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now. So I think the Government must give us the information on finance if it really wants our support. We would then decide whether it is really financially feasible. The third point which is essential to the success of the redeveloped project is the management of stadium in future. Right now, I think everyone knows the Urban Council is responsible for developing sports and recreational activities at the district level. The Hong Kong Stadium plays a very important role in this area. In future, if the management of the Hong Kong Stadium is to be changed because of the changes of aims then I am sure the sports development at district level will be affected to a great extent. So I support that the management of Hong Kong Stadium in future should be vested in the Urban Council and the USD. Of course, we would not exclude the possibility of seeking assistance from outside sports management experts because the Hong Kong Stadium may be an entirely new venue. So sharing the management responsibility is also a point we should consider. All these three points mentioned by me have already reflected that the Government should enter into prompt discussion with the Council on the project. Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
THE HON. FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to make known my stand, i.e. I support the motion. I think legally the Government does have power to do what is being done, but politically speaking, it is a complete failure because the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements says very clearly that the Government has the power of making plan to re-develop the Hong Kong Stadium when financially feasible. The Government does have the legal backing, but according to Section 105(b) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132, the Urban Council is responsible for the running and managing Hong Kong Stadium. Whilst the Central Government is responsible for planning and the Urban Council is responsible for management and so there should be a good partnership between the two parties.
Actually there is more than partnership and it is a co-existing partnership. However, the Urban Council has not been consulted at all on the re-development of Hong Kong Stadium and the decision has been made already and so it is politically unsound. It also jeopardises the relationship between the Government and the Urban Council. Actually, the re-development of Hong Kong Stadium is really not a big issue and why it has come to be so secret and so politically unwise, I am really puzzled by what the Recreation and Culture Branch has been doing. The Secretary for Recreation and Culture had been previously the Director of the Urban Services and so he should be very familiar with the running of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department. Why and what he did is really puzzling. I think the decision made by the Recreation and Culture Branch is something that would jeopardise the very good relationship between the Recreation and Culture Branch and the Urban Council. So it seems to me that the Central Government is trying to do too much at the same time and is not taking the Urban Council seriously, particularly our responsibility of managing the Hong Kong Stadium. What is
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politically bad is that as the Urban Council is a body representing public opinion, so I don't think there is any reason that can explain the action taken by the Central Government. We are not deliberately seeking consultation or are fighting for power with the Central Government. I would like to point out six areas where things cannot be done well without consultation with us. First of all, administratively it is not acceptable if the Urban Council and Urban Services Department is not consulted? And secondly, the Central Government had commissioned a consultancy who recommended that the capacity of the Hong Kong Stadium be expanded to accommodate 40,000 people. Why no justification is given for such development? Thirdly, what will be the time frame for the re-development? As we are the managing body of the Hong Kong Stadium, we don't know how long we manage the Stadium and how shall we deploy our staff? The answer is in the negative. Fourthly, after re-development who is going to manage it? What will be the cost of management? Are we going to charge a high fee so as to break even? Does the Urban Council want a very high fee? Fifthly, after increasing the seating capacity to 40,000, that means that maybe at the same time 40,000 spectators will go or leave the stadium, so how can we match the transport network or transport services? Sixthly, if we take away the running track, then the educational sector will be deprived of some facilities that they have been using. They have voiced strong objection to this. Why have they not been consulted? I really don't believe that it is a wise decision. I would now like to recommend three things for the consideration of the Central Government. First, I hope that a consultation should be done again. It is not like an open consultation that is going to last for 3 months. I hope that it should consult this Council, and then the educational sector. Secondly, I hope that the Central Government can re-open a dialogue with the Urban Council to really work out the details of the re-development of the Hong Kong Stadium from now onwards because we might be the future management authority of the Hong Kong Stadium. We might have a lot of doubts and questions regarding the future development and management of the Hong Kong Stadium. I think there should be a dialogue between the Urban Council and the Central Government. The third step will be decision making by the Government.
