HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I have two follow-up questions on the replies given by Mr. Stephen LAU. The first question is similar to that raised by Mr. K. K. FUNG but it is an in-depth follow-up question. In paragraph 7 of Mr. Lau's reply, it is said that there are two experts. The EPD thinks that there are problems but another independent expert feels that with suitable abatement measures, the Hong Kong Stadium could be a suitable venue for holding amplified music concerts. It seems that in this reply there aren't any conclusions. It is said in the reply that EPD undertook to monitor the noise level in the first three months of the opening of the Stadium. That is to say from March to June 1994. Just now Mr. K. K. FUNG said that if EPD gave that understanding then and issued a noise abatement notice to us now, EPD is in fact eating its promise. I would really like to ask whether EPD really undertook to monitor the noise level in the first three months of the opening of the Stadium to verify the assessment of the consultant and to recommend long term improvement measures? Can Mr. Stephen Lau confirm whether EPD did give that undertaking at that time? We would really like to know whether EPD made that undertaking at that time. Secondly, in paragraph 10 of the reply, it is said that from the 31 March, a series of improvement measures would be carried out. On 9 and 10 April, when a pop concert was held, EPD and the Stadium Manager did monitor the noise level. In paragraph 10, Mr. Stephen LAU mentioned a lot of remedial measures and his reply gave the impression that the situation had improved. I would like to ask this question: has EPD agreed that there have been improvements or has EPD given any instructions to the Stadium Manager as to how the noise problem can be further mitigated?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, concerning paragraph 7 of the reply, a verbal undertaking was involved but this answer was based on the information given to me by Wembley. As to whether this verbal undertaking is valid or not, I am not in a position to answer. As I have stated right from the outset, there was no written undertaking and so I am not in a position to confirm this. Concerning paragraph 10 of the reply, the event took place on the 9 and 10 April. A series of the mitigating measures have not been completed yet. One or two measures which are significant still have to be carried out. I hope that members can be patient and wait for a bit more time. Because from now till the end of April, as far as I know, there will only be Alan Tam's concert. And as far as I know, in May there aren't any bookings for large scale pop concerts. Perhaps we can, at Alan Tam's concerts, assess the effectiveness of the remedial measures. So I hope that members can be patient and will await the outcome during Alan Tam's concert.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would also like to ask about paragraph 7 of the reply. The reply reads, 'EPD undertook to monitor the noise level in the first three months of the opening of the Stadium, i.e. March-June 1994, in order to verify the predictions of the noise level projected by the consultant in the report.' It seems that it is not a definite undertaking. And if that is not a definite undertaking, why is that the
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I have two follow-up questions on the replies given by Mr. Stephen LAU. The first question is similar to that raised by Mr. K. K. FUNG but it is an in-depth follow-up question. In paragraph 7 of Mr. Lau's reply, it is said that there are two experts. The EPD thinks that there are problems but another independent expert feels that with suitable abatement measures, the Hong Kong Stadium could be a suitable venue for holding amplified music concerts. It seems that in this reply there aren't any conclusions. It is said in the reply that EPD undertook to monitor the noise level in the first three months of the opening of the Stadium. That is to say from March to June 1994. Just now Mr. K. K. FUNG said that if EPD gave that understanding then and issued a noise abatement notice to us now, EPD is in fact eating its promise. I would really like to ask whether EPD really undertook to monitor the noise level in the first three months of the opening of the Stadium to verify the assessment of the consultant and to recommend long term improvement measures? Can Mr. Stephen Lau confirm whether EPD did give that undertaking at that time? We would really like to know whether EPD made that undertaking at that time. Secondly, in paragraph 10 of the reply, it is said that from the 31 March, a series of improvement measures would be carried out. On 9 and 10 April, when a pop concert was held, EPD and the Stadium Manager did monitor the noise level. In paragraph 10, Mr. Stephen LAU mentioned a lot of remedial measures and his reply gave the impression that the situation had improved. I would like to ask this question: has EPD agreed that there have been improvements or has EPD given any instructions to the Stadium Manager as to how the noise problem can be further mitigated?
MR. STEPHEN LAU MAN-LUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, concerning paragraph 7 of the reply, a verbal undertaking was involved but this answer was based on the informaiton given to me by Wembley. As to whether this verbal undertaking is valid or not, I am not in a position to answer. As I have stated right from the outset, there was no written undertaking and so I am not in a position to confirm this, Concerning paragraph 10 of the reply, the event took place on the 9 and 10 April. A series of the mitigating measures have not been completed yet. One or two measures which are significant still have to be carried out. I hope that members can be patient and wait for a bit more time. Because from now till the end of April, as far as I know, there will only be Alan Tam's concert. And as far as I know, in May there aren't any bookings for large scale pop concerts. Perhaps we can, at the Alan TAM's concerts, assess the effectiveness of the remedial measures. So I hope that members can be patient and will await the outcome during the Alan Tam's concert.
MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would also like to ask about paragraph 7 of the reply. The reply reads, 'EPD undertook to monitor the noise level in the first three months of the opening of the Stadium, i.e. March-June 1994, in order to verify the predictions of the noise level projected by the consultant in the report.' It seems that it is not a definite undertaking. And if that is not a definite undertaking, why is that the
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