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Before our meeting today, some representatives of the disabled have expressed their views and they hope that in relation to access and car parking spaces, it should be made convenient for the disabled. By doing this, those in the lower income groups of the disabled will be able to use our facilities and participate in our activities. This definitely can be referred to the relevant Select Committee for decision shortly.
THE HONOURABLE LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have two supplementary questions.
First, I am most happy to learn that the Urban Council is reviewing the situation to see whether the preferential treatment schemes can be extended. But could we, in the interim period, implement some easier improvement schemes in phases? For instance, perhaps by stages we should give preferential treatment first to those physically handicapped persons who can be recognized easily.
And the second question is: has the Urban Council consulted the relevant organisations and discussed with them the difficulties in identification?
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—The first question in fact can be dealt with fairly easily because we do feel that if we could, by stages, implement reasonable schemes. I am sure the Select Committee will be able to come to a decision very soon particularly in relation to the physically handicapped because they can be easily recognised and the frontline staff will not find it difficult to implement our schemes. So perhaps we will be able to take that up at our next meeting.
The second question concerns whether we have consulted relevant organisations in relation to identification so that our staff will find it easier to implement our policies, as in other areas of providing services, if there is a need to consult them, the relevant Select Committees would be most happy to do so.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese):―Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In order to show Urban Council's concern for the disabled, the mentally handicapped and the physically handicapped, can we consider this. Because in some shelter workshops and in some of their special schools they do have some forms of identification. So perhaps in future when people come along with such student cards of the special schools or identity cards issued by certain shelter workshops, they will be eligible for concessionary rates to buy tickets for cultural and entertainment tickets. Could that be considered?
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—In principle, as long as we can put in place a policy, that is apart from the elderly and students, we should also help to provide the best service to the disadvantaged and those having difficulties in participating in our activities. If we do have a policy in place and in principle we accept this, then we will definitely be willing to consider the difficulties. And if we know that they are eligible and there are no difficulties in implementation process then it is alright. But there might be the case that on the one hand there are people with such identifications in shelter workshops but on the other, some people may not be working in such workshops, then they may not be in possession of such identification and therefore we might also still have difficulties. We will further examine in this aspect.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Man has answered two questions and I have also looked at his main reply, particularly in paragraph 9, I am rather confused. Because if we just look at paragraphs 8 and 9, it seems as if the difficulty is about the identification and that is the reason why there might be implementation difficulties. But from the verbal reply given by Mr. MAN, it seems as if the policy probably is feasible as far as the policy in principle is concerned but perhaps we need to look further at details. I would like to seek clarification on this: have the S/Cs endorsed the principle already? In other words, have they endorsed the policy that there should be preferential treatment for the disabled similar to the one offered to the students and also the elderly? As this involves an important issue, I would like to ask whether the policy has been endorsed in principle or not? If it is not yet in place, could they endorse that immediately at the next meeting and then start to work out the details and to overcome the difficulties?
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, may I make a clarification. In my main reply it has been stated very clearly that in relation to the mentally or physically handicapped we do give them assistance to use our facilities and participate in our activities. That principle is very clear. As for the buying of tickets in concessionary rates, we do not have the policy yet. So the spirit is that we will move towards that direction and if we could be instructed that it is the UC principle then we will therefore take it up as well. So that policy needs to be in place first and then we will go onto the overcoming of difficulties in implementation.
MR. MOK YING-FAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have two questions. The first one is in relation to paragraph 9 of the main reply. It is said that it is expected that we will be able to get an answer in the near future. But could we have a more definite time schedule? Because if we say 'in the near future', that is a rather ambiguous phrase.
Secondly this does involve decision with other Select Committees as well. So could I ask the Chairmen of the other Select Committees whether they could also give their views on this?
