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the Museum of Coastal Defence at Lei Yu Mun, and such other possibly needed additional crematoria, civic centres (with libraries) and district stadia to meet community demands?
DR. THE HON. SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL WORKS SELECT COMMITTEE (in Cantonese):—Mr. YUEN's question concerns whether action has been taken to urge Government to provide the necessary resources for those Urban Council projects the funding of which, according to the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements (MAA), is the responsibility of the Government.
As an annual exercise the Department seeks the necessary funds from Government for such projects. Submissions are made in response to Government's invitation for resource allocations in August each year.
Over the years, the Department has been successful in obtaining Government funding for quite a number of projects. The more significant recent examples are the Cultural Centre at Tsim Sha Tsui, the Museum of Art, recladding of the Space Museum, and the Folk Museum in Chai Wan.
In addition to the above, Government has also funded the repair and improvement works to the Kennedy Town Abattoir, reprovisioning of Diamond Hill Crematorium, new columbarium and reprovisioning of cremators at Cape Collinson. Recently, funding has also been obtained for the construction of an Indoor Games Hall at Sai Wan Ho under switch-financing arrangement.
Since priority has been given over the past few years to the projects mentioned above, other projects, for which government funding was also sought, did not meet with success. Priority in obtaining funding from the Government for museum projects was given to the Museum of Art which had been completed recently.
As regards the proposed Museum of Coastal Defence at Lei Yue Mun, even though some planning work has already been done, Council is yet to endorse the scope, timing and rough order of cost. Once these details are available, the Department will certainly approach the Government for funding, taking into account the priority given by Council to this project.
Other facilities such as libraries and district sports grounds are not covered by the MAA, and have to be financed by the Council. However, the Department takes into account the future funding requirements in the negotiation with Government for review of the share of the rates in the urban areas.
MR. STEPHEN Lau Man-Lung (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a question here. Under the MAA, the Government will fund certain UC projects. In the 5 year programmes, how many of these projects are still waiting for funds?
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DR. THE HON. SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI (in Cantonese):—I do not have the answer with me. I will give you a written reply later.
MR. JASON YUEN KING-YUK (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, when the Department negotiates with the Government with regard to funding or enhancing or upgrading the priority of certain projects, I wonder if some representatives of the Council can also take part so that Council's views will then be more directly relayed to the Government?
DR. THE HON. SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, that is not that easy to undertake. Councillors are responsible for formulating policies and not responsible for execution. We should reflect our views through USD and I believe that USD reflects our views all the time.
MR. JASON YUEN KING-YUK (in Cantonese):—I do not disagree to the division of labour with regard to policy making and execution. But then as transparency is emphasised all the time nowadays with regard to the work of the representative government structures, I wonder if the Government can give a written reply to us stating clearly its agreement or otherwise of our views with reasons.
DR. THE HON. SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I think you should take the question.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—The answer will be yes.
MOTION
1.
MR. PAO PING-WING, CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:—
THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT 'RESOLVED that the Food Business (Urban Council) Bylaw (Exemption from Bylaw 32(1)) Notice 1993 be made under Bylaw 32(7) of the Food Business (Urban Council) Bylaw, Cap. 132.'
He said (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Public Health Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name: The Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws (Exemption from By-law 32(1)) Notice, 1993 made under By-law 32(7) of the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws now before the Council will, when adopted, exempt a person who is engaged in the business of rice packing from holding a food factory licence under the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws. This exemption is proposed because the packing of rice does not give rise to any health risk.
Packing of rice involves unpacking of rice from import-packages, going through scanner, centrifuger, dust and metal remover to remove unwanted substances, visual inspection to detect and rid any further unwanted substances,
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the Museum of Coastal Defence at Lei Yu Mun, and such other possibly needed additional crematoria, civic centres (wtih libraries) and district stadia to meet community demands?
DR. THE HON. SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAPITAL WORKS SELECT COMMITTEE (in Cantonese):—Mr. YUEN's question concerns whether action has been taken to urge Government to provide the necessary resources for those Urban Council projects the funding of which, according to the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements (MAA), is the responsibility of the Government.
As an annual exercise the Department seeks the necessary funds from Government for such projects. Submissions are made in response to Government's invitation for resource allocations in August each year.
Over the years, the Department has been successful in obtaining Government funding for quite a number of projects. The more significant recent examples are the Cultural Centre at Tsim Sha Tsui, the Museum of Art, recladding of the Space Museum, and the Folk Museum in Chai Wan.
In addition to the above, Government has also funded the repair and improvement works to the Kennedy Town Abattoir, reprovisioning of Diamond Hill Crematorium, new columbarium and reprovisioning of cremators at Cape Collinson. Recently, funding has also been obtained for the construction of an Indoor Games Hall at Sai Wan Ho under switch-financing arrangement.
Since priority has been given over the past few years to the projects mentioned above, other projects, for which government funding was also sought, did not meet with success. Priority in obtaining funding from the Government for museum projects was given to the Museum of Art which had been completed recently.
As regards the proposed Museum of Coastal Defence at Lei Yue Mun, even though some planning work has already been done, Council is yet to endorse the scope, timing and rough order of cost. Once these details are available, the Department will certainly approach the Government for funding, taking into account the priority given by Council to this project.
Other facilities such as libraries and district sports grounds are not covered by the MAA, and have to be financed by the Council. However, the Department takes into account the future funding requirements in the negotiation with Government for review of the share of the rates in the urban
areas.
MR. STEPHEN Lau Man-Lung (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a question here. Under the MAA, the Government will fund certain UC projects. In the 5 year programmes, how many of these projects are still waiting for funds?
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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221
DR. THE HON. SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI (in Cantonese):—I do not have the answer with me. I will give you a written reply later.
MR. JASON YUEN KING-YUK (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, when the Department negotiates with the Government with regard to funding or enhancing or upgrading the priority of certain projects, I wonder if some representatives of the Council can also take part so that Council's views will then be more directly relayed to the Government?
DR. THE HON. SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, that is not that easy to undertake. Councillors are responsible for formulating policies and not responsible for execution. We should reflect our views through USD and I believe that USD reflects our views all the time.
MR. JASON YUEN KING-YUK (in Cantonese):—I do not disagree to the division of labour with regard to policy making and execution. But then as transparency is emphasised all the time nowadays with regard to the work of the representative government structures, I wonder if the Government can give a written reply to us stating clearly its agreement or otherwise of our views with reasons.
DR. THE HON. SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I think you should take the question.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—The answer will be yes.
MOTION
1.
MR. PAO PING-WING, CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:—
THE
PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT
'RESOLVED that the Food Business (Urban Council) Bylaw (Exemption from Bylaw 32(1)) Notice 1993 be made under Bylaw 32(7) of the Food Business (Urban Council) Bylaw, Cap. 132.'
He said (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Public Health Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name: The Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws (Exemption from By-law 32(1)) Notice, 1993 made under By-law 32(7) of the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws now before the Council will, when adopted, exempt a person who is engaged in the business of rice packing from holding a food factory licence under the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws. This exemption is proposed because the packing of rice does not give rise to any health risk.
Packing of rice involves unpacking of rice from import-packages, going through scanner, centrifuger, dust and metal remover to remove unwanted substances, visual inspection to detect and rid any further unwanted substances,
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