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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
As regards the traffic arrangements, and law and order on event days, it is under the full control of the Police. The Stadium Manager however employs a large contingent of stewards during event days to perform ushering and security duties. The Stadium Manager also liaises closely with the Police on these matters. A number of major events have been held in the Stadium so far and these events attracted big crowds. As far as I know, the traffic arrangements and law and order control during these events worked out quite smoothly, and will be subject to rigorous monitoring.
MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have some supplementary questions. In answering my question, Mr. LAU said that the Urban Council, in the initial period, only assumed a minor supportive role. According to information obtained, the USD was represented in a Working Group on the Redevelopment of the Stadium. According to information from the Wanchai District Board Paper, the Jockey Club originally promised that it would consider the noise and transport problems. The RCB representative also undertook to engage experts on environment and noise to consider the issues before they would decide on the events to be staged. But according to Mr. LAU, the Urban Council only played a minor supportive role. As a member of the Working Group, did Mr. LAU consider views expressed by the community and the district? Did he really consider the issues I have just mentioned?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, Ms. TANG'S questions in fact were raised at the Wanchai District Board Meeting on the 3 December 1991. According to the minutes, representatives of Jockey Club and RCB did explain the situation. But as to the question of who should be held responsible, my understanding is as follows. The BOG was set up only in May 1993. So it could not be responsible for whatever undertaking that was given earlier and during the construction period. I personally feel that this is a difficult question to answer. I am not sure whether this question should be raised in the District Board or the Urban Council.
MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I have a question for Mr. LAU. His answer appears to me that this is not the Council's responsibility. Does that mean that the Jockey Club and the RCB are just like a man and a woman who got married and have a baby and then they say that this is the child? The child can be compared with the Hong Kong Stadium and is for the UC to bring up and to control. So it is somebody else's child. We don't know whether it is a healthy child or not. And it is necessary for us to cure the child and bring him back to health. Does his answer imply such a meaning?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese):—This is a rather interesting analogy. It is like saying I am walking along the street and suddenly somebody calls me daddy and wants me to give him money for his daily expenses. I don't really know how to answer that question and how to deal with the situation.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—I have two very short questions for Mr. LAU but I would like very clear answers. When did the BOG start to pay attention to the question of possible noise problems at the Hong Kong Stadium? The second question is: was the BOG aware of the fact that the EPD, as early as May 1992, told the Jockey Club very clearly that Hong Kong Stadium was not a suitable venue for pop concert? Could I have clear answers to these two questions?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I wish to thank Mr. Fred Li for his supplementary questions because I am now given a chance, as a member of the BOG, to give our side of the story. The Urban Council with its 40 members, in June 1992, at this particular Chamber, decided that the UC should take up the management of the Hong Kong Stadium after its redevelopment. During the course of discussion, some were in support, some against and some had reservations. Subsequently a core group was set up with you, Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of that working group, together with six other members as members. They are myself, Mr. Ambrose CHEUNG, Mr. Albert POON, Mr. Vincent CHOW, Mr. Fred Li and Mr. San Stephen WONG. During that period our responsibility was to implement suggestions put forward by the consultant, i.e. to engage a commercial firm to be responsible for the management of the Stadium. The SCWC also accepted that the Stadium should be operated on commercial principles and be financially self-sufficient. Of the three shortlisted firms, Wembley International (HK) Ltd. was appointed as the Stadium manager. The major task of the core group was to select a suitable company to manage the new Stadium. I can say categorically that no noise issue whatsoever was brought up for discussion during that period. Perhaps my credibility now is not so strong. But Mr. Fred Li and Mr. San Stephen WONG could confirm that in May 1993, according to the suggestion made by the consultant, the BOG was established. Members of the core group initially looked at that and considered whether members of the core group should become members of the BOG. At the SCWC meeting, with the collective wisdom of the 40 members, it was proposed that the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee and Chairman of Entertainment Select Committee should become ex-officio member of the BOG. Therefore, there were four other seats to be filled. The collective wisdom of 40 members used secret ballot to elect members. Of course, the results were not totally satisfactory i.e. two members of the original core group since then have not been able to contribute as members of the BOG. After the setting up of the BOG in May, fitting out work proceeded. In July, we approached the Council for fitting out expenses. At that time we found out that the figures were very high. We then worked through August till October and the fitting out expenses of $280,000,000 were brought down to $170,000,000.