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in general if it is an issue pertaining to the terms or reference of one particular Select Committee, then it should be taken up at that level first and then submitted to the SCWC for endorsement. As the issue also involves
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Before our meeting today, some representatives of the disabled have expressed their views and they hope that in relation to access and car parking spaces, it should be made convenient for the disabled. By doing this, those in the lower income groups of the disabled will be able to use our facilities and participate in our activities. This definitely can be referred to the relevant Select Committee for decision shortly.
THE HONOURABLE LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have two supplementary questions.
First, I am most happy to learn that the Urban Council is reviewing the situation to see whether the preferential treatment schemes can be extended. But could we, in the interim period, implement some easier improvement schemes in phases? For instance, perhaps by stages we should give preferential treatment first to those physically handicapped persons who can be recognized easily.
And the second question is: has the Urban Council consulted the relevant organisations and discussed with them the difficulties in identification?
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—The first question in fact can be dealt with fairly easily because we do feel that if we could, by stages, implement reasonable schemes. I am sure the Select Committee will be able to come to a decision very soon particularly in relation to the physically handicapped because they can be easily recognised and the frontline staff will not find it difficult to implement our schemes. So perhaps we will be able to take that up at our next meeting.
The second question concerns whether we have consulted relevant organisations in relation to identification so that our staff will find it easier to implement our policies, as in other areas of providing services, if there is a need to consult them, the relevant Select Committees would be most happy to do so.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese):―Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In order to show Urban Council's concern for the disabled, the mentally handicapped and the physically handicapped, can we consider this. Because in some shelter workshops and in some of their special schools they do have some forms of identification. So perhaps in future when people come along with such student cards of the special schools or identity cards issued by certain shelter workshops, they will be eligible for concessionary rates to buy tickets for cultural and entertainment tickets. Could that be considered?
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—In principle, as long as we can put in place a policy, that is apart from the elderly and students, we should also help to provide the best service to the disadvantaged and those having difficulties in participating in our activities. If we do have a policy in place and in principle we accept this, then we will definitely be willing to consider the difficulties. And if we know that they are eligible and there are no
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difficulties in implementation process then it is alright. But there might be the case that on the one hand there are people with such identifications in shelter workshops but on the other, some people may not be working in such workshops, then they may not be in possession of such identification and therefore we might also still have difficulties. We will further examine in this aspect.
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Man has answered two questions and I have also looked at his main reply, particularly in paragraph 9, I am rather confused. Because if we just look at paragraphs 8 and 9, it seems as if the difficulty is about the identification and that is the reason why there might be implementation difficulties. But from the verbal reply given by Mr. MAN, it seems as if the policy probably is feasible as far as the policy in principle is concerned but perhaps we need to look further at details. I would like to seek clarification on this: have the S/Cs endorsed the principle already? In other words, have they endorsed the policy that there should be preferential treatment for the disabled similar to the one offered to the students and also the elderly? As this involves an important issue, I would like to ask whether the policy has been endorsed in principle or not? If it is not yet in place, could they endorse that immediately at the next meeting and then start to work out the details and to overcome the difficulties?
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, may I make a clarification. In my main reply it has been stated very clearly that in relation to the mentally or physically handicapped we do give them assistance to use our facilities and participate in our activities. That principle is very clear. As for the buying of tickets in concessionary rates, we do not have the policy yet. So the spirit is that we will move towards that direction and if we could be instructed that it is the UC principle then we will therefore take it up as well. So that policy needs to be in place first and then we will go onto the overcoming of difficulties in implementation.
MR. MOK YING-FAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have two questions. The first one is in relation to paragraph 9 of the main reply. It is said that it is expected that we will be able to get an answer in the near future. But could we have a more definite time schedule? Because if we say 'in the near future', that is a rather ambiguous phrase.
Secondly this does involve decision with other Select Committees as well. So could I ask the Chairmen of the other Select Committees whether they could also give their views on this?
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in general if it is an issue pertaining to the terms or reference of one particular Select Committee, then it should be taken up at that level first and then submitted to the SCWC for endorsement. As the issue also involves
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