Minutes of the 4th Meeting of
Culture, Leisure and Social Affairs Committee (2016-2017)
Central and Western District Council
Date / : / 23 June 2016 (Thursday)Time / : / 2:30 pm
Venue / : / Conference Room
14/F., Harbour Building
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong
Present:
Chairman
Mr CHAN Chit-kwai, Stephen, BBS, JP*
Vice-chairman
Mr YEUNG Hoi-wing*
Members
Mr CHAN Choi-hi, MH / (2:30 pm - 5:07 pm)Mr CHAN Ho-lim, Joseph / (3:34 pm - 4:03 pm)
Mr CHAN Hok-fung, MH*
Ms CHENG Lai-king / (3:05 pm - end of the meeting)
Mr CHEUNG Kwok-kwan, JP / (2:44 pm - 4:07 pm)
Mr HUI Chi-fung / (3:29 pm - 5:30 pm)
Mr KAM Nai-wai, MH / (2:30 pm - 5:06pm)
Mr LEE Chi-hang, Sidney / (2:37 pm - end of the meeting)
Miss LO Yee-hang / (2:39 pm - 5 pm)
Mr NG Siu-hong*
Ms SIU Ka-yi / (2:35 pm - end of the meeting)
Mr YEUNG Hok-ming*
MrYIP Wing-shing, BBS, MH, JP / (2:30 pm - 6:07 pm)
Co-opted Members
Ms CHEUNG Kai-yin / (3:36 pm - 5:05 pm)
Mr IP Yik-nam / (2:30 pm - 5:57 pm)
Mr LEE Man-sing*
Mr SHAM Chi-hang, Christopher / (2:35 pm - end of the meeting)
Remarks: * Members who attended the whole meeting ( ) Time of attendance of Members
Guest
Item 5Miss AU Wing-yan, Christine
Mr CHU Ho, Larry / Principal Assistant Secretary (Harbour), Development Bureau
Assistant Secretary (Harbour)1, Development Bureau
Item 6
Ms CHOW Pui-shan, Cindy / Deputy District Leisure Manager (District Support) Central and Western, Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Item 7
Mr CHU Kam-sing, Daniel
Mrs KWOK WONG Mun-yi
Mr LAM Chik-man / Assistant District Social Welfare Officer (Central Western, Southern and Islands)2, Social Welfare Department
Senior School Development Officer (Central Western and Southern) 2, Education Bureau
Chief Property Manager (Acquisition, Allocation and Disposal), Government Property Agency
Item 8
Ms CHAN Lai-hung
Ms Circle LO / Chairman, Working Group on Specialist Outpatient Clinic Operations, Hospital Authority
Corporate Communication Manager (External Relations), Hospital Authority
Item 9
Mr LAM Yuk-chiu
Miss CHAN Yuk-fun, Yvonne / General Manager (Information System Planning), Hongkong Post
Senior Manager (Mail Distribution/HK), Hongkong Post
Item 10
Ms CHAN Shuk-hing, Daphne
Ms YIP Wai-ting, Wendy
Mr YIP Kwok-cheung
Mrs KWOK WONG Mun-yi / Senior Librarian (Central & Western), Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Librarian(Shek Tong Tsui Public Library), Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Chief Health Inspector 2 , Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
Senior School Development Officer (Central Western and Southern) 2, Education Bureau
Item 11
Ms CHOW Pui-shan, Cindy / Deputy District Leisure Manager (District Support) Central and Western, Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Item 12
Ms CHOW Pui-shan, Cindy / Deputy District Leisure Manager (District Support) Central and Western, Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Item 13
Dr WONG Man-ching, Anna / Senior Medical and Health Officer (Community Liaison)2, Department of Health
Item 14
Ms CHOI Yi-ting, Christal / Neighbourhood Police Co-ordinator, Police Community Relations Office, Central District, Hong Kong Police Force
Item 15
Mr AU-YEUNG Chi-wai
Mr WONG Chi-hung
Ms KONG Kwai-ying / Social Worker, St. James’ Settlement Central and Western District Elderly Community Centre
Worker-in-charge, Caritas Mok Cheung Sui Kun Community Centre
Representative, WGES
Item 16
Ms TO Hiu-nam, Iris
Ms CHIU Wah-kuen / Social Worker, Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association Kwun Lung Lau Community Work Office
