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nuisance. Secondly, a Principal Environmental Protection Officer did say that the location and design of the Hong Kong Stadium are not really suitable for major concerts. Thirdly, the level is usually above 75 dB(A) and sometimes it reaches 80 dB(A). Up to yesterday, we have received over 200 complaints in relation to noise. I don't think the EPD is giving us false information. If the information is true, we should really face the problem and try to solve it. I remember when we discussed whether the Stadium should be redeveloped or not, the Central Government told us that the aim was to try to promote sports activities and sports development in Hong Kong. Apart from staging football and other sports events in the Stadium, profits made would be put into promotion of sports. It is a very good ideal. However, if this is at the expense of the suffering of residents nearby, then this is questionable. Mr. Joseph CHAN said that this was a very grand modern facility. But to people living nearby, it is a monster and a nightmare. If this is the real situation, I would very readily do away with the Stadium. The problem with the Stadium is its location and design, therefore it is not suitable for major concerts. We will have to talk to the Central Government to find out the reason for its location and why the design was accepted. But before we find answers to these questions, it doesn't mean that we should ignore the problem. We need to deal with it and that is the reason why I support Mr. MA's motion. I hope that if the motion is endorsed, then the BOG should very seriously take it into consideration and act accordingly. I hope that you, Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the UC and Chairman of the BOG, can consider a number of points. You, Mr. Chairman, have said that if we did not have concerts at the Hong Kong Stadium, there might be deficit. Mr. Chairman, you did write to Sir David Ford, our former Chief Secretary, who said that the Stadium would have to be self-financing. I don't think it is now acceptable or feasible because of the prevailing problems. I think you should once again put the whole issue, including its location, design, the noise problem and the nuisance created, to our Chief Secretary, Mrs. Anson CHAN, and seek her agreement to abolish the self-financing policy for the Stadium. Unless that is done, we will not be able to solve the problems that confront us. Secondly, I think the decision makers must have adequate information, otherwise you will not be able to come up with good decisions. In our modern society, information is our weapon. Members of the BOG and Urban Councillors, in relation to this, do not have the necessary information at all and therefore we are left in the dark. The Central Government, USD, EPD, RCB and Wembley all have access to a lot of information. Unless they are prepared to disclose information to us, we will lose the battle totally. As the decision-making body, we are not equipped with anything to make decision, so how can we make effective and good decisions if we want to improve this problem. As a decision-making body, we have our rights and responsibilities to ask for adequate and accurate information for decision-making purposes from the executive departments. Unless we can resolve this problem, we will be faced with many others. Today, it may be noise, tomorrow it may be traffic and day after it may be a riot. I think we should take this opportunity to learn a lesson. Unless we learn a lesson, the residents in Happy Valley who came up today for a petition, might stage a riot tomorrow. I support the motion.
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MISS CHRISTINA TING YUK-CHEE (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, concerning the redevelopment of Hong Kong Stadium, it has caused a lot of problems to the Urban Council. When the redevelopment was announced, it was also decided that the athletic tracks would be removed. As a result, there were a lot of objections from the schools. The Urban Council made a wise decision to construct a sports ground at Siu Sai Wan which could accommodate 12,000 spectators. Such a move could pacify the schools as well as the athletic sectors. But problems continually arise. The redeveloped Hong Kong Stadium now has to face the noise problem caused by pop concerts. Many people have criticized us and they keep on complaining. Some people said that Urban Council should be held responsible and some people said that there is inadequate supervision on the part of the USD concerning redevelopment of the Hong Kong Stadium. I think the most important thing is not whether these criticisms are valid, but rather how we can solve the problems in a manner acceptable to all parties concerned. The focus of the problem is noise. So I think we should try to find ways to resolve the noise issue. The Hong Kong Stadium is a sports ground. It should be used for sports activities as well as other recreational activities. So I think that at present it is not suitable to hold pop concerts at the Hong Kong Stadium. In fact, there are other Urban Council venues more suitable for pop concerts, such as the Hong Kong Coliseum. If we permit too many concerts to be held at the Hong Kong Stadium, the utilisation rate of the Hong Kong Coliseum will be affected. The Coliseum would face a lot of competition. For the Hong Kong Stadium, Mr. Chairman, it has to be self-financing. If we think that the main sources of revenue for the Hong Kong Stadium come from the holding of pop concerts, then I would suggest that a shell be constructed over the Stadium. Say for example during pop concerts, the noise can be contained. As to whether this shell should be constructed, it is not for the Urban Council to decide. We must consult the experts as well as the Jockey Club. Mr. Chairman, we have all along been aiming to enrich city life. I really do not want to see the good image of the Urban Council being damaged by the noise problem at the Hong Kong Stadium. The Hong Kong Stadium is like a phoenix and we do not want it to cause a lot of noise problems to residents in the vicinity.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When I first read this motion, I had some doubts about it. For instance, the first sentence reads 'before effectively controlled'. What is meant by 'before effectively controlled'? As Mr. MA Lee-wo subsequently explained that it should be within the prescribed noise limit, then perhaps we can continue to accept bookings for pop concerts. After considering that explanation, I think that I can now support the motion. At our SCWC meeting on 15 March, I drew members' attention to the fact that people living in Beverly Hill and Tai Hang Road did complain because the area was very quiet and tranquil at night. If pop concerts create a lot of noise, it would be extremely disturbing to them. With examination time approaching, many residents indicated that if there was no solution to the noise problem, probably they would have to go elsewhere to
