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MR. ALBERT Lai Wing-lin (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to move a procedural motion with regard to this amendment. This amended motion seeks to improve the services of libraries and museums. The direction and spirit is very good. However, it involves additional manpower and cost and it may also produce influences in other aspects. At present, we do not have such information at hand. Definitely we could not set up a company first and then discuss what the company should sell and how the company should be financed. We had a precedent in the past, that is the decision of the Labour Advisory Board was rejected by another more powerful body. I am afraid that if we set up these groups and advisory panels today but somehow our suggestions may be repudiated in future. We must study the case very carefully. So I would suggest that the amended motion should be referred back to the Libraries Select Committee and the Museums Select Committee for further review and study.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Any seconder for this postponement?
MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, being the Vice Chairman of the Libraries Select Committee and a member of the Museums Select Committee, I agree that this motion should be referred back to relevant Select Committees for detailed discussion. Before the meeting, we received a letter from the Association of Librarians expressing their worries. In order to improve our library and museum services, we must consider every aspect carefully and discussion should be held in relevant Select Committees where detailed information is available. Therefore, I second Mr. Lai's motion.
Chairman (in Cantonese):—The original motion of Mr. Lai Hok-lim was amended by Miss Ada WONG Ying-kay. Then Mr. Albert LAI Wing-lin raised a procedural motion which proposed that the original motion and the amended motion be referred back to the relevant Select Committees. This procedural motion was seconded by Mr. Christopher CHUNG Shu-kun. Who would like to speak on this procedural motion?
MR. LEE KWOK-KEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, there was also a procedural motion like this a long time ago. In fact, if the matter we are discussing has major consequences and impact on a wide spectrum, I think we should discuss it at the Monthly Meetings. When we look at the content of Mr. LAI Hok-lim's motion, it does not contain any details about the number of opening hours or liaison groups or any other concrete information. Would it be better for us to set the major direction first, that is to decide whether we agree to the extension of opening hours of libraries or not, and then refer the issue back to Libraries Select Committee or Museums Select Committee for discussion of details? If the discussion concerns additional manpower or financial resources, we will have to seek approval from the Administration Select Committee and the Finance Select Committee. I think there is nothing
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Page 423 of 485
136
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. ALBERT Lai Wing-lin (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to move a procedural motion with regard to this amendment. This amended motion seeks to improve the services of libraries and museums. The direction and spirit is very good. However, it involves additional manpower and cost and it may also produce influences in other aspects. At present, we do not have such information at hand. Definitely we could not set up a company first and then discuss what the company should sell and how the company should be financed. We had a precedent in the past, that is the decision of the Labour Advisory Board was rejected by another more powerful body. I am afraid that if we set up these groups and advisory panels today but somehow our suggestions may be repudiated in future. We must study the case very carefully. So I would suggest that the amended motion should be referred back to the Libraries Select Committee and the Museums Select Committee for further review and study.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese);—Any seconder for this postponement?
MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, being the Vice Chairman of the Libraries Select Committee and a member of the Museums Select Committee, I agree that this motion should be referred back to relevant Select Committees for detailed discussion. Before the meeting, we received a letter from the Association of Librarians expressing their worries. In order to improve our library and museum services, we must consider every aspects carefully and discussion should be held in relevant Select Committees where detailed information is available. Therefore, I second Mr. Lai's motion.
Chairman (in Cantonese):--The original motion of Mr. Lai Hok-lim was amended by Miss Ada WONG Ying-kay. Then Mr. Albert LAI Wing-lin raised a procedural motion which proposed that the original motion and the amended motion be referred back to the relevant Select Committees. This procedural motion was seconded by Mr. Christopher CHUNG Shu-kun. Who would like to speak on this procedural motion?
MR. LEE KWOK-KEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, there was also a procedural motion like this a long time ago. In fact, if the matter we are discussing has major consequences and impact on a wide spectrum, I think we should discuss it at the Monthly Meetings. When we look at the content of Mr. LAI Hok-lim's motion, it does not contain any details about the number of opening hours or liaison groups or any other concrete information. Would it be better for us to set the major direction first, that is to decide whether we agree to the extension of opening hours of libraries or not, and then refer the issue back to Libraries Select Committee or Museums Select Committee for discussion of details? If the discussion concerns additional manpower or financial resources, we will have to seek approval from the Administration Select Committee and the Finance Select Committee. I think there is nothing
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