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12. MR. JOHN K. P. FAN asked the following question (in English):- I understand that audio-visual facilities are available in newly established public libraries for the public to use video tapes/discs, laser discs and tapes, etc. Could I be informed of the following:
(a) How frequently are these facilities used; and
(b) If it proves to be popular with the public, would the Council plan to expand the service in the future?
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, this question is in two parts. The first concerns the usage of audio-visual facilities provided by the Council's libraries and the second, the Council's plan for expanding the service.
Concerning the first aspect, the Council libraries have a total stock of 119 765 items of audio-visual materials which include gramophone records, audio-cassette tapes, compact audio discs, language tapes, video cassettes tapes, video discs, slides, multi-media packages, computer software programmes, CD-ROMs and microforms.
An audio-cassette lending service is currently provided in the Kowloon Central Library and all district libraries. Readers can borrow audio-cassette tapes for home use with their library tickets. A total of 266 698 audio-cassettes were borrowed in 1988-89. During the period, 42 200 people also attended video-cassette shows and hi-fi concerts organized regularly in district libraries as part of the on-going library extension activities.
In addition, audio-visual libraries are provided in the Kowloon Central Library and 10 district libraries in Council premises. The facility is a standard provision in all new district libraries under planning. Audio-visual libraries provide individual listening and viewing booths for readers to enjoy audio-visual programmes of their choice. The facilities are popular and well used. 175 205 people used the facilities in 1988–89.
Microforms, computer software programmes as well as databases on Digital Compact Disc (CD-ROM) are also available for public use in the City Hall Reference Library and the Kowloon Central Reference Library. A total of 5 209 items are currently available and 6 340 requests were received in 1988–89.
Regarding the second part of the question, audio-visual facilities will continue to form an integral part of the library service and the audio-visual collection will continue to be expanded in accordance with the approved standard of 5% of the overall library stock to meet the needs of the public. Furthermore, the Libraries are currently liaising with audio compact disc producers on copyright clearance with a view to lending audio compact discs for home use.
13. MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):- At the Urban Council Meeting held in July this year, I raised a question
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concerning hawking activities of unlicensed itinerant hawkers at the junctions of Tai Shing Street and Tai Tung Street and of Tai Shing Street and Tung Tau Tsuen Road which caused obstructions to the traffic and pavement. The situation has not yet been improved in the past four months and I have received complaints about the serious obstruction on a section of the pavement in front of Kei Heep Secondary Modern School, Tung Tau Tsuen Road, whose students are very much inconvenienced when they are entering and leaving the school. Moreover, I have also received complaints about similar situation in Tseuk Luk Street, San Po Kong, particularly the section in the vicinity of the Highness Restaurant. And the hawking hours even last for the whole day. I would like to ask the following questions:
(a) How does the General Duties Team decide its scope of operation against illegal hawking activities every time, such as the distance that they will chase after hawkers?
(b) What is the average ratio between the number of GDT members and that of illegal hawkers within the district? And are the GDT manpower resources adequate in Wong Tai Sin District?
(c) At present, at which hours of the day are GDT operations concentrated against unlicensed hawkers at the junctions of Tai Shing Street and Tai Tung Street and of Tai Shing Street and Tung Tau Tsuen Road?
(d) What further actions will be taken by the Council to improve the situation on the above-mentioned roads?
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, Chairman of THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the first question concerns the scope of operation of the GDTs against illegal hawking activities. The GDTs take into consideration the seriousness of the hawking situation at a particular location and plan their strategy according to staff resources available. Priority is given to controlling illegal cooked food hawkers. The GDTs are not encouraged to chase after illegal hawkers. Instead, they use dispersal tactics and arrest those who refuse to leave.
The second question concerns the average ratio between the number of GDT members and that of illegal hawkers in the Wong Tai Sin District and the adequacy of GDT manpower resources. There are at present 8 GDT squads comprising 76 law enforcement officers in Wong Tai Sin who are empowered to arrest hawkers. As they work in two shifts, the number of law enforcement officers for any one shift is 38. Since they work a 7-day week, the actual number of officers on the ground at any one day is 32. There are 169 licensed hawkers and according to Department's record 949 unlicensed hawkers in Wong Tai Sin District. A law enforcement officer is therefore responsible for about 5 licensed hawkers and 30 unlicensed hawkers. It is not possible for the GDTs to provide full coverage at all times, especially during lunch and dinner breaks and late at night.
