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problems. We should try to find ways to improve the management of the Stadium in future. There are four aspects: first, Wembley, secondly, the BOG, thirdly, the Urban Council, and fourthly, the USD, all of whom have their respective roles, functions and powers. I think they should maintain a good working relationship with each other and there should also be effective communication. I think we should really review the situation in depth. When we discussed the opening gala of the Hong Kong Stadium, many members have expressed discontent over the performance of the BOG. The Chairman said that there would be a review at a suitable time. So I think this is the suitable time now. I think it is a suitable time to review the work of the BOG because in the days to come, we will be faced with problems like how to market the use of the Hong Kong Stadium and how to minimise communication problems between BOG and the Urban Council. I fully support this motion. Mr. Joseph CHAN has made some suggestions just now. I think that he is doing some sort of review himself. The question is whether in making improvements, we should thoroughly look at where the problems lie. I don't think this relates to the performance of individual BOG members. The question is when the BOG was set up, we did not spell out specifically the roles, functions and powers of the BOG, Wembley, UC and the USD. As a result, they were not clearly aware of their respective functions and roles. I support Mr. Fred Li's motion.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When I first received the motion, I was rather hesitant. It is because there is a Board of Governors under the Hong Kong Stadium. Theoretically the BOG should report to the SCWC. But as members are aware, we don't even get the minutes of the BOG. On top of that, since 30 March all questions raised by me and the requests for papers have still not been entertained. I am really disappointed and amazed by the attitudes of the officials of USD. As a member of the Urban Council, I am unable to get hold of papers to look into certain issues. I cannot answer satisfactorily when people ask me why is there such a noise problem and whether I was aware of the problem before hand. When I wanted to find out and asked for papers, I was unable to get them. That is actually why we need a working group to conduct a review in order to find out whether USD staff have the right to refuse giving papers to members and even to members of the BOG. It was only at the beginning of the year that BOG members were informed of possible noise problems. I would like to stress one point. The working group to be set up must find out whether there was any information being withheld from the Council and the BOG. I support Mr. Li's motion.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This motion is very simple and no power struggle is involved. It aims to assist the BOG to conduct a comprehensive review into the management framework as well as the mode of operation of the Hong Kong Stadium. I don't think there will be any duplication in setting up this working group. First of all, I support Mr. Fred Li's motion. We are not trying to disband the BOG. We just want to assist the BOG to resolve all the problems. I think
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Mr. Fred Li will not amend this motion. If the working group can submit a report within two months, it has to do a lot of work. I think we must set up this working group. We must support the working group to resolve all the problems. This is an ad hoc working group which will be disbanded after completing its work. I think it is necessary to do more work in this area. I hope that Mr. Fred Li can give us a report and recommendations for improvement within two months' time. I support the motion.
MS. YEUNG KAM-CHUN (in Cantonese): After a lot of members have spoken and expressed their views, I am still not in support of the setting up of the working group unless seven members of the BOG including you, Mr. Chairman, feel that you are unable to shoulder the responsibility and need additional input from the 33 of us. Unless you wish to evade responsibility, why is it necessary for us to set up a working group to assist you? We have already given you our views. You can take all these views into consideration and then also make the BOG transparent and more open. I suggested to Mr. Fred Li a moment ago that he could request to attend the meetings of the BOG. Why can't you take that alternative and approach? Why is it really necessary for us to set up a working group? If we set up such a working group, some other select committees may be in jeopardy. If someone says there is mal-practice in the Capital Works Select Committee, then we have to set up another working party to help or monitor it. This may also be applicable to the Finance Select Committee. As Members of this Council, why can't we trust one and other? I think the views expressed by Mr. Li Wah-ming and Mr. WONG Siu-yee could be conveyed to the BOG for making the necessary improvements. If no improvement is made, members will no longer endorse their proposals. I think we should support the BOG and boost their confidence. We do not need to assist you any further and there is no need to set up a working group. The BOG should be able to perform well with greater transparency. The BOG can let us have better access to information. That is all that I wish to say. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. From the redevelopment stage to the reopening of the Hong Kong Stadium, I think a lot of weaknesses of the Urban Council have been exposed. After careful consideration, I have decided not to support Mr. Fred Li's motion. Today, Mr. Stephen LAU has spent 50 minutes to answer my question. He said that the BOG and Wembley were determined to improve the management of the Hong Kong Stadium. I think the BOG will increase his transparency and do a better job. If we set up another working group, there will be duplication. Mr. San Stephen WONG said that this working group should be supported because it could do such a lot of work within two months' time. I am doubtful about this as there are so many problems. Can the working group really finish its work within two months? I am not in doubt of your ability. I just want to mention that there are really a lot of problems which require deliberation. A working party under the chairmanship of Mr. K. K. FUNG on noise issue at the Hong