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I am not asking questions on fitting out costs. I would like to have a direct and concise answer to my questions.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
As regards the traffic arrangements, and law and order on event days, it is under the full control of the Police. The Stadium Manager however employs a large contingent of stewards during event days to perform ushering and security duties. The Stadium Manager also liaises closely with the Police on these matters. A number of major events have been held in the Stadium so far and these events attracted big crowds. As far as I know, the traffic arrangements and law and order control during these events worked out quite smoothly, and will be subject to rigorous monitoring.
MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have some supplementary questions. In answering my question, Mr. LAU said that the Urban Council, in the initial period, only assumed a minor supportive role. According to information obtained, the USD was represented in a Working Group on the Redevelopment of the Stadium. According to information from the Wanchai District Board Paper, the Jockey Club originally promised that it would consider the noise and transport problems. The RCB representative also undertook to engage experts on environment and noise to consider the issues before they would decide on the events to be staged. But according to Mr. LAU, the Urban Council only played a minor supportive role. As a member of the Working Group, did Mr. LAU consider views expressed by the community and the district? Did he really consider the issues I have just mentioned?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, Ms. TANG'S questions in fact were raised at the Wanchai District Board Meeting on the 3 December 1991. According to the minutes, representatives of Jockey Club and RCB did explain the situation. But as to the question of who should be held responsible, my understanding is as follows. The BOG was set up only in May 1993. So it could not be responsible for whatever undertaking that was given earlier and during the construction period. I personally feel that this is a difficult question to answer. I am not sure whether this question should be raised in the District Board or the Urban Council.
MS. ANNA TANG KING-YUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I have a question for Mr. LAU. His answer appears to me that this is not the Council's responsibility. Does that mean that the Jockey Club and the RCB are just like a man and a woman who got married and have a baby and then they say that this is the child? The child can be compared with the Hong Kong Stadium and is for the UC to bring up and to control. So it is somebody else's child. We don't know whether it is a healthy child or not. And it is necessary for us to cure the child and bring him back to health. Does his answer imply such a meaning?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese):-This is a rather interesting analogy. It is like saying I am walking along the street and suddenly somebody calls me daddy and wants me to give him money for his daily expenses. I don't really know how to answer that question and how to deal with the situaiton.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—I have two very short questions for Mr. LAU but I would like very clear answers. When did the BOG start to pay attention to the question of possible noise problems at the Hong Kong Stadium? The second question is: was the BOG aware of the fact that the EPD, as early as May 1992, told the Jockey Club very clearly that Hong Kong Stadium was not a suitable venue for pop concert? Could I have clear answers to these two questions?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I wish to thank Mr. Fred Li for his supplementary questions because I am now given a chance, as a member of the BOG, to give our side of the story. The Urban Council with its 40 members, in June 1992, at this particular Chamber, decided that the UC should take up the management of the Hong Kong Stadium after its redevelopment. During the course of discussion, some were in support, some against and some had reservations. Subsequently a core group was set up with you, Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of that working group, together with six other members as members. They are myself, Mr. Ambrose CHEUNG, Mr. Albert POON, Mr. Vincent CHOW, Mr. Fred Li and Mr. San Stephen WONG. During that period our responsibility was to implement suggestions put forward by the consultant, i.e. to engage a commercial firm to be responsible for the management of the Stadium. The SCWC also accepted that the Stadium should be operated on commercial principles and be financially self-sufficient. Of the three shortlisted firms, Wembley International (HK) Ltd. was appointed as the Stadium manager. The major task of the core group was to select a suitable company to manage the new Stadium. I can say categorically that no noise issue whatsoever was brought up for discussion during that period. Perhaps my creditability now is not so strong. But Mr. Fred Li and Mr. San Stephen WONG could confirm that in May 1993, according to the suggestion made by the consultant, the BOG was established. Members of the core group initially looked at that and considered whether members of the core group should become members of the BOG. At the SCWC meeting, with the collective wisdom of the 40 members, it was proposed that the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee and Chairman of Entertainment Select Committee should become ex-officio member of the BOG. Therefore, there were four other seats to be filled. The collective wisdom of 40 members used secret ballot to elect members. Of course, the results were not totally satisfactory i.e. two members of the original core group since then have not been able to contribute as members of the BOG. After the setting up of the BOG in May, fitting out work proceeded. In July, we approached the Council for fitting out expenses. At that time we found out that the figures were very high. We then worked through August till October and the fitting out expenses of $280,000,000 were brought down to $170,000,000.
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I am not asking questions on fitting out costs. I would like to have a direct and concise answer to my questions.
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