the funding responsibilities of the Council for Recreation and Sport and the two Municipal Councils in respect of sports activities, is a good measure to avoid chaos brought about by duplicated and overlapping applica- tions from governing bodies of sports for subsidy of sports events as happened before. In simple terms, the new policy stipulates that the Council for Recrea- tion and Sport is responsible for funding international sports events, national squad training, involvement of Hong Kong's national teams in overseas sports events and the training of sports officials and coaches, while the two Municipal Councils are to be responsible for subsidizing grass roots and intermediate training and events at territorial, regional or district levels.
In 1974, the Government officially offer the Urban Council a statutory status for the promotion of recreational activities. Over the years, the Urban Council has been actively building recreational and sports venues in various districts, like swimming pool complexes, indoor games halls, squash courts and tennis
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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153
courts. Numerous lowly charged or free sports and recreational activities like 'Learn-to-swim' courses, 'Learn-to-play' courses for all types of ball games and gymnastic courses have also been organized in various districts. Despite limitations in terms of manpower and venue resources, substantial growth has been achieved every year in the sports and recreational activities organized by the Urban Council. This can be verified by quoting some figures. For instance, the number of sports and recreational activities organized in various districts has been increased from 4 800 in 1986 to 5 400 in 1987, which further increased to 7 900 this year.
To expand the quota of the sports and recreational activities organized by the Urban Council so as to fully cope with the need of the public, we but have to make use of all the sports and recreational venues we constructed, let alone making some time during which the venues are available for public's free use and hiring by sports bodies for holding training courses or competitions.
Though I support the proposal that the Government should strengthen the existing Council for Recreation and Sport or replace it with a statutory body governing sports throughout Hong Kong, I believe that the scope of respon- sibilities and scale of funding borne by the Urban Council for organizing sports and recreational activities should not be affected or altered as a result. In fact, the number of sports venues of the Urban Council is already inadequate for our running of sports activities to fulfil the Council's statutory duty in the promotion of sports and recreational activities. Moreover, in the Annual Debate held earlier this year, I have already urged the Council to improve the qualifications and quality of Departmental staff who are responsible for the management of the expensive sports and recreational facilities of the Council for the purpose of formulating policies efficiently and on a value-for-money basis, as well as meeting the needs of the local residents who will be using these facilities. I have also suggested that these advanced and expensive sports facilities should be widely introduced to the residents of the district in which the sports venues are situated so as to make these venues into distinguished centres for holding sports and recreational activities and even to make them a subject matter that the district residents will like to talk about them in their social gatherings. With regard to my suggestions, Mr. FORSGATE, Chairman of the Urban Council, has given me an affirmative reply in the Annual Debate. Therefore it is envisaged that the Council will be more active and more dynamic in the promotion of sports activities. So the demand of the Urban Council for sports venues will be higher than anytime experienced before. If the power for governing sports and recreational venues of the Urban Council is transferred to any other organization or institution, the existing function of the Urban Council in the promotion and provision of sports and recreational activities for the citizens of Hong Kong will be seriously affected.
Many people will agree that Hong Kong is a unique place and that things and models of foreign countries may not be suitable for Hong Kong. Per- sonally, I have reservations on the proposal for setting up an 'Executive
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