Chairlady, Hong Kong Central and Western District Woman Association
Item 17
Mr POON Wai-keung
Mr FU Wai-hon
Mr YUEN Hin-sing
Ms LEE Ka-hei
Ms LEI Chi-ian
Ms LEE Ching-nga
Mr SZE Fook-yan / Discipline Master, KCOBA Primary School No.2
Assistant Social Worker, Caritas Jockey Club Integrated Service for Young People - Shek Tong Tsui
Assistant Centre-in-charge, BGCA Jockey Club Sheung Wan Children and Youth Integrated Services Centre
Social Worker, Hong Kong West Point Baptist Church Neighbourhood Elderly Centre
Social Worker, Caritas Community Centre - Caine Road
Secretary, Sai Ying Pun KaiFong Welfare Association
Member, The Volunteers
Item 18
Ms CHOI Man-na
Ms NGAI Yan-tung / Chairlady, Yu Sum Chinese Opera Troupe
Project Officer, Parkland Music Foundation Association Limited
Item 19
Miss LEUNG Wai-chun, Karmen / Liaison Officer I (District Facilities and Community Involvement), Central and Western District Office
In Attendance:
Mrs WONG HO Wing-sze, Susanne, JP / District Officer (Central and Western)
Miss LAM Bing-bing, Erica / Assistant District Officer (Central and Western)
Ms BOOK King-shun, Emma / Senior Executive Officer(District Council), Central and Western District Office (Acting)
Mr CHU Kam-sing, Daniel / Assistant District Social Welfare Officer (Central Western, Southern and Islands) 2, Social Welfare Department
Mr Francis HO / Community Relations Officer (Hong Kong West/Islands), Independent Commission Against Corruption
Mrs KWOK WONG Mun-yi / Senior School Development Officer (Central Western and Southern) 2, Education Bureau
Dr WONG Man-ching, Anna / Senior Medical and Health Officer (Community Liaison)2, Department of Health
Ms CHOI Yi-ting, Christal / Neighbourhood Police Co-ordinator, Police Community Relations Office, Central District, Hong Kong Police Force
Mr CHAN Chun-wah / Neighbourhood Police Co-ordinator, Police Community Relations Office, Western District, Hong Kong Police Force
Ms LEE Wing-yee, Winnie / Manager (Hong Kong West) Marketing and District Activities, Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Miss LAU Sin-yan, Irene / Assistant Manager (Hong Kong West) Marketing and District Activities, Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Ms CHOW Pui-shan, Cindy / Deputy District Leisure Manager (District Support) Central and Western, Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Secretary
Miss TAI Lok-tung, Jovy / Executive Officer (District Council) 5,
Central and Western District Office
Absent with Apologies:
Ms LAU Wai-yan,Vienna
Opening RemarksThe Chairman welcomed all to the fourth meeting of the Culture, Leisure and Social Affairs Committee (CLSAC) of the Central and Western District Council (C&WDC) (2016-2017).The Chairman also welcomed Mr Francis HO, Community Relations Officer of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and Miss Irene LAU, Assistant Manager of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) for attending the meeting for the first time respectively in place of Ms Doris CHUN, Senior Community Relations Officer of the ICAC and Ms Shirley CHOI, Senior Manager of the LCSD who were unable to attend.
Item 1: Adoption of the Agenda
2.There being no comments from Members, the Chairman declared the adoption of the agenda.
Item 2: Confirmation of the Minutes of the 3rd CLSAC Meeting (2016-17)
3.As Members had no comments on the draft minutes of the third CLSAC meeting, the minutes were confirmed.
Item 3: Action Checklist on Matters Arising from the 3rd CLSAC meeting (2016/2017)
(C&W CLSAC Paper No. 38/2016)
4.Members noted the action checklist on matters arising and had no further comment on it.
