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Mr. Cheung just raised some concrete suggestions on the handling of vacant market stalls so as to reduce the vacancy rate. Will the Chairman of the Select Committee, Mr. IP, make some concrete response?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—I cannot recall the exact date of receiving the report from the Director of Audit. I am sure it was around October or November 1996 that we received it. Thereafter, we discussed with the Chairman, Urban Council (CUC) as we wanted to distribute it to all Members for discussion. We planned to carry out discussions after consulting the Public Accounts Committee and we had to obtain a Chinese translated version. So we made that request to the Audit Department through the Director of Urban Services. Up to the moment, the Audit Department has yet to supply a Chinese copy and it was agreed that the matter would not be pursued before a Chinese copy of the report could be given to us. We have plans to convene meetings as soon as we receive the Chinese copy. Of course, there is no plan to carry out discussions within the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee beforehand. Rather, it may be discussed at the Public Accounts Committee chaired by CUC as we have always done so. That is my reply to Mr. Kam.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Perhaps I can add here. I personally undertake to follow up on this. I think this has been dragged on for too long. Probably the Audit Department is short of translation staff. Let's see if the Chinese version can be ready before the end of month. If not, we'll see if the Department can arrange for the translation so that the matter can be discussed at the Public Accounts Committee soon.
Mr. Kam Nat-Wat (in Cantonese):—There is one thing else I would like to follow up on. In the past couple of months, we kept on discussing market stalls at meetings of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee. I do not know if the Chairman and Vice-Chairman feel they have to keep the document and keep Members from making reference to it so that we will not be able to grasp the crux of the matter at our discussions. I hope that in future when similar reports are received, whether written in English or Chinese, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman can provide Members with copies so that we can have update information. I wonder if the Chairman and Vice-Chairman can promise me this.
Chairman (in Cantonese):—I have done that already. In fact, the English version is already with Members. In October or November 1996, we just received the English version. We waited for the Audit Department to translate it into Chinese, but it has taken too long. Last month, we decided to distribute the English version to your offices. We will have to get the Chinese version for distribution to you by the end of the month at the latest. The English version is already with you. Will the Secretary follow up on this?
Page 411 of 498
Page 411 of 498
Page 411 of 498
Page 411 of 498
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
455
Mr. Cheung just raised some concrete suggestions on the handling of vacant market stalls so as to reduce the vacancy rate. Will the Chairman of the Select Committee, Mr. IP, make some concrete response?
MR. IP KwoK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—I cannot recall the exact date of receiving the report from the Director of Audit. I am sure it was around October or November 1996 that we received it. Thereafter, we discussed with the Chairman, Urban Council (CUC) as we wanted to distribute it to all Members for discussion. We planned to carry out discussions after consulting the Public Accounts Committee and we had to obtain a Chinese translated version. So we made that request to the Audit Department through the Director of Urban Services. Up to the moment, the Audit Department has yel to supply a Chinese copy and it was agreed that the matter would not be pursued before a Chinese copy of the report could be given to us. We have plans to convene meetings as soon as we receive the Chinese copy. Of course, there is no plan to carry out discussions within the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee beforehand. Rather, it may be discussed at the Public Accounts Committee chaired by CUC as we have always done so. That is my reply to Mr. Kam.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Perhaps I can add here. I personally undertake to follow up on this. I think this has been dragged on for too long. Probably the Audit Department is short of translation staff. Let's see if the Chinese version can be ready before the end of month. If not, we'll see if the Department can arrange for the translation so that the matter can be discussed at the Public Accounts Committee soon.
Mr. Kam Nat-Wat (in Cantonese): -There is one thing else I would like to follow up on. In the past couple of months, we kept on discussing market stalls at meetings of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee. I do not know if the Chairman and Vice-Chairman feel they have to keep the document and keep Members from making reference to it so that we will not be able to grasp the crux of the matter at our discussions. I hope that in future when similar reports are .received, whether written in English or Chinese, the Chairman and Vice- Chairman can provide Members with copies so that we can have update information. I wonder if the Chairman and Vice-Chairman can promise me this,
Chairman (in Cantonese);—1 have done that already. In fact, the English version is already with Members. In October or November 1996, we just received the English version. We waited for the Audit Department to translate it into Chinese, but it has taken too long. Last month, we decided to distribute the English version to your offices. We will have to get the Chinese version for distribution to you by the end of the month at the latest. The English version is already with you. Will the Secretary follow up on this?
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