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or so beforehand. It was too late. It was difficult to make any publicity even in Southeast Asia.
Secondly, I hope the Council will consider as far as possible more flexible venue booking for international events. Say, can the 2-year limit on advance booking be extended to three or even four years? Such an arrangement is now being applied to the Convention Centre and even the Council's Hong Kong Stadium, but not to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre as far as I know, which cannot be booked for activities to be held beyond two years. It is not difficult at all to introduce flexibility to the booking arrangement.
Thirdly, the URBTIX has begun to show improvement. I hope the improvement measures will include those facilitating booking by overseas visitors, such as by phone, through the Internet or via the HKTA. These arrangements are now available in almost all international cities. The HKTA should be liaised on this, so as to ensure that tourists may get their tickets in the most convenient way and to assure them that they will get their tickets for the international events concerned after arrival in Hong Kong.
The next point is about guided tours. When the World Bank Conference was held in Hong Kong, we were given to understand that participants from different parts of the world were quite eager to visit the Council's Museum of Art and they asked for guided tours. Unfortunately, the Department's reply was that there were no English guided tours. As Hong Kong is an international city, there should be people who speak both languages and arranging for English guided tours should be fairly easy. Provision of English guided tours in major facilities will definitely attract more visitors.
Mr. Chairman, I have recommended some long-term perspectives and short-term measures today. I hope we will set up working groups with the HKTA similar to those we have with the Sports Development Council, the Arts Development Council etc, so that in-depth discussion and regular meetings may be held on topics of common interest and concern. It is also hoped that joint efforts will be made on specific subjects and a partnership be established to promote the development of Hong Kong's tourist industry. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I beg to move.
MR. RONNIE WONG Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second Ms. Ada WONG's motion.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. PAO Ping-wing has moved amendments to the motion under Standing Order 21(12A). Would Mr. PAO please move his amendments and speak?
(6)(b) Mr. PAO Ping-wing moved amendments under Standing Order 21(12A) as follows:—
Page 636 of 654
Page 636 of 654
Page 636 of 654
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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
or so beforehand. It was too late. It was difficult 10 make any publicity even in Southeast Asia.
Secondly, I hope the Council will consider as far as possible more flexible venue booking for international events. Say, can the 2-year limit on advance booking be extended to three or even four years? Such an arrangement is now being applied to the Convention Centre and even the Council's Hong Kong Stadium, but not to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre as far as I know, which cannot be booked for activities to be held beyond two years. It is not difficult at all to introduce flexibility to the booking arrangement.
Thirdly, the URBTIX has begun to show improvement. I hope the improvement measures will include those facilitating booking by overseas visitors, such as by phone, through the Internet or via the HKTA. These arrangements are now available in almost all international cities. The HKTA should be liaised on this, so as to ensure that tourists may get their tickets in the most convenient way and to assure them that they will get their tickets for the international events concerned after arrival in Hong Kong.
The next point is about guided tours. When the World Bank Conference was held in Hong Kong, we were given to understand that participants from different parts of the world were quite eager to visit the Council's Museum of Art and they asked for guided tours. Unfortunately, the Department's reply was that there were no English guided tours. As Hong Kong is an international city, there should be people who speak both languages and arranging for English guided tours should be fairly easy. Provision of English guided tours in major facilities will definitely attract more visitors.
Mr. Chairman, I have recommended some long-term perspectives and short- term measures today. I hope we will set up working groups with the HKTA similar to those we have with the Sports Development Council, the Arts Development Council etc, so that in-depth discussion and regular meetings may be held on topics of common interest and concern. It is also hoped that joint efforts will be made on specific subjects and a partnership be established to promote the development of Hong Kong's tourist industry. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I beg to move.
MR. RONNIE WOng Man-chiu (in Cantonese);—Mr. Chairman, I second Ms. Ada WONG's motion.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. PAO Ping-wing has moved amendments to the motion under Standing Order 21(12A). Would Mr. PAO please move his amendments and speak?
(6)(b) Mr. Pao PING-WING moved amendments under Standing Order 21(12A) as follows:-
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