Page 501 of 606
Page 501 of 606
6-44
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):---Mr. CHEUNG Wing-sum.
THE HON. AMBROSE CHEUNG WING-SUM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, today I speak in support of Mr. Wong Man-chiu's motion. I trust that we can look at this issue from a macroscopic perspective. Hosting the Asian Games is certainly one of our targets. However, if we bid for the Games, we should be well prepared in all aspects. In short, we need to have a sound policy on sports, an effective administration structure, fair allocation of resources and well-coordinated facilities. In regard to human resources, we need to have distinguished athletes. As Mr. WONG King-cheung has just said, we do have talents in sports and I hope we can train up more.
With respect to policy, there are virtually the same officials responsible for making policy on sports both in the former British Hong Kong Government and now in the SAR Government. A colonial government would not spend too much resources on sports because sports help generate cohesion and unity among people. Under colonial rule, the Government would try all means to impair this cohesion and unity and refrain from carrying out any policy on sports or promoting sports actively. But after the reunification, the Government has the responsibility to promote sports. What Mr. Lee Shui-sing has just said is right. Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city, but she should not be cosmopolitan only in the fields of finance, industry and business. If Hong Kong is to become a genuine cosmopolitan city, she should also attain international standards in sports. Hence, on policy ground, it is unequivocally the present Government's responsibility to promote the development of sports.
At present, the policy is very confusing with the objectives of the development of elite sports and sports-for-all overlapping in different organizations. The existing structure is very unwieldy. While the SDB takes care of the development of elite sports and sports-for-all, the MCs aspire to concentrate efforts on the promotion of sports-for-all after they are merged. I conceive that the functions of each organization should be clearly defined in the coming review. I propose that the Olympic Committee (OC) should be in charge of elite training while the promotion of sports-for-all should rest with the MCs, if they can be merged. As such, the policy will be very clear. The OC and the merged MCs will have to liaise closely for the promotion of the established policies on sports.
Secondly, we should establish an effective administration structure. At present, both the SDB and the OC provide elite training, and the SDB also sees to sports-for-all training concurrently. It can be perceived that the administration structure is unwieldy with duplication of functions. In 1998-99, the SDB had a resource allocation of $270 million, of which, 45% was on personnel, salaries and training of instructors. Thus, staff cost was rather enormous. Out of this $270 million, the OC was allocated some $70 million, of which 40% was also spent on human resources. This further reflects the duplication of work and the overly unwieldy administration structure.
Page 501 of 606
Page 501 of 606
has been removed as per the instruction to keep page numbering information only once at the beginning and/or end. The corrected response is adjusted accordingly. Here is the final version:Page 501 of 606
6-44
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):---Mr. CHEUNG Wing-sum.
THE HON. AMBROSE CHEUNG WING-SUM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, today I speak in support of Mr. Wong Man-chiu's motion. I trust that we can look at this issue from a macroscopic perspective. Hosting the Asian Games is certainly one of our targets. However, if we bid for the Games, we should be well prepared in all aspects. In short, we need to have a sound policy on sports, an effective administration structure, fair allocation of resources and well-coordinated facilities. In regard to human resources, we need to have distinguished athletes. As Mr. WONG King-cheung has just said, we do have talents in sports and I hope we can train up more.
With respect to policy, there are virtually the same officials responsible for making policy on sports both in the former British Hong Kong Government and now in the SAR Government. A colonial government would not spend too much resources on sports because sports help generate cohesion and unity among people. Under colonial rule, the Government would try all means to impair this cohesion and unity and refrain from carrying out any policy on sports or promoting sports actively. But after the reunification, the Government has the responsibility to promote sports. What Mr. Lee Shui-sing has just said is right. Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city, but she should not be cosmopolitan only in the fields of finance, industry and business. If Hong Kong is to become a genuine cosmopolitan city, she should also attain international standards in sports. Hence, on policy ground, it is unequivocally the present Government's responsibility to promote the development of sports.
At present, the policy is very confusing with the objectives of the development of elite sports and sports-for-all overlapping in different organizations. The existing structure is very unwieldy. While the SDB takes care of the development of elite sports and sports-for-all, the MCs aspire to concentrate efforts on the promotion of sports-for-all after they are merged. I conceive that the functions of each organization should be clearly defined in the coming review. I propose that the Olympic Committee (OC) should be in charge of elite training while the promotion of sports-for-all should rest with the MCs, if they can be merged. As such, the policy will be very clear. The OC and the merged MCs will have to liaise closely for the promotion of the established policies on sports.
Secondly, we should establish an effective administration structure. At present, both the SDB and the OC provide elite training, and the SDB also sees to sports-for-all training concurrently. It can be perceived that the administration structure is unwieldy with duplication of functions. In 1998-99, the SDB had a resource allocation of $270 million, of which, 45% was on personnel, salaries and training of instructors. Thus, staff cost was rather enormous. Out of this $270 million, the OC was allocated some $70 million, of which 40% was also spent on human resources. This further reflects the duplication of work and the overly unwieldy administration structure.
Page 501 of 606
Page 501 of 606
Page 501 of 606
6-44
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):---Mr. CHEUNG Wing-sum.
THE HON. AMBROSE CHEUNG WING-SUM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, today I speak in support of Mr. Wong Man-chiu's motion. I trust that we can look at this issue from a macroscopic perspective. Hosting the Asian Games is certainly one of our targets. However, if we bid for the Games, we should be well prepared in all aspects. In short, we need to have a sound policy on sports. an effective administration structure, fair allocation of resources and well- coordinated facilities. In regard to human resources, we need to have distinguished athletes. As Mr. WONG King-cheung has just said, we do have talents in sports and I hope we can train up more.
With respect to policy, there are virtually the same officials responsible for making policy on sports both in the former British Hong Kong Government and now in the SAR Government. A colonial government would not spend too much resources on sports because sports help generate cohesion and unity among people. Under colonial rule, the Government would try all means to impair this cohesion and unity and refrain from carrying out any policy on sports or promoting sports actively. But after the reunification, the Government has the responsibility to promote sports. What Mr. Lee Shui-sing has just said is right. Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city, but she should not be cosmopolitan only in the fields of finance, industry and business. If Hong Kong is to become a genuine cosmopolitan city, she should also attain international standards in sports. Hence, on policy ground, it is unequivocally the present Government's responsibility to promote the development of sports.
At present. the policy is very confusing with the objectives of the development of elite sports and sports-for-all overlapping in different organizations. The existing structure is very unwieldy. While the SDB takes care of the development of elite sports and sports-for-all, the MCs aspire to concentrate efforts on the promotion of sports-for-all after they are merged. 1 conceive that the functions of each organization should be clearly defined in the coming review. I propose that the Olympic Committee (OC) should be in charge of elite training while the promotion of sports-for-all should rest with the MCs, if they can be merged. As such, the policy will be very clear. The OC and the merged MCs will have to liaise closely for the promotion of the established policies on sports.
Secondly, we should establish an effective administration structure. Al present, both the SDB and the OC provide elite training, and the SDB also sees to sports-for-all training concurrently. It can be perceived that the administration structure is unwieldy with duplication of functions. In 1998-99, the SDB had a resource allocation of $270 million, of which, 45% was on personnel, salaries and training of instructors. Thus, staff cost was rather enormous. Out of this $270 million, the OC was allocated some $70 million, of which 40% was also spent on human resources. This further reflects the duplication of work and the overly unwieldy administration structure. 1
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.