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# HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
resources to cope with the existing financial difficulties and to improve the Council's financial situation which is on the verge of a deficit, so as to ensure that the Council will not fail to provide quality municipal services to the community because of the Government's reduced support.
The original motion recommends that advertisements be placed in the Council's venues and publicity materials as a means to generate revenue. The Democratic Party considers that such a direction is desirable, but the idea is by no means a new one. At the end of last year, the same issue was discussed by the Finance Select Committee and restrictions on advertisements were noted then,
Under the existing law, the Provisional Urban Council is forbidden to lease any part of its venues for the placing of advertisements. In other words, those who are allowed to place advertisements are limited to venue hirers only. The Provisional Urban Council also has specific guidelines stipulating that except for publicity banners on the related activities and sponsors in its venues, the Council must not display any advertisements on the external facades of its main buildings. Under existing circumstances, unless we seek to amend the law and guidelines, there is no chance for us to place advertisements in the Council's venues.
While the display of advertisements in the venues is at present subject to various restrictions, that in our publicity materials, such as the Council's admission tickets and the City News, is something that can be implemented earlier. A lot of Members have put up this suggestion. I am sure that if we are willing to open up, many advertisers will be interested.
The Democratic Party is of the view that apart from displaying advertisements in the Council's venues and publicity materials, consideration may be given to allowing commercial organizations to place advertisements in the Council's homepage. If Members notice or have ever visited the Council's homepage, they will find its design to be extremely boring. It is bureaucratic in style and very dull. Only those who are looking for particular information would visit it. In spite of this, during the period from October 1997 to January 1998, an average of 100 000 members of the public visited the Council's homepage through the Internet every month. I believe that to the advertisers, such a figure is indeed a very tempting one. We consider that if the design of the homepage is improved with the participation of more advertisers, both parties will be mutually benefited. The homepage will certainly become more interesting or more people will be attracted to it. This is another way to increase the Council's revenue.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the two motions which are in fact more or less the same.
MS. CHRISTINA TING YUK-CHEE (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, since the Government reduce funds allocation to the Council, increasing revenue and
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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
resources to cope with the existing financial difficulties and to improve the Council's financial situation which is on the verge of a deficit, so as to ensure that the Council will not fail to provide quality municipal services to the community because of the Government's reduced support.
The original motion recommends that advertisements be placed in the Council's venues and publicity materials as a means to generate revenue. The Democratic Party considers that such a direction is desirable, but the idea is by no means a new one. At the end of last year, the same issue was discussed by the Finance Select Committee and restrictions on advertisements were noted then,
Under the existing law, the Provisional Urban Council is forbidden to lease any part of its venues for the placing of advertisements. In other words, those who are allowed to place advertisements are limited to venue hirers only. The Provisional Urban Council also has specific guidelines stipulating that except for publicity banners on the related activities and sponsors in its venues, the Council must not display any advertisements on the external facades of its main buildings. Under existing circumstances, unless we seek to amend the law and guidelines, there is no chance for us to place advertisements in the Council's venues.
While the display of advertisements in the venues is at present subject to various restrictions, that in our publicity materials, such as the Council's admission tickets and the City News, is something that can be implemented earlier. A lot of Members have put up this suggestion. I am sure that if we are willing to open up, many advertisers will be interested.
The Democratic Party is of the view that apart from displaying advertisements in the Council's venues and publicity materials, consideration may be given to allowing commercial organizations to place advertisements in the Council's homepage. If Members notice or have ever visited the Council's homepage, they will find its design to be extremely boring. It is bureaucratic in style and very dull. Only those who are looking for particular information would visit it. In spite of this, during the period from October 1997 to January 1998, an average of 100 000 members of the public visited the Council's homepage through the Internet every month. I believe that to the advertisers, such a figure is indeed a very tempting one. We consider that if the design of the homepage is improved with the participation of more advertisers, both parties will be mutually benefited. The homepage will certainly become more interesting or more people will be attracted to it. This is another way to increase the Council's revenue.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the two motions which are in fact more or less the same.
MS. CHRISTINA TING YUK-CHEE (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, since the Government reduce funds allocation to the Council, increasing revenue and
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