Item 4: Chairman’s Report
5.The Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education (CPCE) under the Home Affairs Bureau provided each district with funding support of up to $200,000 in 2016-17 to sponsor organisations to organise activities for the promotion of civic education at district level. Each District Council (DC) could recommend one or multiple applications for consideration by the CPCE. The CLSAC held the first informal meeting on 12 April 2016 to discuss the relevant applications, where it was approved to recommend five applications submitted by the following organisations respectively:Caritas Mok Cheung Sui Kun Community Centre andThe Volunteers, Hong Kong Central and Western District Woman Association, Caritas Community Centre - Caine Road, St. Luke’s Settlement Neighbourhood Elderly Centre, and St. Anthony’s School Alumni Association.
6.Fund applications for district arts and cultural activities and the “Culture in the District” programme for 2016-17 were closed on 14 April and 18 April 2016 respectively. Relevant applications were discussed at the second informal meeting of the CLSAC held on 29 April 2016, 3:00 pm.
7.The Secretariat was currently accepting group applications for 2016-17 C&WDC funds for organising civic education activities. The deadline for application was 6 May 2016, and a meeting would be held later to evaluate relevant applications on a preliminary basis. The “funding criteria for civic education activities” set out by the Working Group on Civic Education (2014-15) was tabled for Members’ perusal. This set of criteria was different from the funding guidelines of the Finance Committee in that activities applying for funds should bear relevance to the theme on civic education. The funding cap for each activity was $10,000. After discussion, the CLSAC agreed that the said funding criteria should continue to be adopted for approving fund applications forcivic education activities.
8.The Women’s Commission had launched the “Funding Scheme for Women’s Development” to provide funding of $53,000 to each District Council. The funds would be distributed through DCs to women’s groups and non-government organisations for organising activities. The Secretariat was currently accepting fund applications from groups or organisations, and the deadline for application was 31 May 2016. The application forms would be vetted at the CLSAC meeting and the Finance Committee meeting to be held in June 2016.
Item 5: Temporary Use at the Observation Wheel Site
(C&W CLSAC Paper No. 30/2016)
(2:40 pm – 2:55 pm)
9.Miss Christine AU, Principal Assistant Secretary (Harbour) of the Development Bureau (DEVB), introduced the paper. She said that the observation wheel site was letto an operator under short-term tenancy (STT) for operating an observation wheel and ancillary facilities through an open tender in 2012. The STT commenced in June 2013 and the observation wheel was subsequently opened for public enjoymenton 5 December 2014. The STT was for a term of three years and was expired in June 2016. In September 2015, the DEVB had obtained support from both the CLSAC of the C&WDC and Harbourfront Commission’s Task Force on Harbourfront Development on Hong Kong Island (HC’s Hong Kong Task Force) for extending the land use of the observation wheel site for one year to June 2017. The paper aimed to explore the land use of the site after the current STT expired. The current site of the observation wheel comprised a portion of both Sites 3 and 7 under the Urban Design Study for the New Central Harbourfront (UDS), and was close to one hectare in size. She saidit was anticipated that Site 3 would become ready for long-term development in the next two to three years. In this connection, Site 3 would not be suitable for letting out for temporary use upon the expiry of the extended term in June 2017. As for Site 7, it would remain occupied for infrastructural works of the Wan Chai Development Phase II and the Central-Wan Chai Bypass projects over the next few years. It was expected that long-term development of Site 7 would not commence before 2020. Therefore, the portion of the site falling within Site 7 could continue to be utilised for temporary use upon the expiry of the extended term in 2017. The observation wheel was generally welcomed by the public since its opening. The operator had earlier briefed theWorking Group on the Central & Western District Harbourfront on their work. As understood from the operator, the observation wheel had attracted about one million visitors since its opening. It had also become a new landmark on Hong Kong Island’s coastline. Meanwhile, food kiosks were also available next to the observation wheel to provide additional food and beverages choices for the public. She indicated that taking into account the land uses and public response, the DEVB proposed to continue using the portion of the site falling within Site 7 for operating an observation wheel with ancillary facilities for another three years, i.e. from mid-2017 to mid-2020. She said that as the existing observation wheel structure, including its foundations, was situated entirely within Site 7, no technical difficulty would be foreseen for operation of the current observation wheel to continue within the reduced area should the current incumbent operator succeed in bidding the open tender. She remarked that if the tender returned a new operator, the operator might require around a year to obtain necessary licences and install a new wheel before opening. Given that a motion was passed at the CLSAC meeting held in September 2015 requesting the DEVB to arrange re-tender for the temporary use, and the site concerned would be let out to a commercial operator for another three years, the site was proposed to be let out by open tender onarrangements similar to the first tendering of the site in 2012. The DEVB considered open tender a fair and transparent means to implement the proposed temporary use. The proposed temporary use would align with the policy objective of enabling early enjoyment of harbourfront areas and ensuring their vibrancy. She said that the proposed temporary use had received support from HC’s Hong Kong Task Force. If support was also obtained from the CLSAC, the DEVB would discuss with the Lands Department and relevant government departments on the open tender procedures.
