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On the third question, tidying up the venues was mainly carried out by the Council's cleansing contractors. About 40 cleansing workers were deployed at Victoria Park and 21 at Kowloon Park. The total cost for the cleansing services at these two parks was about $36,350.

Overall, the conditions of the venues were similar to those in previous years. Generally, cleanliness was restored within 24 hours.

The cause of the 'pollution' of the venues was the same as in previous years: the inconsiderate behaviour of many of the venue users to dump waste materials wherever and whenever they like. To tackle the problem, certain preventive measures were taken. In order to educate carnival goers at Victoria Park and Kowloon Park on the importance of keeping the venues clean and to minimise fire risk, publicity to discourage the burning of naked candles and to keep the parks clean had in fact been publicised through publicity pamphlets, press releases, on-site announcement, and banners displayed at the sites.

The Department will consider strengthening its publicity efforts to spread the message to keep Hong Kong Clean during Mid-Autumn Festival next year. For instance, propagation through schools and the mass media will be employed. Also, consideration will be given to setting up operational teams to patrol the venues and advise the public against the improper use of lanterns and candles so that all can enjoy the festive season without causing annoyance or harm to others.

MR. JUSTIN WONG CHUN (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. WONG said that it was fortunate that damage was not done to trees and grass. I was at the Cultural Centre and the Victoria Park on the very day and that indeed was true. The trees were not burnt but some of the grass were damaged. Mr. Chairman, I have two follow-up questions. How many prosecutions were made on that day? Secondly, Mr. WONG said that we would be stepping up our publicity next year. We are saying this every year. Can I ask whether we should really consider prosecuting people who are inconsiderate and who make the place dirty? I don't think publicity is in itself sufficient. We should add to it prosecution action before a deterrent effect can be fully achieved.

MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—As to the number of prosecution cases, I am afraid that I don't have the data at hand. If Mr. WONG wants the information, I will try and give him the necessary information at tomorrow's Recreation Select Committee meeting. As to the strengthening of publicity, not only are Members of the sub-committee of the Recreation Select Committee fully aware of the situation, the Public Relations Sub-Committee, under the chairmanship of Ms. Carlye TSUI, would also be discussing this very issue. Under the supervision of and monitoring by different committees, I am sure we are able to strengthen our publicity. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

MR. JOSEPH CHAN YEUK-SUT (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, a question on the effectiveness of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign. Have we failed or

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succeeded since we face the same problem every single year? I would like to take this opportunity to commend the staff of the Urban Services Department. They do their best in cleaning up these venues after every Mid-Autumn Festival. But I would also like to follow up on some of Mr. WONG's points. Why don't we step up enforcement action? Is it because that if prosecutions were to be made they would spoil the atmosphere of the festival? Or to look at it from another angle, are we permitting people to illegally throw refuse during festivals? What measures do we have against this? What shall we do? Secondly, there are crowds gathering in these festival venues. I understand that a lot of the litter bins are full and people have no alternative but to dispose of rubbish indiscriminately. Are we providing insufficient litter bins? Thirdly, Mr. Chairman, since remedial action costs money, may I ask whether in addition to stepping up prosecutions, we can introduce some awards along the following line? We can set up some prize for refuse collection. In other words, for people who collect and deliver rubbish to certain refuse stations, we can give them an award. This would provide an incentive for people to bring refuse to the refuse collection point. I wonder if this is feasible and I wonder if the Recreation Select Committee would consider such active measures.

MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I think it may be more suitable for the Chairman of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Committee to answer Mr. CHAN's first question. Since the Chairman is not here, perhaps we can ask the former Chairman of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Committee to supplement. As to the second question on prosecution, Mr. CHAN is right. As it is a festival day, we would try our utmost not to spoil the ambience. As to prosecution activities, we would try not to resort to them. On Mr. CHAN's third point on litter bins, during such festivities, the Department have increased the provision of litter bins in these large venues. However, there are often a lot of people at these venues and even if they are considerate enough to throw refuse into the litter bins, they will most probably have to queue up for a long time before they can get to one. Nevertheless, we will review this. As to Mr. CHAN's point on giving awards to people who collect refuse, I am sure the Recreation Select Committee and the Department would seriously consider this suggestion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. PAO, could you answer on behalf of Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign Committee?

Mr. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, as I was the former Chairman of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign, I would like to answer Mr. CHAN's question on the environmental issue on these festive occasions. This has been discussed previously. First of all, Mr. CHAN asks whether we have failed in our Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign because the same problem arises every year. I don't think we have. I think we have succeeded very well in fact. If we compare the pollution and rubbish problems several years ago with those of today, we will see that the situation has improved. In other words, as far as the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign and enforcement action are concerned, we certainly have seen improvement. Of course, these problems still exist. Before each festival, especially

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several months before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Department submit a proposed plan to the Select Committee concerned to consider how to minimise these environmental problems. We review this plan every year. So, the Committee and the Department do take this problem very seriously. Mr. CHAN asks what measures have been taken. There are three. First of all preventive, we try to adopt procedures e.g. in the provision of additional litter bins in order to prevent the public from polluting the environment. Secondly, we try to consider means to reduce the amount of rubbish on these festivities. Thirdly, we can resort to prosecution but this is what we actually don't like to do. These are the three measures we take when we make arrangements for festivities. I am pleased to tell Mr. CHAN that from last year, USD and all relevant Government Departments have coordinated their efforts in dealing with the problem through committees for festive days. This year, the Housing Department and USD have implemented plans to be introduced at estates to minimise this problem. The Housing Department has some special arrangements at playgrounds, gardens and parks, for example, it has hoisted several thousand lanterns at designated spots for the public to enjoy at the Mid-Autumn Festival, children to play with lanterns without producing a large amount of rubbish. I can tell Mr. CHAN that the Keep Hong Kong Clean Committee, the USD, and other relevant Government Departments are actively working on improvement measures. I thank Mr. CHAN for his concern and I am sure that in future we would endeavour to do even better.

MR. CHAN KWOK-MING (in Cantonese):—I would like to respond to a point made by Mr. CHAN on awards. The Entertainment Select Committee has discussed this issue. At the last Mid-Autumn Festival Carnival held at Victoria Park, through the huge television screen, and on-site public announcement, we urged the public not to throw refuse all over the place. We also had stores whereby people could take photographs and receive gifts in exchange for the rubbish they brought. This arrangement was quite effective.

MOTIONS

(1) THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved the following motion:

'RESOLVED that the audited Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Receipts and Payments of the Urban Council for the year ended 31 March 1994 be adopted.'

He said (in English):—In accordance with Section 36(4)(c) of the Urban Council Ordinance, I move the adoption of the audited Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Receipts and Payments of the Urban Council for the year ended 31 March 1994.

Members will note that the Director of Audit's Certificate on the Statements is not qualified by any observation on the manner in which the Council's accounts have been kept and rendered. The Department is to be congratulated for managing the Council's financial affairs so well and keeping our accounts in such good order.

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