ENG-1992 — Page 30

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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In September 1992, non-government members of the Legislative Council adopted a new committee structure for the Legislative Council. Under the new structure, the in-house meetings were replaced by the House Committee which comprises all members of the Legislative Council other than the President, the Deputy President and the ex-officio members. Bills Committees were formed to replace ad hoc groups. Bills are allocated to these committees for scrutiny by the House Committee. The House Committee and the Bills Committees normally hold their meetings in public and may call any person to appear before them and to give evidence or information.

Until October 1992, non-government members of the two councils were serviced by the OMELCO Secretariat which is independent of the Administration. Following the withdrawal of members of the Executive Council from OMELCO in October 1992, the OMELCO Secretariat continues to provide supporting services to members of the Legislative Council, pending review of the future status and functions of OMELCO Secretariat by Members.

With effect from October 1992, the House Committee of the Legislative Council decided that the OMELCO standing panels would become panels of the Legislative Council and the OMELCO Complaints Division would become the Complaints Division of Members of the Legislative Council. A working group comprising 10 members was formed to discuss changes necessitated by the winding up of OMELCO, including the development of an appropriate supporting organisation which would give members financial and managerial - autonomy in handling their affairs, the future of the OMELCO London Office, the future of the OMELCO redress system, and further development of the Legislative Council's committee system.

Urban Council

The Urban Council is a statutory council with responsibilities for the provision of municipal services to almost 3.28 million people in the urban areas. These services include street cleansing, refuse collection, control of environmental hygiene, and ensuring the hygienic handling and preparation of food in restaurants, shops, abattoirs and other places.

The Urban Council is also the authority for the control of hawkers and street traders, although some of this devolves on the police as the council does not have the manpower or finance to shoulder the whole burden.

Within the urban area, the council provides and manages all public recreation and sporting facilities such as swimming pools, parks, playgrounds, indoor and outdoor stadia, tennis courts, football grounds, squash courts and basketball courts, and promotes a large number of sports at district level.

The Hong Kong Stadium is undergoing redevelopment funded by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. When completed, its seating capacity will increase to 40 000 for major sporting, entertainment and cultural events.

The council manages museums, public libraries and several major cultural venues and multi-purpose facilities, including the City Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Stadium and the Hong Kong Coliseum, the Science Museum and the Museum of Art. The Hong Kong Cultural Centre, opened in November 1989, contains a 2 100-seat concert hall, a theatre seating 1 700 and a studio theatre accommodating about 500 persons. Despite the new facilities, the City Hall Concert Hall and Theatre continue to be heavily booked. The

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