1995 — Page 27

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

in the case of price controlled contracts whereas the prices of refreshment on sale at catering establishments under the price relaxed contract category are not subject to control by the Department.

UC catering contracts are awarded through public tendering exercises. Tenderers are assessed on the basis of their previous experience, knowledge in operating such catering outlets and their financial ability. However, the over-riding consideration has always been the tendered rental offered to the Urban Council. Invariably, the level of catering knowledge and experience may differ among the tenderers but the traditional approach to ensure a smooth passage of the recommendation through the Tender Board Panel, of the Council (for contracts with a total rental exceeding $750,000 but up to $1,000,000 for the contract period) has always been to award the contract to the highest bidder.

The same practice is adopted for contracts with a total value below $500,000 which will be considered and endorsed by the Department tender boards.

Question (a): Whilst it is a conscious policy of this Department to provide more employment opportunities for the disabled persons, there are foreseeable difficulties to contract out catering services in UC venues to organisations for the disabled persons. The main difficulty is that the variety of food items to be prepared and provided to the public make it very difficult for the disabled to manage if all the employees in a particular outlet are physically disabled. The difficulties would be less in very small refreshment kiosks but they are not easily viable considering the high rentals the caterers have to offer in competitive tendering. Moreover, the catering establishments in UC venues are not specially designed to assist the disabled. In other words, even if the Department were to give priority to organisations for the disabled in awarding the catering contracts (assuming the highest bidder policy to be maintained), some extensive modifications to the structure of the existing catering outlets would have to be made. Unless the disabled persons to be employed suffer only a minor degree of physical disability, there will be operational difficulties for them to perform their duties effectively.

Question (b): The proposal to incorporate a condition in a tender document requiring the successful tenderers to employ some disabled persons would perhaps be relatively easier to implement. It may be possible for the handicapped staff to be deployed to perform lighter duties or such other functions that they are able to perform having regard to their particular disability. In any case it should be possible for the non-disabled employees to assist their disabled counterparts. Certain safeguards however will have to be provided so that the successful tenderers do not abuse or breach the initial promises to employ the disabled persons. It is possible that they may employ the disabled persons to satisfy the contractual condition but soon afterwards dismiss them during the balance of the tenure of the contract. The number of disabled staff that could be employed in each establishment would likely to be limited but given the total number of catering outlets in UC venues there will

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL in the case of price controlled contracts whereas the prices of refreshment on sale at catering establishments under the price relaxed contract category are not subject to control by the Department. UC catering contracts are awarded through public tendering exercises. Tenderers are assessed on the basis of their previous experience, knowledge in operating such catering outlets and their financial ability. However, the over-riding consideration has always been the tendered rental offered to the Urban Council. Invariably, the level of catering knowledge and experience may differ among the tenderers but the traditional approach to ensure a smooth passage of the recommendation through the Tender Board Panel, of the Council (for contracts with a total rental exceeding $750,000 but up to $1,000,000 for the contract period) has always been to award the contract to the highest bidder. The same practice is adopted for contracts with a total value below $500,000 which will be considered and endorsed by the Department tender boards. Question (a): Whilst it is a conscious policy of this Department to provide more employment opportunities for the disabled persons, there are foreseeable difficulties to contract out catering services in UC venues to organisations for the disabled persons. The main difficulty is that the variety of food items to be prepared and provided to the public make it very difficult for the disabled to manage if all the employees in a particular outlet are physically disabled. The difficulties would be less in very small refreshment kiosks but they are not easily viable considering the high rentals the caterers have to offer in competitive tendering. Moreover, the catering establishments in UC venues are not specially designed to assist the disabled. In other words, even if the Department were to give priority to organisations for the disabled in awarding the catering contracts (assuming the highest bidder policy to be maintained), some extensive modifications to the structure of the existing catering outlets would have to be made. Unless the disabled persons to be employed suffer only a minor degree of physical disability, there will be operational difficulties for them to perform their duties effectively. Question (b): The proposal to incorporate a condition in a tender document requiring the successful tenderers to employ some disabled persons would perhaps be relatively easier to implement. It may be possible for the handicapped staff to be deployed to perform lighter duties or such other functions that they are able to perform having regard to their particular disability. In any case it should be possible for the non-disabled employees to assist their disabled counterparts. Certain safeguards however will have to be provided so that the successful tenderers do not abuse or breach the initial promises to employ the disabled persons. It is possible that they may employ the disabled persons to satisfy the contractual condition but soon afterwards dismiss them during the balance of the tenure of the contract. The number of disabled staff that could be employed in each establishment would likely to be limited but given the total number of catering outlets in UC venues there will Page 27 of 485 Page 27 of 485 Page 27 of 485

