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course it is a good thing to increase the size of the containers, but do not forget one point that if these containers are placed outside your shop, it will be like a small RCP outside your shop, and if you are operating a restaurant, this will definitely turn customers off. I know that it is a thankless job for us, but I wonder whether we have done any publicity work. At present the public are urged to pitch in, but it is learnt that some sort of waste cannot be deposited inside litter containers. May I ask Mr. PAO whether it is possible to step up publicity and to educate the public so that they would no longer deposit the domestic waste or furniture outside litter containers. I think it is rather difficult to prosecute offenders because of the absence of eye-witnesses. Is there any way to educate the general public to make them aware that they are violating the law by so doing. I would like to ask Mr. PAO whether there is any way to solve the problem?
CHAIRMAN (in English): These points can be discussed at the Health Education Sub-Committee, which are very useful.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese): Mr. WONG, thank you very much for your suggestion. This is a positive point and certainly it will be discussed and studied in our Select Committee.
4. MR. JASON YUEN KING-YUK asked the following question (in English): As the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens are the oldest public gardens in Hong Kong and have been doing a good job in conserving wild life and rare species of more than a century and shall celebrate their 120 years Anniversary at the end of this year, I wish to ask:
(1) Whether the Council or the Department has already supplied all the significant historical information to the Antiquities and Monuments Office for consideration of grading or declaration in response to the appeal of the said office for such information from all government departments in 1986? (2) Will there be a commemorative pamphlet featuring both the long history and the current works of the gardens to be published for the public for the occasion?
(3) Are there any plans to improve the accessibility of these gardens to the general public from the other districts which would otherwise appear to be more a neighbourhood garden for the Mid-levels than the others?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This question relates to the historical and current works of the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens and is in 3 parts. The first part concerns the provision of historical information by the Council or the Department to the Antiquities and Monuments Office in 1986.
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In 1986 the Antiquities and Monuments Office asked various government departments to supply a list of buildings and structures built before 1930. The Urban Services Department accordingly supplied a list of all known historical buildings and structures to the Antiquities and Monuments Office. However, as no historical buildings or structures built before 1930 still existed in the Gardens, the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens was not included in the list.
The second part of the question concerns production of a commemorative pamphlet for the public to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the Gardens. The Department has produced a commemorative calendar, measuring 530 mm × 350 mm comprising a set of 15 sheets, for the occasion. The Calendar contains an article featuring both the long history and the current work of the Gardens.
The third part of the question concerns the improvement of accessibility to the Gardens for the general public. The majority of visitors come from other Districts rather than the Mid-levels. Over the years, the accessibility of the Gardens have been improved by additional bus routes passing alongside the Gardens. Currently the Gardens are served by 11 bus routes. There are plans to improve the accessibility of the Gardens by opening an additional entrance at Albany Road next year on top of the 8 existing entrances for the Gardens. Additional signage will also be provided to direct the public to the Gardens from the new Hillside Escalator Link from between the Central and the Mid-levels, which will be completed in mid-1993.
