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examine the feasibility of providing air-conditioning in the old markets. However, we should, at the same time, make use of advanced technology to get rid of bad smells, such as chicken smell or odour of the human body. Air filtration system should be installed to minimize the odours. With the social progress, whether you like it or not, the upgrading of quality of life should include improvement in this aspect. I also appreciate the point which suggests that we should introduce new marketing strategies into our markets and provide customer-oriented services. However, in order to achieve this goal, we should review the operation mechanism of our markets. The review should not be conducted only from the angle of the traders and customers. We should appoint a consultancy to give professional advice in order to achieve the aim that our markets will become self-financing, the traders' business will be profitable, and the customers will feel satisfied. Of the 17 points raised by the Chairman, I think we should bring the point about market locations to the attention of the Town Planning Board and the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch, to let these authorities know what successful market-planning should be like and what a market really needs so that no more mistakes will be made in allocation of market sites in future.
With these remarks, I support the motion.
Mr. Kam Nai-WAI (in Cantonese):-Just now when I spoke to amend the Chairman's original motion. I have already mentioned several points. Now I would like to add a few more points. Regarding the Chairman's original motion, I support the gist of the motion. I have also mentioned that the Chairman had listed out all the market problems in his speech. I did not mean to doubt the Chairman's ability. I hope the Chairman will not misunderstand me. I do appreciate that the Chairman has spent so much time in preparing this paper. However, the paper still has certain inadequacies.
Firstly, several Members have already talked about the management problems, and I would like to concentrate on maintenance problems. We often need to liaise with various governmental departments on maintenance matters and the Urban Services Department is under substantial constraint in this respect. Therefore, how to resolve the problem of liaison with other departments on maintenance matters is an issue worth discussing.
Secondly, there is the problem of transportation and loading of goods. This problem had not been mentioned in the paper but very often the front line staff of the Department had said to us, 'Although there are several car parking spaces for goods loading, people still like to use the market entrances for the sake of convenience.' So how can the goods be delivered from the goods vehicles to the stalls directly and conveniently, this is an important question to be studied. I hope the Chairman and the Markets & Street Traders Select Committee will take note of this.
Finally, the market design. It was mentioned in the paper that design competitions could give rise to some suggestions on market design. I suggest that
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
215
examine the feasibility of providing air-conditioning in the old markets. However, we should, at the same time, make use of advanced technology to get rid of bad smells, such as chicken smell or odour of the human body. Air filtration system should be installed to minimize the odours. With the social progress, whether you like it or not, the upgrading of quality of life should include improvement in this aspect. I also appreciate the point which suggests that we should introduce new marketing strategies into our markets and provide customer-oriented services. However, in order to achieve this goal, we should review the operation mechanism of our markets. The review should not be conducted only from the angle of the traders and customers. We should appoint a consultancy to give professional advice in order to achieve the aim that our markets will become self-financing, the traders' business will be profitable, and the customers will feel satisfied. Of the 17 points raised by the Chairman, I think we should bring the point about market locations to the attention of the Town Planning Board and the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch, to let these authorities know what successful market-planning should be like and what a market really needs so that no more mistakes will be made in allocation of market sites in future.
With these remarks, I support the motion.
Mr. Kam NaI-WAI (in Cantonese):-Just now when I spoke to amend the Chairman's original motion. I have already mentioned several points. Now I would like to add a few more points. Regarding the Chairman's original motion, I support the gist of the motion. I have also mentioned that the Chairman had listed out all the market problems in his speech. I did not mean to doubt the Chairman's ability. I hope the Chairman will not misunderstand me. I do appreciate that the Chairman has spent so much time in preparing this paper. However, the paper still has certain inadequacies.
Firstly, several Members have already talked about the management problems. and I would like to concentrate on maintenance problems. We often need to liaise with various governmental departments on maintenance matters and the Urban Services Department is under substantial constraint in this respect. Therefore, how to resolve the problem of liaison with other departments on maintenance matters is an issue worth discussing.
Secondly, there is the problem of transportation and loading of goods. This problem had not been mentioned in the paper but very often the front line staff of the Department had said to us, 'Although there are several car parking spaces for goods loading, people still like to use the market entrances for the sake of convenience.' So how can the goods be delivered from the goods vehicles to the stalls directly and conveniently, this is an important question to be studied. I hope the Chairman and the Markets & Street Traders Select Committee will take note of this.
Finally, the market design. It was mentioned in the paper that design competitions could give rise to some suggestions on market design. I suggest that
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