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understanding, I would like the chairman to confirm whether there is another survey being done by the government separately on the same area and what are the results, if any, of that particular survey? Thank you, Chairman.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): The result of the survey of the first one which was commissioned does show that Mei Foo residents feel strongly that there should be a market. As to the other one by government, I don't know the details but I would like to point out that in my reply, Mr. Chairman, at the end of the reply in answer to the third question raised by Mr. Ma, the department has stated that it has approached Architectural Services Department and that the department has completed the feasibility study in regard to setting up a market in the area which we are discussing. Now the department is taking a final look at the proposed project with particular emphasis on the cost of construction and financial viability and a Committee Paper will be prepared for Council in the next few months.
DR. ELSIE TU (in English): Mr. Chairman, a point of clarification. The Sham Shui Po Market was mentioned there by the Working Group. I must clarify that this Mei Foo Market has not been mentioned in the paper which has been circulated. Since it has been mentioned in the reply of the Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Selected Committee, I think it is about time we pay a visit to the whole area and not only the Sham Shui Po Market but also Mei Foo. If the Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee agrees with that, I think we would try to arrange this to the whole area including Mei Foo.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): Mr. Chairman, I would like to confirm what Mrs. Tu has said because we at the last meeting of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee held in July, did mention that it is hoped that the visit could be made to Sham Shui Po this month. In fact, a few days ago, there was a rather thick Committee Paper prepared by the department on market facilities in Sham Shui Po which I believe members would have received by now.
DR. ELSIE TU (in English): But it does not mention this particular market.
6. MR. MA LEE-WO asked the following question (in Cantonese): Since April this year, all UC swimming pool complexes, with exception of the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, has used coin-operated turnstiles to facilitate entrance. I have got complaints from citizens that such kind of facility constitutes great inconvenience in case the whole family goes swimming. Since there is no coin exchange service provided in the swimming pool complexes, the family has to prepare a lot of coins. I would like to know:
(a) In what ways will the Council improve the above situation?
(b) Will the Council consider providing coin exchange service in the swimming pool complexes?
(c) When will the Council review the efficiency of the 'coin-operated turnstile'?
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99
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This question concerns the inconvenience caused to family swimmers by the lack of coin change service following the introduction of coin-operated turnstiles at Urban Council swimming pools. The question is divided into three parts. Mr. MA wants to know how the council will improve the situation, whether the Council will consider providing coin exchange service in the swimming pool complexes and finally when the Council will review the efficiency of the coin-operated turnstiles.
Following the recommendation of the Study Group on the Management of Swimming Pools in 1986, the Council launched a trial scheme at Lai Chi Kok Park and Victoria Park Swimming Pool Complexes in 1987 to study the viability of introducing coin-operated turnstiles at the Council's swimming pool complexes. Based on the success of the trial scheme, the Council approved in January 1988 the installation of coin-operated turnstiles at all other swimming pools except Wan Chai Training Pool where there is no public admission. The objectives are to reduce staff costs and to increase the admission rate from the previous maximum 15 admissions per minute to 60 per minute. The turnstiles are now in full operation. The Department's assessment is that the new system has achieved the objectives.
It was anticipated that the lack of change service at the pools might cause some initial inconvenience to the swimmers, especially group or family swimmers. The new admission system was therefore widely publicized through the mass media before the swimming season began. Notices advising the public to tender exact fees are also put up at admission points. There have been some complaints about the new system, but most of them were made at the beginning of the swimming season. Apparently, members of the public have got used to the new system. Indeed based on the positive feedback from the swimming pool management and occasional press commentaries, it would appear that the coin-operated turnstiles are well received by the public. Immediate improvement measures are considered to be unnecessary.
On the question about when the Council will review the efficiency of the turnstiles, Members may wish to note that the system was last reviewed in January 1988 by the Council when the advantages of adopting the system were confirmed. On that basis, the extension of the system was approved by the Council and the system is now functioning smoothly. Members may rest assured that the operation of the system is being monitored closely by the Department and this particular problem about change service will be looked at again when the operation of the swimming pools is reviewed at the end of the current swimming season.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, it is mentioned that with the installation of the turnstiles, the admission rate has been increased from 15 to 60 per minute. Is it the result of the survey done during this swimming season? As far as I know, in the beginning of this swimming season, the coin change service was...