MR. JASON YUEN KING-YUK (in Cantonese): I would like to ask two supplementary questions. Firstly, according to the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, antiquities are not only meant to confine to buildings or structures, they also include piazza or venues. So long as they have historical value, they can be declared as antiquities or monuments. I would like to ask whether the Department has paid special attention to this point when a list of buildings or structures was supplied to the Antiquities and Monuments Office in 1986 i.e. monuments which do not only mean structures and buildings but also a piazza or a venue with historical value. If the Department has not noted that point at that time, can the Department supply such information now to the Antiquities and Monuments Office for reconsideration because it is still not too late. The second question is: to mark the 120th Anniversary of the Gardens, can we provide both a calendar and a pamphlet? I don't object to having a calendar which was printed before and it is more decorative than academic in nature, and I think a commemorative pamphlet with maps and historical photographs should be produced to enrich the cultural life of our citizens for this occasion.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, two questions have been asked. The first question concerns whether more information apart from historical buildings or structures can be given to the Antiquities and Monuments Office. In this regard, I don't have the information in hand, but I believe that the Department will be pleased to supply such information to the Office if it is available. If Mr. YUEN has any suggestions, he can put forward such suggestions at our Recreation Select Committee meeting and the Committee will certainly consider all these suggestions. Concerning the commemorative pamphlet, I believe it is not too late to consider this proposal. I will refer this back to the Committee for consideration.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I would like to follow up on these two questions. Firstly, we know that the Zoological and Botanical Gardens are very important in view of the fact that the Regional Council has decided to give up the idea of constructing a zoo. As a result, I think the Gardens bear a heavier responsibility now. Since we haven't made any additional facilities within the Gardens, can we consider upgrading the existing facilities in the Gardens to meet the need of the public. Secondly, concerning the commemorative pamphlet, apart from considering the academic nature of the pamphlet, I think we should also give consideration to the aspect of endangered and rare species. As a member of the Endangered Species Advisory Committee, I hope that more popular education materials should be included to tie in with primary and secondary school curriculum. I think we should publish pamphlets or leaflets to introduce the contribution of the UC in this regard to members of the public.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): To answer Mr. MAN'S questions, the first question concerns upgrading facilities in the gardens. I agree that the Urban Council and the USD should continuously look into the possibility of improving our facilities, so as to meet the increasing need of the public and we will definitely take this matter up at our Committee meeting. The second question concerns educational material. I also agree with Mr. MAN that we should do more in this regard. We should publish pamphlets and leaflets which can promote civic education, and I will also refer this matter back to the Committee for consideration.
5. MR. WONG SIU-YEE asked the following question (in Cantonese): I have received complaints from members of the public that the Department's hotline (Tel. No. 868 0000), which deals with complaints, is not able to handle complaints relating to food hygiene particularly food business. Therefore these public complaints against food hygiene cannot be dealt with efficiently and effectively. In order to maintain a satisfactory standard of public health, I would like to ask the Council what improvement to the existing telephone complaint system can be made?
MRS. ELEANOR LING CHING-MAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English): This question concerns complaints about the Department's hot-line (Tel. No. 868 0000) and asks what improvements to the system can be made regarding the handling of food hygiene complaints.
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course it is a good thing to increase the size of the containers, but do not forget one point that if these containers are placed outside your shop, it will be like a small RCP outside your shop, and if you are operating a restaurant, this will definitely turn customers off. I know that it is a thankless job for us, but I wonder whether we have done any publicity work. At present the public are urged to pitch in, but it is learnt that some sort of waste cannot be deposited inside litter containers. May I ask Mr. Pâо whether it is possible to step up publicity and to educate the public so that they would no longer deposit the domestic waste or furniture outside litter containers. I think it is rather difficult to prosecute offenders because of the absence of eye-witnesses. Is there any way to educate the general public to make them aware that they are violating the law by so doing. I would like to ask Mr. PAO whether there is any way to solve the problem?
CHAIRMAN (in English):-These points can be discussed at the Health Education Sub-Committee, which are very useful.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. WONG, thank you very much for your suggestion. This is a positive point and certainly it will be discussed and studied in our Select Committee.
4. MR. JASON YUEN KING-YUK asked the following question (in English):—As the Hong Kong Zoological and Bontanical Gardens are the oldest public gardens in Hong Kong and have been doing a good job in conserving wild life and rare species of more than a century and shall celebrate their 120 years Anniversary at the end of this year, I wish to ask:
(1) Whether the Council or the Department has already supplied all the significant historical information to the Antiquities and Monuments Office for consideration of grading or declaration in response to the appeal of the said office for such information from all government departments in 1986? (2) Will there be a commemorative pamphlet featuring both the long history and the current works of the gardens to be published for the public for the occasion?
(3) Are there any plans to improve the accessibility of these gardens to the general public from the other districts which would otherwise appear to be more a neighbourhood garden for the Mid-levels than the others?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question relates to the historical and current works of the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens and is in 3 parts. The first part concerns the provision of historical information by the Council or the Department to the Antiquities and Monuments Office in 1986.
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In 1986 the Antiquities and Monuments Office asked various government departments to supply a list of buildings and structures built before 1930. The Urban Services Department accordingly supplied a list of all known historical buildings and structures to the Antiquities and Monuments Office. However, as no historical buildings or structures built before 1930 still existed in the Gardens, the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens was not included in the list.
