1998 — Page 174

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 174 of 606

PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

171

Mr. Daniel To Boon-man (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I wish to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee a question. Since there are loopholes in the method of enrollment by telephone, could some improvement be made? For example, as proved just now, places for an activity available to applicants lining up might be taken up by phone callers, which is quite unfair. Furthermore, for some family camp activities, each of the family members may phone in for enrollment. If there are four members in a family, there will be four chances. Under such circumstances, their chance of getting enrolled would technically be greater than the chance of those applicants lining up. This is another loophole. Would the Select Committee review this to forestall further complaints?

MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—In fact these problems are being addressed by the Department. What happens is that the queue is often jumped by people at the back who make advance enrollment by mobile phone and as a result, the first one in the line might fail to get enrolled. To solve the problem, the Department has been continuously looking for another way to facilitate enrollment and booking. Some people make their booking by calling through the SPORTIX and the same loophole arises. The Department is also reviewing this with a view to making some proper changes.

THE HON. MR. Li Wah-ming (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I wish to clarify the criteria for deciding the method of enrollment, that is, the popularity, seasonal needs and target participants of an activity. As the complaints I received concerned the situation during the summer vacation, does 'seasonal needs' refer to the needs during the summer vacation? As for the popularity of an activity, take a tennis training course with 18 places for instance. Although we open all the offices, since there are only 18 places, it is possible that the first one lining up at a district office might not get enrolled. May I ask whether Mr. Wong has ever considered the possibility that if telephone enrollment continued to be used for popular activities with limited places, it would result in the situation in which even the first person in the line at some district offices might not get enrolled? For activities with limited places, if the method of telephone enrollment was still used, it would give rise to a monopoly of the activities. I hope the Select Committee will review the various aspects, including the number of places for activities.

MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—I will certainly see to it that the Department includes the above issues in its review, particularly with reference to the peak periods in the next summer.

(2) MR. CHAN CHOI-HI asked (in Cantonese):—'It is reported that the Regional Services Department has required its services contractors to pay their staff a minimum wage. May I ask: will the Urban Services Department also require its contractors to pay their staff a minimum wage? If no, what are the reasons? If yes, what are the detailed implementation measures?'

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Page 174 of 606 Page 174 of 606 PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 171 Mr. Daniel To Boon-man (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I wish to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee a question. Since there are loopholes in the method of enrollment by telephone, could some improvement be made? For example, as proved just now, places for an activity available to applicants lining up might be taken up by phone callers, which is quite unfair. Furthermore, for some family camp activities, each of the family members may phone in for enrollment. If there are four members in a family, there will be four chances. Under such circumstances, their chance of getting enrolled would technically be greater than the chance of those applicants lining up. This is another loophole. Would the Select Committee review this to forestall further complaints? MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—In fact these problems are being addressed by the Department. What happens is that the queue is often jumped by people at the back who make advance enrollment by mobile phone and as a result, the first one in the line might fail to get enrolled. To solve the problem, the Department has been continuously looking for another way to facilitate enrollment and booking. Some people make their booking by calling through the SPORTIX and the same loophole arises. The Department is also reviewing this with a view to making some proper changes. THE HON. MR. Li Wah-ming (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I wish to clarify the criteria for deciding the method of enrollment, that is, the popularity, seasonal needs and target participants of an activity. As the complaints I received concerned the situation during the summer vacation, does 'seasonal needs' refer to the needs during the summer vacation? As for the popularity of an activity, take a tennis training course with 18 places for instance. Although we open all the offices, since there are only 18 places, it is possible that the first one lining up at a district office might not get enrolled. May I ask whether Mr. Wong has ever considered the possibility that if telephone enrollment continued to be used for popular activities with limited places, it would result in the situation in which even the first person in the line at some district offices might not get enrolled? For activities with limited places, if the method of telephone enrollment was still used, it would give rise to a monopoly of the activities. I hope the Select Committee will review the various aspects, including the number of places for activities. MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—I will certainly see to it that the Department includes the above issues in its review, particularly with reference to the peak periods in the next summer. (2) MR. CHAN CHOI-HI asked (in Cantonese):—'It is reported that the Regional Services Department has required its services contractors to pay their staff a minimum wage. May I ask: will the Urban Services Department also require its contractors to pay their staff a minimum wage? If no, what are the reasons? If yes, what are the detailed implementation measures?' Page 174 of 606 Page 174 of 606

