HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
355
To illustrate, I would like to cite certain examples at random. Three UC markets opened in 1996 and the costs of organising these opening ceremonies amounted to $221,000. One of the opening ceremonies was held on Monday when only a few local residents and other people attended. The Councillors and the departmental staff who attended the ceremony played almost all the part of participants in the ceremony. The other two opening ceremonies which were held on Saturday mornings achieved better results. But why not hold the opening ceremonies on Sundays? Maybe the departmental staff only work during working days and so they arrange the opening ceremonies on working days in order not to disrupt their holiday life on Sunday. The costs of organising opening ceremonies of these three markets were over $200,000 but only a handful of people participated in these ceremonies and the guests played almost all the part of participants. I wonder if it is necessary to organise these opening ceremonies, not to mention the free distribution of plastic shopping baskets to those who attended the ceremonies. I just want to draw your attention to the exorbitant expenditure of organising opening ceremonies which included the costs of arranging receptions, setting up stage, installation of audio equipment etc. The cost was high but only attracted few participants. If District Board members knew that it cost the Council about $60,000 to $70,000 for organising a small opening ceremony, they would agree that it was not worthwhile. You may also share this view if you are a District Board member. Some carnivals were participated by merely 100 or 200 people while it cost $20,000 to $30,000 for organising a reception. I think it is absolutely necessary to make a review of these expenses and I hope that Chairmen of respective committees would take note of this matter. It is 1997 now. The Government of Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong will be established very soon. I hope the Council will review the ways in which it spends money so as to make a facelift in future. The Council should only spend where necessary and cut the unwarranted expenditure. I shall not elaborate any more on this issue which has in fact been evidenced by many examples. I would not waste your time but just mention the point that it is too costly to spend more or less $200 per head just for drinks and light refreshments in reception.
Thirdly, I would like to talk about the services provided for the disabled. In response to the point which Mr. Wong Hon-ching has just mentioned, I am pleased to know that we have been offering half-price concessionary rate for the elderly and the disabled who use our facilities and services in recent years. However, according to the findings of a survey conducted by an organisation called 'Rehabilitation Power', the severely disabled who rely on wheelchairs or walking sticks have encountered many difficulties when using the UC facilities. The first note-worthy one is related to the entrances of the UC facilities. In fact, the designs of the entrances of many UC facilities such as Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, the Hong Kong Coliseum and Southorn Playground are not user-friendly for the disabled, and it will cause much inconvenience to these people if they are unable to gain access to the
Page 313 of 498
Page 313 of 498
Page 313 of 498
Page 313 of 498
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
355
To illustrate. I would like to cite certain examples at random. Three UC markets opened in 1996 and the costs of organising these opening ceremonies samounted to $221,000. One of the opening ceremonies was held on Monday when only a few local residents and other people attended. The Councillors and the departmental staff who attended the ceremony played almost all the Ipart of participants in the ceremony. The other two opening ceremonies which 'were held on Saturday mornings achieved better results. But why not hold the opening ceremonies on Sundays? Maybe the departmental staff only work during working days and so they arrange the opening ceremonies on working days in order not to disrupt their holiday life on Sunday. The costs of organising opening ceremonies of these three markets were over $200,000 but only a handful of people participated in these ceremonies and the guests played almost all the part of participants. I wonder if it is necessary to organise these opening ceremonies, not to mention the free distribution of plastic shopping baskets to those who attended the ceremonies. I just want to draw your attention to the exorbitant expenditure of organising opening ceremonies which included the costs of arranging receptions, setting up stage, installation of audio equipment etc. The cost was high but only attracted few participants. If District Board members knew that it cost the Council about $60,000 to $70,000 for organising a small opening ceremony, they would agree that it was not worthwhile. You may also share this view if you are a District Board member. Some carnivals were participated by merely 100 or 200 people while it cost $20,000 to $30,000 for organising a reception. I think it is absolutely necessary to make a review of these expenses and 1 hope that Chairmen of respective committees would take note of this matter. It is 1997 now. The Government of Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong will be established very soon. I hope the Council will review the ways in which it spends money so as to make a facelift in future. The Council should only spend where necessary and cut the unwarranted expenditure. I shall not elaborate any more on this issue which has in fact been evidenced by many examples. I would not waste your time but just mention the point that it is too costly to spend more or less $200 per head just for drinks and light refreshments in reception.
Thirdly, I would like to talk about the services provided for the disabled. In response to the point which Mr. Wong Hon-ching has just mentioned, I am pleased to know that we have been offering half-price concessionary rate for the elderly and the disabled who use our facilities and services in recent years. However, according to the findings of a survey conducted by an organisation called Rehabilitation Power', the severely disabled who rely on wheelchairs or walking sticks have encountered many difficulties when using the UC facilities. The first note-worthy one is related to the entrances of the UC facilities. In fact, the designs of the entrances of many UC facilities such as Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, the Hong Kong Coliseum and Southorn Playground are not user-friendly for the disabled, and it will cause much inconvenience to these people if they are unable to gain access to the
Page 313 of 498
Page 313 of 498
Page 313 of 498
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