Page 372 of 485
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
well if it is a chilly winter morning. Who is really up to that? An attempt has been made to build a stadium for cycling in Hong Kong. But owing to bureaucratic ways of doing things and inadequate supervision from the parties involved in its construction, the completed stadium is substandard and has been turned into the most expensive carpark in Hong Kong. It is evident that public funds spent on sports activities are often wasted.
In relation to this, I would like to point out that safety in cycling is not given due publicity. We should really think about it. Many young people waiting for treatment at the Prince of Wales Hospital's emergency room in Shatin on holidays are injured as a result of cycling. This proves that cycling activities in Hong Kong is running its course. Another example is that a large number of people in Lok Wah Estate are interested in the sport, but they have no place to store their bikes. In addition, they like to assemble their own bikes at their leisure. How much support is given by the Urban Council in this respect? As far as I know, cycling competitions were permitted in the Victoria Park in the past, but this is no longer the case. I suggest that the Urban Council put more efforts on promoting the safety of the sport as well as providing cycling grounds such as the ones at Kung Lok Road and Wong Tai Sin. In fact, cycling grounds should be provided on Hong Kong Island as well, and a standard velodrome should also be constructed. The provision of cycling grounds will have the advantage of safeguarding cyclists against harm. Moreover, children can also learn something about road safety since facilities such as traffic lights, zebra crossing and cautionary crossing can be incorporated into the cycling ground.
Apart from cycling, I would also like to talk about a strange phenomenon in Hong Kong, that is the problem of 'imported labour' amongst athletes. In fact, 'imported labour' does have a great impact on local sports development. As we know, CHAN Kai-yue, a remarkable ‘go' player, won the trophy in the amateur ‘go' world tournament, but he did not have the money to ship the trophy back to Hong Kong. As for table-tennis, there are only two players known to the people of Hong Kong: CHAI PO-wa and CHAN Tan-lui. Do we actually have any table-tennis player who is nurtured and trained locally? In fact, enlisting the services of foreign basketball and football players has greatly hampered the development of local basketball and football players. As the above sports activities become more and more commercialized, local sportsmen are given little opportunity to further their careers, and so the standard of local sports activities is not raised in any way. This explains why the Hong Kong national squad lost to South Korea and Guangdong, which I mentioned earlier.
Now I would like to say something about soccer. I am engaging in a City Cup Soccer Programme. I would like to tell you, however, it is estimated that of all the matches to be played by the 13 soccer teams in this programme, roughly 100 events cannot reserve the use of grass pitches for such purpose. Let me ask those youngsters a question. If the Urban Council has no plans to provide suitable venues for them and they have no place to go, what would they do then? And what will be the effect of this problem on the stability and prosperity of the community? Why
Page 372 of 485.
Page 372 of 485
Page 372 of 485
86
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
well if it is a chilly winter morning. Who is really up to that? An attempt has been made to build a stadium for cycling in Hong Kong. But owing to bureaucratic ways of doing things and inadequate supervision from the parties involved in its construction, the completed stadium is substandard and has been turned into the most expensive carpark in Hong Kong. It is evident that public funds spent on sports activities are often wasted.
In relation to this, I would like to point out that safety in cycling is not given due publicity. We should really think about it. Many young people waiting for treatment at the Prince of Wales Hospital's emergency room in Shatin on holidays are injured as a result of cycling. This proves that cycling activities in Hong Kong is running its course. Another example is that a large number of people in Lok Wah Estate are interested in the sport, but they have no place to store their bikes. In addition, they like to assemble their own bikes at their leisure. How much support is given by the Urban Council in this respect? As far as I know, cycling competitions were permitted in the Victoria Park in the past, but this is no longer the case. I suggest that the Urban Council put more efforts on promoting the safety of the sport as well as providing cycling grounds such as the ones at Kung Lok Road and Wong Tai Sin. In fact, cycling grounds should be provided on Hong Kong Island as well, and a standard velodrome should also be constructed. The provision of cycling grounds will have the advantage of safeguarding cyclists against harm. Moreover, children can also learn something about road safety since facilities such as traffic lights, zebra crossing and cautionary crossing can be incorporated into the cycling ground.
Apart from cycling, I would also like to talk about a strange phenomenon in Hong Kong, that is the problem of 'imported labour' amongst atheletes. In fact, 'imported labour' does have a great impact on local sports development. As we know, CHAN Kai-yue, a remarkable ‘go' player, won the trophy in the amateur ‘go' world tournament, but he did not have the money to ship the trophy back to Hong Kong. As for table-tennis, there are only two players known to the people of Hong Kong: CHAI PO-wa and CHAN Tan-lui. Do we actually have any table-tennis player who is nurtured and trained locally? In fact, enlisting the services of foreign basketball and football players has greatly hampered the development of local basketball and football players. As the above sports activities become more and more commercialized, local sportsmen are given little opportunity to further their careers, and so the standard of local sports activities is not raised in any way. This explains why the Hong Kong national squad lost to South Korea and Guangdong. which I mentioned earlier.
Now I would like to say something about soccer. I am engaging in a City Cup Soccer Programme. I would like to tell you, however, it is estimated that of all the matches to be played by the 13 soccer teams in this programme, roughly 100 events cannot reserve the use of grass pitches for such purpose. Let me ask those youngsters a question. If the Urban Council has no plans to provide suitable venues for them and they have no place to go, what would they do then? And what will be the effect of this problem on the stability and prosperity of the community? Why
Page 372 of 485.
of 485
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