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Page 174 of 606 Page 174 of 606 PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 171 Mr. Daniel To Boon-man (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I wish to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee a question. Since there are loopholes in the method of enrollment by telephone, could some improvement be made? For example, as proved just now, places for an activity available to applicants lining up might be taken up by phone callers, which is quite unfair. Furthermore, for some family camp activities, each of the family members may phone in for enrollment. If there are four members in a family, there will be four chances. Under such circumstances, their chance of getting enrolled would technically be greater than the chance of those applicants lining up. This is another loophole. Would the Select Committee review this to forestall further complaints? MR. RONNIE Wong Man-cHIU (in Cantonese):-In fact these problems are being addressed by the Department. What happens is that the queue is often jumped by people at the back who make advance enrollment by mobile phone and as a result, the first one in the line might fail to get enrolled. To solve the problem, the Department has been continuously looking for another way to facilitate enrollment and booking. Some people make their booking by calling through the SPORTIX and the same loophole arises. The Department is also reviewing this with a view to making some proper changes. THE HON. MR. Li Wah-ming (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, I wish to clarify the criteria for deciding the method of enrollment, that is, the popularity, seasonal needs and target participants of an activity. As the complaints I received concerned the situation during the summer vacation, does 'seasonal needs' refer to the needs during the summer vacation? As for the popularity of an activity, take a tennis training course with 18 places for instance. Although we open all the offices, since there are only 18 places, it is possible that the first one lining up .at a district office might not get enrolled. May I ask whether Mr. Wong has .ever considered the possibility that if telephone enrollment continued to be used for popular activities with limited places, it would result in the situation in which even the first person in the line at some district offices might not get enrolled? For activities with limited places, if the method of telephone enrollment was still used, it would give rise to a monopoly of the activities. I hope the Select Committee will review the various aspects, including the number of places for activities. MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—I will certainly see to it that the Department includes the above issues in its review, particularly with reference to the peak periods in the next summer. (2) MR. CHAN CHOI-HI asked (in Cantonese):-'It is reported that the Regional Services Department has required its services contractors to pay their staff a minimum wage. May I ask: will the Urban Services Department also wrequire its contractors to pay their staff a minimum wage? If no, what are the wreasons? If yes, what are the detailed implementation measures?' Page 174 of 606 Page 174 of 606

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Page 174 of 606

PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

171

MR. RONNIE Wong Man-cHIU (in Cantonese):-In fact these problems are being addressed by the Department. What happens is that the queue is often jumped by people at the back who make advance enrollment by mobile phone and as a result, the first one in the line might fail to get enrolled. To solve the problem, the Department has been continuously looking for another way to facilitate enrollment and booking. Some people make their booking by calling through the SPORTIX and the same loophole arises. The Department is also reviewing this with a view to making some proper changes.

THE HON. MR. Li Wah-ming (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, I wish to clarify the criteria for deciding the method of enrollment, that is, the popularity, seasonal needs and target participants of an activity. As the complaints I received concerned the situation during the summer vacation, does 'seasonal needs' refer to the needs during the summer vacation? As for the popularity of an activity, take a tennis training course with 18 places for instance. Although we open all the offices, since there are only 18 places, it is possible that the first one lining up .at a district office might not get enrolled. May I ask whether Mr. Wong has .ever considered the possibility that if telephone enrollment continued to be used for popular activities with limited places, it would result in the situation in which even the first person in the line at some district offices might not get enrolled? For activities with limited places, if the method of telephone enrollment was still used, it would give rise to a monopoly of the activities. I hope the Select Committee will review the various aspects, including the number of places for activities.

MR. RONNIE Wong Man-chiu (in Cantonese):—I will certainly see to it that the Department includes the above issues in its review, particularly with reference to the peak periods in the next summer.

(2) MR. CHAN CHOI-HI asked (in Cantonese):-'It is reported that the Regional Services Department has required its services contractors to pay their staff a minimum wage. May I ask: will the Urban Services Department also wrequire its contractors to pay their staff a minimum wage? If no, what are the wreasons? If yes, what are the detailed implementation measures?'

1998 — Page 174

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