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Page 27 of 485 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL in the case of price controlled contracts whereas the prices of refreshment on sale at catering establishments under the price relaxed contract category are not subject to control by the Department. UC catering contracts are awarded through public tendering exercises. Tenderers are assessed on the basis of their previous experience, knowledge in operating such catering outlets and their financial ability. However, the over-riding consideration has always been the tendered rental offered to the Urban Council. Invariably, the level of catering knowledge and experience may differ among the tenderers but the traditional approach to ensure a smooth passage of the recommendation through the Tender Board Panel, of the Council (for contracts with a total rental exceeding $750,000 but up to $1,000,000 for the contract period) has always been to award the contract to the highest bidder. The same practice is adopted for contracts with a total value below $500,000 which will be considered and endorsed by the Department tender boards. Question (a); Whilst it is a conscious policy of this Department to provide more employment opportunities for the disabled persons, there are foreseeable difficulties to contract out catering services in UC venues to organisations for the disabled persons. The main difficulty is that the variety of food items to be prepared and provided to the public make it very difficult for the disabled to manage if all the employees in a particular outlet are physically disabled. The difficulties would be less in very small refreshment kiosks but they are not easily viable considering the high rentals the caterers have to offer in competitive tendering. Moreover, the catering establishments in UC venues are not specially designed to assist the disabled. In other words, even if the Department were to give priority to organisations for the disabled in awarding the catering contracts (assuming the highest bidder policy to be maintained), some extensive modifications to the structure of the existing catering outlets would have to be made. Unless the disabled persons to be employed suffer only a minor degree of physical disability, there will be operational difficulties for them to perform their duties effectively. Question (b): The proposal to incorporate a condition in a tender document requiring the successful tenderers to employ some disabled persons would perhaps be relatively easier to implement. It may be possible for the handicapped staff to be deployed to perform lighter duties or such other functions that they are able to perform having regard to their particular disability. In any case it should be possible for the non-disabled employees to assist their disabled counterparts. Certain safeguards however will have to be provided so that the successful tenderers do not abuse or breach the initial promises to employ the disabled persons. It is possible that they may employ the disabled persons to satisfy the contractual condition but soon afterwards dismiss them during the balance of the tenure of the contract. The number of disabled staff that could be employed in each establishment would likely to be limited but given the total number of catering outlets in UC venues there will Page 27 of 485 Page 27 of 485 Page 27 of 485

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Page 27 of 485

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

in the case of price controlled contracts whereas the prices of refreshment on sale at catering establishments under the price relaxed contract category are not subject to control by the Department.

The same practice is adopted for contracts with a total value below $500,000 which will be considered and endorsed by the Department tender boards.

Question (a); Whilst it is a conscious policy of this Department to provide more employment opportunities for the disabled persons, there are foreseeable difficulties to contract out catering services in UC venues to organisations for the disabled persons. The main difficulty is that the variety of food items to be prepared and provided to the public make it very difficult for the disabled to manage if all the employees in a particular outlet are physically disabled. The difficulties would be less in very small refreshment kiosks but they are not easily viable considering the high rentals the caterers have to offer in competitive tendering. Moreover, the catering establishments in UC venues are not specially designed to assist the disabled. In other words, even if the Department were to give priority to organisations for the disabled in awarding the catering contracts (assuming the highest bidder policy to be maintained), some extensive modifications to the structure of the existing catering outlets would have to be made. Unless the disabled persons to be employed suffer only a minor degree of physical disability, there will be operational difficulties for them to perform their duties effectively.

1995 — Page 27

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