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GDTs. I am afraid that any changes might affect the operation and efficiency of hawker control in the day time. On the other hand, when we have major raiding operations particularly in hawker blackspots we usually need the assistance of the Police. I wonder if we have such shift pattern and the GDT's have to work late at night, could we still have Police's assistance in such enforcement action? Could the Department or Mr. CHEONG-LEEN give us additional information? Thank you.
(Mr. Frederick K. K. FUNG arrived at 2:38 p.m.)
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):--Mr. Chairman, the Department is now actively reviewing the whole question of shift pattern, so we have to wait until the report is ready and it will provide such information to the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee as soon as possible. The whole question of improving the situation regarding the GDTs has been a matter of study between the Urban Services Department and the Government for quite some time and I understand a meeting will be called under the aegis of the Government Branch concerned at which representatives of the Urban Services Department and the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee will attend to see what new proposals the Government may have on the particular subject and this meeting is to be held some time in December.
2. MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):-- I understand that the revision of hire charges in 1988 for tennis court is intended to encourage the public to use the courts during non-peak hours. May I be informed whether the overall utilization rate of tennis courts has been improved since then? In addition, I wonder if the objective of better cost-effectiveness has been achieved after the introduction of the differential charges system.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):——Mr. Chairman, this question refers to the revision of hire charges for tennis courts in 1988, and asks whether the overall usage rate of tennis courts has been improved since then and whether the objective of better cost-effectiveness has been achieved after the introduction of the differential charges system.
Hire charges for tennis courts were last revised on 1 May 1988. The differential charges system used before 1984 was re-introduced to encourage the public to use tennis courts during non-peak hours and thus achieve better cost-effectiveness.
Under this system, hire charges for non-peak hours remain unchanged at $17 per hour, but hourly rates during peak hours were increased from $17 to $25. For floodlit courts, the hourly charges were increased from $33 to $36.
Initial indications are that the overall usage rates have remained at the same levels as before during both peak and non-peak periods.
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These hire charges are now being reviewed by the Department with a view to consulting the Council within the next few months on whether they should be modified in any way. The levels of utilization in recent years and the rates of cost recovery will be fully taken into account in this exercise as is always the case when fees are reviewed.
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, it is said that the overall usage rates have remained at the same levels. I want to know that after the implementation of the differential charges system, has the usage rate at the non-peak hours increased? Can any figures be supplied to us? If there is an increase, what is the level of increase? If there is no increase, is it maintained at the previous level? If the differential charges system is not able to increase the usage rate, shall we cancel such a system when we carry out the review? If the overall usage rate has increased, should we also cancel the differential charges system?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I can give you some figures to support my reply. The usage rate at the peak hour in May 1987 to April 1988 was 68%. From May 1988 to September 1989 after the revision of hire charges, the usage rate was 63%. There is a decrease of 5%. But if we consider the peak hour usage rate in September 1987, it was 76% whereas in September 1989, it was 74%. There is a marginal decrease of 2%. To assess whether there is a decrease in usage rate, I think that a decrease of 2% is acceptable and is not so significant. So in my reply, the usage rate has remained more or less the same. When the users have got used to the charges, I think there will be an increase in the usage rate. The second question by Mr. CHAN concerns whether we should cancel the differential charges system. As I replied the first question, it is confirmed that the impact on the usage rate is minimal and I believe there is no need to cancel the differential charges system for the time being.
3. MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):— May I be informed of the utilization rate of the Hung Hom Funeral Parlour run by the Council? If it is on the low side, what steps can be taken to facilitate people, who have the need, to use such facilities?
MR. TONG KAM-BIU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, this question concerns the usage rate of the Hung Hom Public Funeral Parlour and the measures which can be taken to attract more people to use the facilities.
