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building codes and practices regarding heat insulation of external walls. The Council has considered the use of solar energy as an alternative to gas or electricity for water heating in Indoor Games Halls, but has found that at the present time and with the way that the facilities are used until the evenings, it is not an economic proposition. The Department and ASD will continue to look for ways to conserve energy and reduce energy costs.
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have two follow-up questions. First, it is listed in the Annex that the Hong Kong Coliseum, or commonly referred to as Coliseum, has an annual electricity charge of $3.59 million whereas that for the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wanchai is $3.16 million. The figures surprise me. I feel that the Coliseum has an area many times over that of the QE Stadium and that the former is always fully booked up whereas the latter has a much lower utilization rate. However, we are talking of only a difference of $0.4 million as annual electricity charge. I just want to know why there is so little difference.
Secondly, as I have experienced, especially in UC venues suitable for ball games, they are often not used by the public although they are fully illuminated in the evenings. Even during typhoons or rainstorms when there is no one at the venues, they remain illuminated with flood lights until the system goes off at a designated time. I just want to ask if it is possible to switch over to one set of illumination lights only in order to conserve energy. I mean flood lights for games should be replaced by a set of illumination lights when there is no one at play in order to conserve energy. I don't know if Members are aware of this situation.
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—I shall ask the Department after this meeting for a detailed comparison of the electricity charges in respect of the Hong Kong Coliseum and the QE Stadium and then supply it to Mr. LI.
The second question concerns open air playgrounds. I mentioned just now that our venues open under the system of a time control system of lighting as described by Mr. LI Wah-ming. The system cannot detect whether there are people using the venues, so it remains switched on until the designated time for switching off. Concerning the method suggested by Mr. Li, I shall refer it to the Department to see if it is technically viable.
MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have a few follow-up questions. Firstly, the total electricity bill of over $140 million for the Council has come as a shock. Now that we have this new policy to install air-conditioning facilities for cooked food centres and markets, electricity charge may leap up by 50% to 100% meaning that, in the near future, our electricity bill may exceed $140 million. That is of course the figure on paper. Environmental cost, which is a hidden cost, has not yet been taken into account. I wonder if the Council has a target of substantial energy conservation which aims at conserving energy by a certain percentage in the future.
Page 28 of 498
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Page 28 of 498
Page 28 of 498
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building codes and practices regarding heat insulation of external walls. The Council has considered the use of solar energy as an alternative to gas or electricity for water heating in Indoor Games Halls, but has found that at the present time and with the way that the facilities are used until the evenings, it is not an economic proposition. The Department and ASD will continue to look for ways to conserve energy and reduce energy costs.
THE HON. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I have two follow-up questions. First, it is listed in the Annex that the Hong Kong Coliseum, or commonly referred to as Coliseum, has an annual electricity charge of $3.59 million whereas that for the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wanchai is $3.16 million. The figures surprise me. I feel that the Coliseum has an area many times over that of the QE Stadium and that the former is always fully booked up whereas the latter has a much lower utilization rate. However, we are talking of only a difference of $0.4 million as annual electricity charge. I just want to know why there is so little difference.
Secondly, as I have experienced, especially in UC venues suitable for ball games, they are often not used by the public although they are fully illuminated in the evenings. Even during typhoons or rainstorms when there is no one at the venues, they remain illuminated with flood lights until the system goes off at a designated time. I just want to ask if it is possible to switch over to one set of illumination lights only in order to conserve energy. I mean flood lights for games should be replaced by a set of illumination lights when there is no one at play in order to conserve energy. I don't know if Members are aware of this situation.
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—I shall ask the Department after this meeting for a detailed comparison of the electricity charges in respect of the Hong Kong Coliseum and the QE Stadium and then supply it to Mr. LI.
The second question concerns open air playgrounds. I mentioned just now that our venues open under the system of a time control system of lighting as described by Mr. Lt Wah-ming. The system cannot detect whether there are people using the venues, so it remains switched on until the designated time for switching off. Concerning the method suggested by Mr. Li, I shall refer it to the Department to see if it is technically viable.
MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have a few follow- up questions. Firstly, the total electricity bill of over $140 million for the Council has come as a shock. Now that we have this new policy to install air-conditioning facilities for cooked food centres and markets, electricity charge may leap up by 50% to 100% meaning that, in the near future, our electricity bill may exceed $140 million. That is of course the figure on paper. Environmental cost, which is a hidden cost, has not yet been taken into account. I wonder if the Council has a target of substantial energy conservation which aims at conserving energy by a certain percentage in the future.
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