Page 54 of 166
Page 54 of 166
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understanding, I would like the chairman to confirm whether there is another survey being done by the government separately on the same area and what are the results, if any, of that particular survey? Thank you, Chairman.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-The result of the survey of the first one which was commissioned does show that Mei Foo residents feel strongly that there should be a market. As to the other one by government, I don't know the details but I would like to point out that in my reply, Mr. Chairman, at the end of the reply in answer to the third question raised by Mr. Ma, the department has stated that it has approached Architectural Services Department and that the department has completed the feasibility study in regard to setting up a market in the area which we are discussing. Now the department is taking a final look at the proposed project with particular emphasis on the cost of construction and financial viability and a Committee Paper will be prepared for Council in the next few months.
DR. ELSIE TU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, a point of clarification. The Sham Shui Po Market was mentioned there by the Working Group. I must clarify that this Mei Foo Market has not been mentioned in the paper which has been circulated. Since it has been mentioned in the reply of the Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Selected Committee, I think it is about time we pay a visit to the whole area and not only the Sham Shui Po Market but also Mei Foo. If the Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee agrees with that, I think we would try to arrange this to the whole area including Mei Foo.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to confirm what Mrs. Tu has said because we at the last meeting of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee held in July, did mention that it is hoped that the visit could be made to Sham Shui Po this month. In fact, a few days ago, there was a rather thick Committee Paper prepared by the department on market facilities in Sham Shui Po which I believe members would have received by now.
DR. ELSIE TU (in English):-But it does not mention this particular market.
6. MR. MA LEE-WO asked the following question (in Cantonese):—Since April this year, all UC swimming pool complexes, with exception of the Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, has used coin-operated turnstiles to facilitate entrance. I have got complaints from citizens that such kind of facility constitutes great inconvenience in case the whole family goes swimming. Since there is no coin exchange service provided in the swimming pool complexes, the family has to prepare a lot of coins. I would like to know:
(a) In what ways will the Council improve the above situation?
(b) Will the Council consider providing coin exchange service in the swimming
pool complexes?
(c) When will the Council review the efficiency of the 'coin-operated turnstile”?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
99
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the inconvenience caused to family swimmers by the lack of coin change service following the introduction of coin-operated turnstiles at Urban Council swimming pools. The question is divided into three parts. Mr. MA wants to know how the council will improve the situation, whether the Council will consider providing coin exchange service in the swimming pool complexes and finally when the Council will review the efficiency of the coin-operated turnstiles.
Following the recommendation of the Study Group on the Management of Swimming Pools in 1986, the Council launched a trial scheme at Lai Chi Kok Park and Victoria Park Swimming Pool Complexes in 1987 to study the viability of introducing coin-operated turnstiles at the Council's swimming pool complexes. Based on the success of the trial scheme, the Council approved in January 1988 the installation of coin-operated turnstiles at all other swimming pools except Wan Chai Training Pool where there is no public admission. The objectives are to reduce staff costs and to increase the admission rate from the previous maximum 15 admissions per minute to 60 per minute. The turnstiles are now in full operation. The Department's assessment is that the new system has achieved the objectives.
It was anticipated that the lack of change service at the pools might cause some initial inconvenience to the swimmers, especially group or family swimmers. The new admission system was therefore widely publicized through the mass media before the swimming season began. Notices advising the public to tender exact fees are also put up at admission points. There have been some complaints about the new system, but most of them were made at the beginning of the swimming season. Apparently, members of the public have got used to the new system. Indeed based on the positive feedback from the swimming pool management and occasional press commentaries, it would appear that the coin-operated turnstiles are well received by the public. Immediate im- provement measures are considered to be unnecessary.
On the question about when the Council will review the efficiency of the turnstiles, Members may wish to note that the system was last reviewed in January 1988 by the Council when the advantages of adopting the system were confirmed. On that basis, the extension of the system was approved by the Council and the system is now functioning smoothly. Members may rest assured that the operation of the system is being monitored closely by the Department and this particular problem about change service will be looked at again when the operation of the swimming pools is reviewed at the end of the current swimming season.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, it is mentioned that with the installation of the turnstiles, the admission rate has been increased from 15 to 60 per minute. Is it the result of the survey done during this swimming season? As far as I know, in the beginning of this swimming season, the coin change service
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