Page 28 of 485
Page 28 of 485
Page 28 of 485
6
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
eventually be a sizeable number of disabled persons employed in the UC catering outlets. Care however has to be taken to define the nature or type of disabilities. Assistance will have to be sought from the relevant organisations to arrive at a meaningful target. Administration of this proposal requires further analysis, planning, careful discussion with the relevant organisations and assessment of the various implications. As a start, there is room to consider the proposal further with a view to establishing a trial scheme in several of the UC leisure venues first.
(Messrs. Stanley NG Wing-fai and Kwok Bit-chun arrived at 2.43 p.m. and 2.44 p.m., respectively.)
Mr. Leung Ka-Tao (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have three follow-up questions:
Firstly, Mr. Wong repeatedly equated disabled persons to the physically handicapped. Has he considered that disabled persons may include mentally handicapped and chronically ill persons e.g. the patients who are capable of working. If these people are to be employed to operate some of the catering facilities of the UC, would the consideration be different from employment of the physically handicapped?
Secondly, has any reference been made to existing organizations operated solely by the disabled, for example, the 7-eleven convenience store at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and also some chained coffee shops run by the disabled at Queensway?
Thirdly, has consideration been given to offering rental concessions so as to reduce the difficulties encountered by the disabled organizations? In order to promote the employment opportunity of the disabled, can we not give up some of the rental revenue from our outlets or facilities?
Mr. Ronnie Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—Mr. Leung's first question asks whether we have taken into consideration other forms of disability, for example, those suffering chronic illness and the mentally retarded. Basically in terms of facilities, different adjustments might be required to cater for the needs of different kinds of disabled persons. In all our catering facilities and establishments, the designs of kitchen and working areas are not specially built for them. In view of the above reason, we feel that it might be difficult if we are to offer such facilities to be operated by the disabled. However, we will further consider the matter with the Department to see whether in our future design, we might consider incorporating some special facilities for the disabled so that there can be some improvements.
Concerning Mr. LEUNG's second question on whether or not we have made reference to the convenience store at Queen Elizabeth Hospital or the coffee shops run by the disabled in Queensway, we have to consider whether the nature of catering establishment in UC leisure venues is the same as these establishments. I think there are some differences. We have to decide our
of 485
Page 28 of 485
Page 28 of 485
Page 28 of 485
6
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
eventually be a sizeable number of disabled persons employed in the UC catering outlets. Care however has to be taken to difine the nature or type of disabilities. Assistance will have to be sought from the relevant organisations to arrive at a meaningful target. Administration of this proposal requires further analysis, planning, careful discussion with the relevant organisations and assessment of the various implications. As a start, there is room to consider the proposal further with a view to establishing a trial scheme in several of the UC leisure venues first.
(Messrs. Stanley NG Wing-fai and Kwok Bit-chum arrived at 2.43 p.m. and 2.44 pan, respectively.)
Mr. Leung KaM-TÃO (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have three follow-up questions:
Firstly, Mr. Wong repeatedly equated disabled persons to the physically handicapped. Has he considered that disabled persons may include mentally handicapped and chronically ill persons e.g. the patients who are capable of working. If these people are to be employed to operate some of the catering facilities of the UC, would the consideration be different from employment of the physically handicapped?
Secondly, has any reference been made to existing organizations operated solely by the disabled, for example, the 7-eleven convenience store at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and also some chained coffee shops run by the disabled at Queensway?
Thirdly, has consideration been given to offering rental concessions so as to reduce the difficulties encountered by the disabled organizations? In order to promote the employment opportunity of the disabled, can we not give up some of the rental revenue from our outlets or facilities?
Mr. Ronnie Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese);—Mr. Leung's first question asks whether we have taken into consideration other forms of disability, for example, those suffering chronic illness and the mentally retarded. Basically in terms of facilities, different adjustments might be required to cater for the needs of different kinds of disabled persons. In all our catering facilities and establishments, the designs of kitchen and working areas are not specially built for them. In view of the above reason, we feel that it might be difficult if we are to offer such facilities to be operated by the disabled. However, we will further consider the matter with the Department to see whether in our future design, we might consider incorporating some special facilities for the disabled so that there can be some improvements.
Concerning Mr. LEUNG's second question on whether or not we have made reference to the convenience store at Queen Elizabeth Hospital or the coffee shops run by the disabled in Queensway, we have to consider whether the nature of catering establishment in UC leisure venues is the same as these establishments. I think there are some differences. We have to decide our
of 485
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.