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006
382
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Second, there is duplication of functions between the Hong Kong Sports Development Board and the Provisional Municipal Councils, as a result of which resources cannot be utilized in the most cost-effective manner. For example, the Hong Kong Sports Development Board organizes many family fun activities, covering a number of community sports associations. These functions and the recreation and sports activities organized by the Municipal Councils often overlap each other. Besides, in the organization of community sports, school sports, family sports or programmes for the physically disabled, Master Games and district sports etc., duplication of functions with the service providers is not uncommon.
Third, the scope of work of the Recreation & Sports Officer and the Amenities Officer grades of the existing Provisional Municipal Councils are very rigid. To make effective use of manpower and resources, the work of the two should be well coordinated, whereby officers of both grades should be able to carry out each other's work.
Fourth, at present neither the Government nor the Provisional Municipal Councils have provided adequate or fixed training venues for the National Sports Associations to train up elite athletes. When the Asian Games were over this year, various sports organizations reflected their views on these deficiencies. If we want Hong Kong to achieve even better results in international competitions, more attention should be paid to the provision of such venues.
Fifth, there is generally a lack of knowledge among members of the public of the benefits of sports to health. This is due to insufficient efforts on the part of the Government and the Provisional Municipal Councils to arouse public attention to the importance of sports to health.
Sixth, in the implementation of the Sports-For-All programmes, the performance of both the Government and the Provisional Municipal Councils falls short of expectation. In Hong Kong, the expenditure on medical benefit is enormous, totalling up to 26 billion annually. This huge expenditure on medical care shows that Hong Kong people in general are poor in health. Besides, sick people have to be looked after by their family members whose daily lives will be affected since they have to spend much of their physical strength, time and money on the patients. This is also an intangible loss to the resources of Hong Kong. Sports-For-All programmes, if effectively accomplished, will certainly reduce the number of the sick and the resources thus saved can be more properly used to promote sports activities so as to enable the people to enjoy better lives in Hong Kong.
All the above problems will really need to be addressed. No matter what organization will be responsible for recreation and sports activities and developments in Hong Kong, I hope the organization will make improvement in all these aspects. Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
Page 394 of 606
Page 394 of 606
006
382
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Second, there is duplication of functions between the Hong Kong Sports Development Board and the Provisional Municipal Councils, as a result of which resources cannot be utilized in the most cost-effective manner. For example, the Hong Kong Sports Development Board organizes many family fun activities, covering a number of community sports associations. These functions and the recreation and sports activities organized by the Municipal Councils often overlap each other. Besides, in the organization of community sports, school sports, family sports or programmes for the physically disabled, Master Games and district sports etc., duplication of functions with the service providers is not uncommon.
Third, the scope of work of the Recreation & Sports Officer and the Amenities Officer grades of the existing Provisional Municipal Councils are very rigid. To make effective use of manpower and resources, the work of the two should be well coordinated, whereby officers of both grades should be able to carry out each other's work.
Fourth, at present neither the Government nor the Provisional Municipal Councils have provided adequate or fixed training venues for the National Sports Associations to train up elite athletes. When the Asian Games were over this year, various sports organizations reflected their views on these deficiencies. If we want Hong Kong to achieve even better results in international competitions, more attention should be paid to the provision of such venues.
Fifth, there is generally a lack of knowledge among members of the public of the benefits of sports to health. This is due to insufficient efforts on the part of the Government and the Provisional Municipal Councils to arouse public attention to the importance of sports to health.
Sixth, in the implementation of the Sports-For-All programmes, the performance of both the Government and the Provisional Municipal Councils falls short of expectation. In Hong Kong, the expenditure on medical benefit is enormous, totalling up to 26 billion annually. This huge expenditure on medical care shows that Hong Kong people in general are poor in health. Besides, sick people have to be looked after by their family members whose daily lives will be affected since they have to spend much of their physical strength, time and money on the patients. This is also an intangible loss to the resources of Hong Kong. Sporis-For-all programmes, if effectively accomplished, will certainly reduce the number of the sick and the resources thus saved can be more properly used to promote sports activities so as to enable the people to enjoy better lives in Hong Kong.
All the above problems will really need to be addressed. No matter what organization will be responsible for recreation and sports activities and developments in Hong Kong, I hope the organization will make improvement in all these aspects. Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
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