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problems. We should try to find ways to improve the management of the Stadium in future. There are four aspects: first, Wembley, secondly, the BOG, thirdly, the Urban Council, and fourthly, the USD, all of whom have their respective roles, functions and powers. I think they should maintain a good working relationship with each other and there should also be effective communication. I think we should really review the situation in depth. When we discussed the opening gala of the Hong Kong Stadium, many members have expressed discontent over the performance of the BOG. The Chairman said that there would be a review at a suitable time. So I think this is the suitable time now. I think it is a suitable time to review the work of the BOG because in the days to come, we will be faced with problems like how to market the use of the Hong Kong Stadium and how to minimise communication problems between BOG and the Urban Council. I fully support this motion. Mr. Joseph CHAN has made some suggestions just now. I think that he is doing some sort of review himself. The question is whether in making improvements, we should thoroughly look at where the problems lie. I don't think this relates to the performance of individual BOG members. The question is when the BOG was set up, we did not spell out specifically the roles, functions and powers of the BOG, Wembley, UC and the USD. As a result, they were not clearly aware of their respective functions and roles. I support Mr. Fed Li's motion.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When I first received the motion, I was rather hesitant. It is because there is a Board of Governors under the Hong Kong Stadium. Theoretically the BOG should report to the SCWC. But as members are aware, we don't even get the minutes of the BOG. On top of that, since 30 March all questions raised by me and the requests for papers have still not been entertained. I am really disappointed and amazed by the attitudes of the officials of USD. As a member of the Urban Council, I am unable to get hold of papers to look into certain issues. I cannot answer satisfactorily when people ask me why is there such a noise problem and whether I was aware of the problem before hand. When I wanted to find out and asked for papers, I was unable to get them. That is actually why we need a working group to conduct a review in order to find out whether USD staff have the right to refuse giving papers to members and even to members of the BOG. It was only at the beginning of the year that BOG members were informed of possible noise problems. I would like to stress one point. The working group to be set up must find out whether there was any information being withheld from the Council and the BOG. I support Mr. Li's motion.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This motion is very simple and no power struggle is involved. It aims to assist the BOG to conduct a comprehensive review into the manage- ment framework as well as the mode of operation of the Hong Kong Stadium. I don't think there will be any duplication in setting up this working group. First of all, I support Mr. Fred Lr's motion. We are not trying to disband the BOG. We just want to assist the BOG to resolve all the problems. I think
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Mr. Fred Li will not amend this motion. If the working group can submit a report within two months, it has to do a lot of work. I think we must set up this working group. We must support the working group to resolve all the problems. This is an ad hoc working group which will be disbanded after completing its work. I think it is necessary to do more work in this area. I hope that Mr. Fred Li can give us a report and recommendations for improvement within two months' time. I support the motion.
MS. YEUNG KAM-CHUN (in Cantonese): After a lot of members have spoken and expressed their views, I am still not in support of the setting up of the working group unless seven members of the BOG including you, Mr. Chairman, feel that you are unable to shoulder the responsibility and need additional input from the 33 of us. Unless you wish to evade responsibility, why is it necessary for us to set up a working group to assist you? We have already given you our views. You can take all these views into consideration and then also make the BOG transparent and more open. I suggested to Mr. Fred Li a moment ago that he could request to attend the meetings of the BOG. Why can't you take that alternative and approach? Why is it really necessary for us to set up a working group? If we set up such a working group, some other select committees may be in jeopardy. If someone says there is mal-practice in the Capital Works Select Committee, then we have to set up another working party to help or monitor it. This may also be applicable to the Finance Select Committee. As Members of this Council, why can't we trust one and other? I think the views expressed by Mr. Li Wah-ming and Mr. WONG Siu-yee could be conveyed to the BOG for making the necessary improvements. If no improvement is made, members will no longer endorse their proposals. I think we should support the BOG and boost their confidence. We do not need to assist you any further and there is no need to set up a working group. The BOG should be able to perform well with greater transparency. The BOG can let us have better access to information. That is all that I wish to say. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. From the redevelopment stage to the reopening of the Hong Kong Stadium, I think a lot of weaknesses of the Urban Council have been exposed. After careful consideration, I have decided not to support Mr. Fred Li's motion. Today, Mr. Stephen LAU has spent 50 minutes to answer my question. He said that the BOG and Wembley were determined to improve the management of the Hong Kong Stadium. I think the BOG will increase his transparency and do a better job. If we set up another working group, there will be duplication. Mr. San Stephen WONG said that this working group should be supported because it could do such a lot of work within two months' time. I am doubtful about this as there are so many problems. Can the working group really finish its work within two months? I am not in doubt of your ability. I just want to mention that there are really a lot of problems which require deliberation. A working party under the chairmanship of Mr. K. K. FUNG on noise issue at the Hong
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