The third question concerns the timing of GDT operations against unlicensed hawkers at the junction of Tai Shing Street and Tai Tung Street and of Tai
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
12. MR. JOHN K. P. FAN asked the following question (in English):- I understand that audio-visual facilities are available in newly established public libraries for the public to use video tapes/discs, laser discs and tapes, etc. Could I be informed of the following:
(a) How frequently are these facilities used; and
(b) If it proves to be popular with the public, would the Council plan to expand
the service in the future?
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, this question is in two parts. The first concerns the usage of audio-visual facilities provided by the Council's libraries and the second, the Council's plan for expanding the service.
Concerning the first aspect, the Council libraries have a total stock of 119 765 items of audio-visual materials which include gramophone records, audio- cassette tapes, compact audio discs, language tapes, video cassettes tapes, video discs, slides, multi-media packages, computer software programmes, CD- ROMS and microforms.
An audio-cassette lending service is currently provided in the Kowloon Central Library and all district libraries. Readers can borrow audio-cassette tapes for home use with their library tickets. A total of 266 698 audio-cassettes were borrowed in 1988-89. During the period, 42 200 people also attended video-cassette shows and hi-fi concerts organized regularly in district libraries as part of the on-going library extension activities.
In addition, audio-visual libraries are provided in the Kowloon Central Library and 10 district libraries in Council premises. The facility is a standard provision in all new district libraries under planning. Audio-visual libraries provide individual listening and viewing booths for readers to enjoy audio-visual programmes of their choice. The facilities are popular and well used. 175 205 people used the facilities in 1988–89.
Microforms, computer software programmes as well as databases on Digital Compact Disc (CD-ROM) are also available for public use in the City Hall Reference Library and the Kowloon Central Reference Library. A total of 5 209 items are currently available and 6 340 requests were received in 1988–89.
Regarding the second part of the question, audio-visual facilities will continue to form an integral part of the library service and the audio-visual collection will continue to be expanded in accordance with the approved standard of 5% of the overall library stock to meet the needs of the public. Furthermore, the Libraries are currently liaising with audio compact disc producers on copyright clearance with a view to lending audio compact discs for home use.
13. MR. FUNG KWONG-CHUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):- At the Urban Council Meeting held in July this year, I raised a question
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
169
concerning hawking activities of unlicensed itinerant hawkers at the junctions of Tai Shing Street and Tai Tung Street and of Tai Shing Street and Tung Tau Tsuen Road which caused obstructions to the traffic and pavement. The situation has not yet been improved in the past four months and I have received complaints about the serious obstruction on a section of the pavement in front of Kei Heep Secondary Modern School, Tung Tau Tsuen Road, whose students are very much inconvenienced when they are entering and leaving the school. Moreover, I have also received complaints about similar situation in Tseuk Luk Street, San Po Kong, particularly the section in the vicinity of the Highness Restaurant. And the hawking hours even last for the whole day. I would like to ask the following questions:
(a) How does the General Duties Team decide its scope of operation against illegal hawking activities every time, such as the distance that they will chase after hawkers?
(b) What is the average ratio between the number of GDT members and that of illegal hawkers within the district? And are the GDT manpower resources adequate in Wong Tai Sin District?
(c) At present, at which hours of the day are GDT operations concentrated against unlicensed hawkers at the junctions of Tai Shing Street and Tai Tung Street and of Tai Shing Street and Tung Tau Tsuen Road?
(d) What further actions will be taken by the Council to improve the situation on
the above-mentioned roads?
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, Chairman of THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the first question concerns the scope of operation of the GDTs against illegal hawking activities. The GDTs take into consideration the seriousness of the hawking situation at a particular location and plan their strategy according to staff resources available. Priority is given to controlling illegal cooked food hawkers. The GDTs are not encouraged to chase after illegal hawkers. Instead, they use dispersal tactics and arrest those who refuse to leave.
The second question concerns the average ratio between the number of GDT members and that of illegal hawkers in the Wong Tai Sin District and the adequacy of GDT manpower resources. There are at present 8 GDT squads comprising 76 law enforcement officers in Wong Tai Sin who are empowered to arrest hawkers. As they work in two shifts, the number of law enforcement officers for any one shift is 38. Since they work a 7-day week, the actual number of officers on the ground at any one day is 32. There are 169 licensed hawkers and according to Department's record 949 unlicensed hawkers in Wong Tai Sin District. A law enforcement officer is therefore responsible for about 5 licensed hawkers and 30 unlicensed hawkers. It is not possible for the GDTs to provide full coverage at all times, especially during lunch and dinner breaks and late at night.
The third question concerns the timing of GDT operations against unlicensed hawkers at the junction of Tai Shing Street and Tai Tung Street and of Tai
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