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nuisance. Secondly, a Principal Environmental Protection Officer did say that the location and design of the Hong Kong Stadium are not really suitable for major concerts. Thirdly, the level is usually above 75 dB(A) and sometimes it reaches 80 dB(A). Up to yesterday, we have received over 200 complaints in relation to noise. I don't think the EPD is giving us false information. If the information is true, we should really face the problem and try to solve it. I remember when we discussed whether the Stadium should be redeveloped or not, the Central Government told us that the aim was to try to promote sports activities and sports development in Hong Kong. Apart from staging football and other sports events in the Stadium, profits made would be put into promotion of sports. It is a very good ideal. However, if this is at the expense of the suffering of residents nearby, then this is questionable. Mr. Joseph CHAN said that this was a very grand modern facility. But to people living nearby, it is a monster and a nightmare. If this is the real situation, I would very readily do away with the Stadium. The problem with the Stadium is its location and design, therefore it is not suitable for major concerts. We will have to talk to the Central Government to find out the reason for its location and why the design was accepted. But before we find answers to these questions, it does nt mean that we should ignore the problem. We need to deal with it and that is the reason why I support Mr. MA's motion. I hope that if the motion is endorsed, then the BOG should very seriously take it into consideration and act accordingly. I hope that you, Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the UC and Chairman of the BOG, can consider a number of points. You, Mr. Chairman, has said that if we did not have concerts at the Hong Kong Stadium, there might be deficit. Mr. Chairman, you did write to Sir David Ford, our former Chief Secretary, who said that the Stadium would have to be self financing. I don't think it is now acceptable or feasible because of the prevailing problems. I think you should once again put the whole issue, including its location, design, the noise problem and the nuisance created, to our Chief Secretary, Mrs. Anson CHAN, and seek her agreement to abolish the self-financing policy for the Stadium. Unless that is done, we will not be able to solve the problems that confront us. Secondly, I think the decision makers must have adequate information, otherwise you will not be able to come up with good decisions. In our modern society, information is our weapon. Members of the BOG and Urban Councillors, in relation to this, do not have the necessary information at all and therefore we are left in the dark. The Central Govern- ment, USD, EPD, RCB and Wembley all have access to a lot of information. Unless they are prepared to disclose information to us, we will lose the battle totally. As the decision making body, we are not equipped with anything to make decision, so how can we make effective and good decisions if we want to improve this problem. As a decision making body, we have our rights and responsibilities to ask for adequate and accurate information for decision making purposes from the executive departments. Unless we can resolve this problem, we will be faced with many others. Today, it may be noise, tomorrow it may be traffic and day after it may be a riot. I think we should take this opportunity to learn a lesson. Unless we learn a lesson, the residents in Happy Valley who came up today for a petition, might stage a riot tomorrow. I support the motion.
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MISS CHRISTINA TING YUK-CHEE (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, concerning the redevelopment of Hong Kong Stadium, it has caused a lot of problems to the Urban Council. When the redevelopment was announced, it was also decided that the athletic tracks would be removed. As a result there were a lot of objections from the schools. The Urban Council made a wise decision to construct a sports ground at Siu Sai Wan which could accommodate 12 000 spectators. Such a move could pacify the schools as well as the athletic sectors. But problems continually arise. The redeveloped Hong Kong Stadium now has to face the noise problem caused by pop concerts. Many people have criticized us and they keep on complaining. Some people said that Urban Council should be held responsible and some people said that there is inadequate supervision on the part of the USD concerning redevelopment of the Hong Kong Stadium. I think the most important thing is not whether these criticisms are valid, but rather how we can solve the problems in a manner acceptable to all parties concerned. The focus of the problem is noise. So I think we should try to find ways to resolve the noise issue. The Hong Kong Stadium is a sports ground. It should be used for sports activities as well as other recreational activities. So I think that at present it is not suitable to hold pop concerts at the Hong Kong Stadium. In fact there are other Urban Council venues more suitable for pop concerts, such as the Hong Kong Coliseum. If we permit too many concerts to be held at the Hong Kong Stadium, the utilisation rate of the Hong Kong Coliseum will be affected. The Coliseum would face a lot of competition. For the Hong Kong Stadium, Mr. Chairman, it has to be self financing. If we think that the main sources of revenue for the Hong Kong Stadium come from on the holding of pop concerts, then I would suggest that a shell be constructed over the Stadium. Say for example during pop concerts, the noise can be contained. As to whether this shell should be constructed, it is not for the Urban Council to decide. We must consult the experts as well as the Jockey Club. Mr. Chairman, we have all along been aiming to enrich city life. I really do not want to see the good image of the Urban Council being damaged by the noise problem at the Hong Kong Stadium. The Hong Kong Stadium is like a phoenix and we do not want it to cause a lot of noise problems to residents in the vicinity.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When I first read this motion, I had some doubts about it. For instance, the first sentence reads 'before effectively controlled'. What is meant by 'before effectively controlled'? As Mr. MA Lee-wo subsequently explained that it should be within the prescribed noise limit, then perhaps we can continue to accept bookings for pop concerts. After considering that explanation, I think that I can now support the motion. At our SCWC meeting on 15 March, I drew members' attention to the fact that people living in Beverly Hill and Tai Hang Road did complain because the area was very quiet and tranquil at night. If pop concerts create a lot of noise, it would be extremely disturbing to them. With examination time approaching many residents indicated that if there was no solution to the noise problem, probably they would have to go elsewhere to
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