10.The Chairman invited discussion on the paper. Questions raised by Members were as follows:
(i)Mr YIP Wing-shingexpressed support to the continueduse of the siteforoperating observation wheel and to conduct an open tenderas proposed in the paper.
(ii)Mr CHAN Hok-fung said that the issue had been discussed by the Working Group on the Central & Western District Harbourfront. Members of the working group agreed that the observation wheel had casted a positive image for Hong Kong,as well asstimulated business ofsmall individually owned shops nearby and increased vibrancy of the harbourfront areas. He supported the continued use of the site for operating observation wheel, but reckoned that re-tender would affect the observation wheel operation. Meanwhile, given the tenancy term was not that long, he suggested renewal of the tenancy with the incumbent operator instead of re-tendering.
(iii)Mr NG Siu-hong enquired why a portion of both Sites 3 and 7 would initially be consolidated for letting out. Reckoning that currently public space was available next to the observation wheel for free public enjoyment, he enquired if the area of free public space would increase under the new tenancy.
(iv)The Vice-chairman concurred that the observation wheel had become a new landmark for the harbourfront areas and supported the continued use of the site for operating observation wheel. He enquired if the reduced site area would affect the observation wheel and ancillary facilities in future. Reckoning that the public’s enthusiasm towards the observation wheel had started to dwindle, he enquired of the DEVB on the operator’s future corresponding strategies.
(v)Reckoning that the observation wheel had become a landmark for the Central and Western District, the Chairmansupported the continued use of the site for operating observation wheel. He also supported re-tender.
(vi)Mr Christopher SHAM enquired that if the tender returned a new operator, would the tenancy, which was for a term of three years, commence after allnecessary licences had been obtained. He also enquired about the tender procedures and if new criteria would be added.
11.Miss Christine AU of the DEVB thanked Members for their comments and suggestions. She said that the observation wheel structure, including its foundations, was situated entirely within Site 7, and the area next to the wheel was used for the provision of ancillary facilities and holding activities. She indicated that Site 3 would be used for long-term development in accordance with the UDS, while Site 7 could be further let out for accommodation of observation wheel upon the expiry of the extended term in June 2017. In addition, the reduction in site area wouldonly reduce the area available for holding activities.
(i)In response to Mr Christopher SHAM’s enquiry on the tender procedures, she said that while the tender would be conducted in accordance with normal government tender procedures, requirements related to community involvement or fare concession as suggested by Members and the public would also be added.
(ii)In response to Members’ concern on re-tender, while understanding Members’ concernthat re-tender might affect service continuity, she remarked that re-tender was a fair and transparent procedure. She said that requirement would be specified in the tender document that in case the tender returned a new operator, the operator would be required to ensure a smooth interface so as tokeep the impact to the minimum.
12.The Chairman said that the CLSAC agreed with the proposal outlined in DEVB’s paper.
Item 6: Request for Provision of Storage Lockers at Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, Forbes Street Park and Sai Ning Street Park