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MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. CHAIRMAN, I do not know the details about the minimum period for making a decision on distribution of free tickets prior to performances. I would ask the Department to furnish Mr. Wu with the necessary details after the meeting. As Chairman of the Culture Select Committee, my concern is that we should first accommodate the needs of those willing to buy tickets so that the distribution of free tickets will invariably be arranged at a time very close to the performances. In principle, I would say we should allow as much time as possible to sell tickets openly. If ticket sales for a certain performance are not satisfactory, we should distribute free tickets not so hastily, but also not too early. I would ask the Department to explain the details to Members.
MR. JOSEPH LAI CHI-KEONG (in Cantonese):—I would like to ask the Chairman of the Culture Select Committee a question about subsidy levels as mentioned in paragraph 4 of the reply document to be $440 per head for the Chinese Orchestra, $364 for the Dance Company and $208 for the Repertory Theatre. It is obvious from these figures that subsidy for one audience of the Chinese Orchestra is good enough for two of the Repertory Theatre. Regarding such subsidies, I wonder if the Select Committee has ever studied the balance in spending taxpayers' money and whether one performing art with a small amount of subsidy (e.g. the Repertory Theatre) would bring enjoyment to more people. I hope the Chairman can be forward-looking.
Mr. Pao Ping-wing (in Cantonese):—I think Mr. Lai is reminding us that we should be forward-looking. I thank him for this, but I do not think he has a question.
3. MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING asked the following question (in Cantonese):—'Regarding the gradual increase in contracting out various municipal services by the Council in the last few years, I have the following questions:
(a) How many kinds of municipal services are contracted out? How does the Council assess whether the services are suitable for contracting out? Is there any deterioration in the quality and quantity of the contracted-out services? How does the Council monitor the situation?
(b) When a contractor is unable to comply with the contract, how does the Council continue the provision of the services concerned to ensure that the citizens' livelihood is not affected?
(c) In terms of financial expenses and human resources in this respect, how much did the Council save throughout the years?
(d) Will the Council review the policy concerned? What new items will be contracted out in the future?'
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This 4-part question of
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. CHAIRMAN, I do not know the details about the minimum period for making a decision on distribution of free tickets prior to performances. I would ask the Department to furnish Mr. Wu with the necessary details after the meeting. As Chairman of the Culture Select Committee, my concern is that we should first accommodate the needs of those willing to buy tickets so that the distribution of free tickets will invariably be arranged at a time very close to the performances. In principle, I would say we should allow as much time as possible to sell tickets openly. If ticket sales for a certain performance is not satisfactory, we should distribute free tickets not so hastily, but also not too early. I would ask the Department to explain the details to Members.
MR. JOSEPH Lai Chi-keonG (in Cantonese):-I would like to ask the Chairman of the Culture Select Committee a question about subsidy levels as mentioned in paragraph 4 of the reply document to be $440 per head for the Chinese Orchestra, $364 for the Dance Company and $208 for the Repertory Theatre. It is obvious from these figures that subsidy for one audience of the Chinese Orchestra is good enough for two of the Repertory Theatre. Regarding such subsidies, I wonder if the Select Committee has ever studied the balance in spending taxpayers' money and whether one performing art with a small amount of subsidy (e.g. the Repertory Theatre) would bring enjoyment to more people. I hope the Chairman can be forward looking.
Mr. Pao Ping-wing (in Cantonese):—I think Mr. Lai is reminding us that we should be forward looking. I thank him for this, but I do not think he has a question.
3. MR. SAN STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING asked the following question (in Cantonese):-'Regarding the gradual increase in contracting out various municipal services by the Council in the last few years, I have the following questions:
(a) How many kinds of municipal services are contracted out? How does the Council assess whether the services are suitable for contracting out? Is there any deterioration in the quality and quantity of the contracted-out services? How does the Council monitor the situation?
(b) When a contractor is unable to comply with the contract, how does the Council continue the provision of the services concerned to ensure that the citizens' livelihood is not affected?
(c) In terms of financial expenses and human resources in this respect, how
much did the Council save throughout the years?
(d) Will the Council review the policy concerned? What new items will be
contracted out in the future?'
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This 4-part question of
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