The second part of the question concerns production of a commemorative pamphlet for the public to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the Gardens. The Department has produced a commemorative calendar, measuring 530 mm × 350 mm comprising a set of 15 sheets, for the occasion. The Calendar contains an article featuring both the long history and the current work of the Gardens.
The third part of the question concerns the improvement of accessibility to the Gardens for the general public. The majority of visitors come from other Districts rather than the Mid-levels. Over the years, the accessibility of the Gardens have been improved by additional bus routes passing alongside the Gardens. Currently the Gardens are served by 11 bus routes. There are plans to improve the accessibility of the Gardens by opening an additional entrance at Albany Road next year on top of the 8 existing entrances for the Gardens. Additional signage will also be provided to direct the public to the Gardens from the new Hillside Escalator Link from between the Central and the Mid-levels, which will be completed in mid-1993.
MR. JASON YUEN KING-YUK (in Cantonese):—I would like to ask two supplementary questions. Firstly, according to the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, antiquities are not only meant to confine to buildings or structures, they also include piazza or venues. So long as they have historical value, they can be declared as antiquities or monuments. I would like to ask whether the Department has paid special attention to this point when a list of buildings or structures was supplied to the Antiquities and Monuments Office in 1986 i.e. monuments which do not only mean structures and buildings but also a piazza or a venue with historical value. If the Department has not noted that point at that time, can the Department supply such information now to the Antiquities and Monuments Office for reconsideration because it is still not too late. The second question is: to mark the 120th Anniversary of the Gardens, can we provide both a calendar and a pamphlet? I don't object to having a calendar which was printed before and it is more decorative than academic in nature, and I think a commemorative pamphlet with maps and historical photographs should be produced to enrich the cultural life of our citizens for this occasion.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, two questions have been asked. The first question concerns whether more information apart from historical buildings or structures can be given to the Antiquities and Monuments Office. In this regard, I don't have the information in hand, but I believe that the Department will be pleased to supply such information to the
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Office if it is available. If Mr. YUEN has any suggestions, he can put forward such suggestions at our Recreation Select Committee meeting and the Committee will certainly consider all these suggestions. Concerning the commemorative pamphlet, I believe it is not too late to consider this proposal. I will refer this back to the Committee for consideration.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to follow up on these two questions. Firstly, we know that the Zoological and Botanical Gardens are very important in view of the fact that the Regional Council has decided to give up the idea of constructing a zoo. As a result, I think the Gardens bear a heavier responsibility now. Since we haven't made any additional facilities within the Gardens, can we consider upgrading the existing facilities in the Gardens to meet the need of the public. Secondly, concerning the commemorative pamphlet, apart from considering the academic nature of the pamphlet, I think we should also give consideration to the aspect of endangered and rare species. As a member of the Endangered Species Advisory Committee, I hope that more popular education materials should be included to tie in with primary and secondary school curriculum. I think we should publish pamphlets or leaflets to introduce the contribution of the UC in this regard to members of the public.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): To answer Mr. MAN'S questions, the first question concerns upgrading facilities in the gardens. I agree that the Urban Council and the USD should continuously look into the possibility of improving our facilities, so as to meet the increasing need of the public and we will definitely take this matter up at our Committee meeting. The second question concerns educational material. I also agree with Mr. MAN that we should do more in this regard. We should publish pamphlets and leaflets which can promote civic education, and I will also refer this matter back to the Committee for consideration.
5. MR. WONG SIU-YEE asked the following question (in Cantonese):-I have received complaints from members of the public that the Department's hotline (Tel. No. 868 0000), which deals with complaints, is not able to handle complaints relating to food hygiene particularly food business. Therefore these public complaints against food hygiene cannot be dealt with efficiently and effectively. In order to maintain a satisfactory standard of public health, I would like to ask the Council what improvement to the existing telephone complaint system can be made?
MRS. ELEANOR LING CHING-MAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—This question concerns complaints about the Department's hot-line (Tel. No. 868 0000) and asks what improvements to the system can be made regarding the handling of food hygiene complaints.
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