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how much is to be used to reimburse the Urban Council. Maybe in a few years time, Urban Councillors are very generous and they will say all the surplus will go to the sports. So it is up to the Council to decide. The Board of Governors has not made any firm decision and has made no decision. As to the third question as to what efforts are being undertaken to reduce the figure, as far as I can remember, I understand that the initial promotion expenses was $1 million. But then there has been a lot of report about the opening gala, I understand that we do not have to spend so much on the promotional activities. So I have to thank members for arousing the interest in the community. We do not have to spend $1 million now. And also there are more tickets for sale, so we are getting more revenue from the admission and we have successfully secured more sponsorship. So up till now I believe that the Urban Council will have to spend slightly over $4 million but I have not got an exact figure.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I would like Mr. LAU Man-lung to clarify one more point. He mentioned about the Urban Council has got policies for running facilities along commercial lines, is it true? Has the BOG ever considered that the standing policy can be applied to the Hong Kong Stadium? I understand that the Hong Kong Stadium is to be run on a self-financing basis and we are supposed to generate surplus for the promotion of sports. I think Mr. Chairman yourself has talked about the UC lacking experience in running facilities along commercial basis. I am quite surprised to hear from Mr. Lau that there is no need to formulate new policy or royalty as the standing one can be applied to the Hong Kong Stadium. So I want to be given clarification whether his statement is true and whether the BOG will review the situation?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I think this is a hypothetical question. Regarding the operation of the restaurants, the Urban Council has got a standing policy. Going back to the Hong Kong Stadium, this is not an unprecedented arrangement. Getting a certain percentage of the turnover is a standing practice. In future, the Urban Council will be able to share the proceeds with the restaurant operators. As to the need for review, whether we need to review the overall Urban Council policies, it is really up to the joint efforts of the 40 Councillors. As the Hong Kong Stadium has not really been opened, I think we had better wait for one year after the opening of the Hong Kong Stadium. If we are to review before the opening, it won't be opened forever.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I would like to clarify my question. I want to know whether the BOG has set out a policy regarding commercial operation. If the answer is in the negative, does it mean that the current UC policy will apply?
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): Maybe I would summarize the question. The target of the BOG is to manage the Stadium along commercial lines, to reduce expenditure and to generate more income. As far as hire charges,
Page 106 of 132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 106 of 132
213
how much is to be used to reimburse the Urban Council. Maybe in a few years time, Urban Councillors are very generous and they will say all the surplus will go to the sports. So it is up to the Council to decide. The Board of Governors has not made any firm decision and has made no decision. As to the third question as to what efforts are being undertaken to reduce the figure, as far as I can remember, I understand that the initial promotion expenses was $1 million. But then there has been a lot of report about the opening gala, I understand that we do not have to spend so much on the promotional activities. So I have to thank members for arousing the interest in the community. We do not have to spend $1 million now. And also there are more tickets for sale, so we are getting more revenue from the admission and we have successfully secured more sponsorship. So up till now I believe that the Urban Council will have to spend slightly over $4 million but I have not got an exact figure.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like Mr. LAU Man-lung to clarify one more point. He mentioned about the Urban Council has got policies for running facilities along commercial lines, is it true? Has the BOG ever considered that the standing policy can be applied to the Hong Kong Stadium? I understand that the Hong Kong Stadium is to be run on a self-financing basis and we are supposed to generate surplus for the promotion of sports. I think Mr. Chairman yourself has talked about the UC lacking experience in running facilities along commercial basis. I am quite surprised to hear from Mr. Lau that there is no need to formulate new policy or royalty as the standing one can be applied to the Hong Kong Stadium. So I want to be given clarification whether his statement is true and whether the BOG will review the situation?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I think this is a hypothetical question. Regarding the operation of the restaurants, the Urban Council has got a standing policy. Going back to the Hong Kong Stadium, this is not an unprecedented arrangement. Getting a certain percentage of the turnover is a standing practice. In future, the Urban Council will be able to share the proceeds with the restaurant operators. As to the need for review, whether we need to review the overall Urban Council policies, it is really up to the joint efforts of the 40 Councillors. As the Hong Kong Stadium has not really been opened, I think we had better wait for one year after the opening of the Hong Kong Stadium. If we are to review before the opening, it won't be opened forever.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to clarify my question. I want to know whether the BOG has set out a policy regarding commercial operation. If the answer is in the negative, does it mean that the current UC policy will apply?
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Maybe I would summarize the question. The target of the BOG is to manage the Stadium along commercial lines, to reduce expenditure and to generate more income. As far as hire charges,
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