Page 327 of 606
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
319
Council's monthly meetings, if there is a consensus, the Select Committee concerned should collect the views and forward them to the Department for follow-up action. This is preferred to raising the matter at the monthly meeting and then asking the Department for the submission of a paper before any discussion is held at a meeting of the Select Committee. Such a process is only a waste of time, Mr. Mox mentioned just now that if resources and manpower permit, the frequency of replacing headrest caps and sterilizing and cleaning headphone cushions could be increased. I hope that the Department can prepare a paper on this for submission to the Council. There is really no need for the Select Committee, at its meetings, to ask the Department to submit the paper before any discussion can be held. If we did so, the monthly meetings would be meaningless.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): This is only a comment. There is no need to answer it. The next question is Question 4. Would Mr. Wu Chi-wai raise his question?
(4) MR. WU CHI-WAI asked (in Cantonese): 'Regarding the management of parking spaces at Council venues by the Urban Services Department staff. I have the following questions:
(i) At present, when a vehicle is parked in a parking space at the Council venue without authorization, what procedures are followed by the Urban Services Department staff to handle the matter?
(ii) It is understood that even if a vehicle is parked at the Council venue without authorization, the Department's staff have no statutory power to impound the vehicle concerned or to issue fixed penalty tickets. However, under the Housing (Traffic Contraventions) (Fixed Penalty) Bylaw, the Housing Authority is empowered to issue fixed penalty tickets to vehicle owners whose vehicles are parked without authorization. Therefore, would the Council study the legislation concerned and follow the Housing Authority's example? If no, what are the reasons?"
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied (in Cantonese): Most of the Council venues which are provided with parking spaces, such as the cultural venues, Urban Council Complexes, recreational venues and carparks, etc are managed by departmental staff or guarded by security guards. Gates and barrier posts are also set up at the entrances to these venues to control the in-and-out traffic and the parking of vehicles. In case of unauthorized parking, the management staff of the venue concerned will put up a notice on the vehicle, requesting the driver to drive the vehicle away immediately. If the driver fails to do so, a warning letter will be issued to the vehicle owner. Police assistance will also be sought if necessary. Therefore, unauthorized parking in the Council venues is not so common. However, in Council venues not guarded by venue staff round the clock or in those located in remote areas (mostly recreational venues), there
Page 227 of 606.
Page 327 of 6
Page 327 of 606
Page 327 of 606
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
319
Council's monthly meetings, if there is a consensus, the Select Committee concerned should collect the views and forward them to the Department for follow-up action. This is preferred to raising the matter at the monthly meeting and then asking the Department for the submission of a paper before any discussion is held at a meeting of the Select Committee. Such a process is only a waste of time, Mr. Mox mentioned just now that if resources and manpower permit, the frequency of replacing headrest caps and sterilizing and cleaning headphone cushions could be increased. I hope that the Department can prepare a paper on this for submission to the Council. There is really no need for the Select Committee, at its meetings, to ask the Department to submit the paper before any discussion can be held. If we did so, the monthly meetings would be meaningless.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-This is only a comment. There is no need to answer it. The next question is Question 4. Would Mr. Wu Chi-wai raise his question?
(4) MR. WU CHI-WAI asked (in Cantonese):-' Regarding the management of parking spaces at Council venues by the Urban Services Department staff. I have the following questions:
(i) At present, when a vehicle is parked in a parking space at the Council venue without authorization, what procedures are followed by the Urban Services Department staff to handle the matter?
(ii) It is understood that even if a vehicle is parked at the Council venue without authorization, the Department's staff have no statutory power to impound the vehicle concerned or to issue fixed penalty tickets. However, under the Housing (Traffic Contraventions) (Fixed Penalty) Bylaw, the Housing Authority is empowered to issue fixed penalty tickets to vehicle owners whose vehicles are parked without authorization. Therefore, would the Council study the legislation concerned and follow the Housing Authority's example? If no, what are the reasons?"
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT Committee, replied (in Cantonese):—Most of the Council venues which are provided with parking spaces, such as the cultural venues, Urban Council Complexes, recreational venues and carparks, etc are managed by departmental staff or guarded by security guards. Gates and barrier posts are also set up at the entrances to these venues to control the in-and-out traffic and the parking of vehicles. In case of unauthorized parking, the management staff of the venue concerned will put up a notice on the vehicle, requesting the driver to drive the vehicle away immediately. If the driver fails to do so, a warning letter will be issued to the vehicle owner. Police assistance will also be sought if necessary. Therefore, unauthorized parking in the Council venues is not so common. However, in Council venues not guarded by venue staff round the clock or in those located in remote areas (mostly recreational venues), there
Page 227 of 606.
ļ
Page 327 of 6
Page 327 of 606
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.