THE HON. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, today the Urban Council has a debate on the re-development of the Hong Kong Stadium. I would like to give some information to members. Concerning the re-development of the Hong Kong Stadium, it is very ironical that the Urban Councillors learnt this issue from the press report. Also the announcement was made by the Jockey Club and the Urban Council as the managing body knows nothing of the project. The Jockey Club announced that in April next year the cover of the Hong Kong Stadium will be demolished and then nobody will be able to hire the venue. I think the Jockey Club has taken over our duty. I think the Secretary for Recreation and Culture is to be held responsible. It is very important that students can achieve a balanced development during their school lives. The Recreation and Culture Branch cannot evade its responsibility
Page 86 of 126
150
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
now. So I think the Government must give us the information on finance if it really wants our support. We would then decide whether it is really financially feasible. The third point which is essential to the success of the redeveloped project is the management of stadium in future. Right now, I think everyone knows the Urban Council is responsible for developing sports and recreational activities at the district level. The Hong Kong Stadium plays a very important role in this area. In future, if the management of the Hong Kong Stadium is to be changed because of the changes of aims then I am sure the sports development at district level will be affected to a great extent. So I support that the management of Hong Kong Stadium in future should be vested in the Urban Council and the USD. Of course, we would not exclude the possibility of seeking assistance from outside sports management experts because the Hong Kong Stadium may be an entirely new venue. So sharing the management responsibility is also a point we should consider. All these three points mentioned by me have already reflected that the Government should enter into prompt discussion with the Council on the project. Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
THE HON. FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to make known my stand, i.e. I support the motion. I think legally the Government does have power to do what is being done, but politically speaking, it is a complete failure because the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements says very clearly that the Government has the power of making plan to re-develop the Hong Kong Stadium when financially feasible. The Government does have the legal backing, but according to Section 105(b) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132, the Urban Council is responsible for the running and managing Hong Kong Stadium. Whilst the Central Government is responsible for planning and the Urban Council is responsible for management and so there should be a good partnership between the two parties.
Actually there is more than partnership and it is a co-existing partnership. However, the Urban Council has not been consulted at all on the re- development of Hong Kong Stadium and the decision has been made already and so it is politically unsound. It also jeopardises the relationship between the Government and the Urban Council. Actually, the re-development of Hong Kong Stadium is really not a big issue and why it has come to be so secret and so politically unwise, I am really puzzled by what the Recreation and Culture Branch has been doing. The Secretary for Recreation and Culture had been previously the Director of the Urban Services and so he should be very familiar with the running of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department. Why and what he did is really puzzling. I think the decision made by the Recreation and Culture Branch is something that would jeopardise the very good relationship between the Recreation and Culture Branch and the Urban Council. So it seems to me that the Central Government is trying to do too much at the same time and is not taking the Urban Council seriously, particularly our responsibility of managing the Hong Kong Stadium. What is
Page 86 of 126
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 86 of 126
151
politically bad is that as the Urban Council is a body representing public opinion, so I don't think there is any reason that can explain the action taken by the Central Government. We are not deliberately seeking consultation or are fighting for power with the Central Government. I would like to point out six areas where things cannot be done well without consultation with us. First of all, administratively it is not acceptable if the Urban Council and Urban Services Department is not consulted? And secondly, the Central Government had commissioned an consultancy who recommended that the capacity of the Hong Kong Stadium be expanded to accommodate 40 000 people. Why no justification is given for such development? Thirdly, what will be the time frame for the re-development? As we are the managing body of the Hong Kong Stadium, we don't know how long we manage the Stadium and how shall we deploy our staff? The answer is in the negative. Fourthly, after re-development who is going to manage it? What will be the cost of management? Are we going to charge a high fee so as to break even? Does the Urban Council want a very high fee? Fifthly, after increasing the seating capacity to 40 000, that means that may be at the same time 40 000 spectators will go or leave the stadium, so how can we match the transport network or transport services? Sixthly, if we take away the running track, then the educational sector will be deprived of some facilities that they have been using. They have voiced strong objection to this. Why have they not been consulted? I really don't believe that it is a wise decision. I would now like to recommend three things for the consideration of the Central Government. First, I hope that a consultation should be done again. It is not like an open consultation that is going to last for 3 months. I hope that it should consult this Council, and then the educational sector. Secondly, I hope that the Central Government can re-open a dialogue with the Urban Council to really work out the details of the re-development of the Hong Kong Stadium from now onwards because we might be the future management authority of the Hong Kong Stadium. We might have a lot of doubts and questions regarding the future development and management of the Hong Kong Stadium. I think there should be a dialogue between the Urban Council and the Central Government. The third step will be decision making by the Government.
THE HON. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, today the Urban Council has a debate on the re-development of the Hong Kong Stadium. I would like to give some information to members. Concerning the re- development of the Hong Kong Stadium, it is very ironical that the Urban Councillors learnt this issue from the press report. Also the announcement was made by the Jockey Club and the Urban Council as the managing body knows nothing of the project. The Jockey Club announced that in April next year the cover of the Hong Kong Stadium will be demolished and then nobody will be able to hire the venue. I think the Jockey Club has taken over our duty. I think the Secretary for Recreation and Culture is to be held responsible. It is very important that students can achieve a balanced development during their school lives. The Recreation and Culture Branch cannot evade its responsibility
Page 86 of 126
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