The Hung Hom Public Funeral Parlour, which provides low-cost funeral facilities to the public, was commissioned in June 1978. Due to a drop in its usage, it was temporarily closed down with the Council's approval in July 1982. Later, following a request from the Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Funeral Business General Association, the Funeral Parlour was partially
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GDTs. I am afraid that any changes might affect the operation and efficiency of hawker control in the day time. On the other hand, when we have major raiding operations particularly in hawker blackspots we usually need the assistance of the Police. I wonder if we have such shift pattern and the GDT's have to work late a night, could we still have Police's assistance in such enforcement action? Could the Department or Mr. CHEONG-LEEN give us additional information? Thank you.
(Mr. Frederick K, K. FUNG arrived at 2.38 p.m.)
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):--Mr. Chairman, the Department is now actively reviewing the whole question of shift pattern, so we have to wait until the report is ready and it will provide such information to the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee as soon as possible. The whole question of improving the situation regarding the GDTs has been a matter of study between the Urban Services Department and the Government for quite some time and I understand a meeting will be called under the aegis of the Government Branch concerned at which representatives of the Urban Services Department and the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee will attend to see what new proposals the Government may have on the particular subject and this meeting is to be held some time in December.
2. MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):-- I understand that the revision of hire charges in 1988 for tennis court is intended to encourage the public to use the courts during non-peak hours. May I be informed whether the overall utilization rate of tennis courts has been improved since then? In addition, I wonder if the objective of better cost-effectiveness has been achieved after the introduction of the differential charges system.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):——Mr. Chairman, this question refers to the revision of hire charges for tennis courts in 1988, and asks whether the overall usage rate of tennis courts has been improved since then and whether the objective of better cost-effectiveness has been achieved after the introduc- tion of the differential charges system.
Hire charges for tennis courts were last revised on 1 May 1988. The differential charges system used before 1984 was re-introduced to encourage the public to use tennis courts during non-peak hours and thus achieve better cost-effectiveness.
Under this system, hire charges for non-peak hours remain unchanged at $17 per hour, but hourly rates during peak hours were increased from $17 to $25. For floodlit courts, the hourly charges were increased from $33 to $36.
Initial indications are that the overall usage rates have remained at the same levels as before during both peak and non-peak periods.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
153
These hire charges are now being reviewed by the Department with a view to consulting the Council within the next few months on whether they should be modified in any way. The levels of utilization in recent years and the rates of cost recovery will be fully taken into account in this exercise as is always the case when fees are reviewed.
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, it is said that the overall usage rates have remained at the same levels. I want to know that after the implementation of the differential charges system, has the usage rate at the non-peak hours increased? Can any figures be supplied to us? If there is an increase, what is the level of increase? If there is no increase, is it maintained at the previous level? If the differential charges system is not able to increase the usage rate, shall we cancel such a system when we carry out the review? If the overall usage rate has increased, should we also cancel the differential charges system?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I can give you some figures to support my reply. The usage rate at the peak hour in May 1987 to April 1988 was 68%. From May 1988 to September 1989 after the revision of hire charges, the usage rate was 63%. There is a decrease of 5%. But if we consider the peak hour usage rate in September 1987, it was 76% whereas in September 1989, it was 74%. There is a marginal decrease of 2%. To assess whether there is a decrease in usage rate, I think that a decrease of 2% is acceptable and is not so significant. So in my reply, the usage rate has remained more or less the same. When the users have got used to the charges, I think there will be an increase in the usage rate. The second question by Mr. CHAN concerns whether we should cancel the differential charges system. As I replied the first question, it is confirmed that the impact on the usage rate is minimal and I believe there is no need to cancel the differential charges system for the time being.
3. MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):— May I be informed of the utilization rate of the Hung Hom Funeral Parlour run by the Council? If it is on the low side, what steps can be taken to facilitate people, who have the need, to use such facilities?
MR. TONG KAM-BIU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, this question concerns the usage rate of the Hung Hom Public Funeral Parlour and the measures which can be taken to attract more people to use the facilities.
The Hung Hom Public Funeral Parlour, which provides low-cost funeral facilities to the public, was commissioned in June 1978. Due to a drop in its usage, it was temporarily closed down with the Council's approval in July 1982. Later, following a request from the Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Territories Funeral Business General Association, the Funeral Parlour was partially
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