Memorandum of
Yuen Long District Council / DC Paper No.42/2012
For discussion on 26April 2012

Progress Report of the District Facilities Management Committee

The second meeting of the District Facilities Management Committee (DFMC) under the Yuen Long District Council (YLDC) in 2012 was held on 2March 2012. The major issues discussed are summarised below:

Procedure for Submission of Proposals on District Minor Works (DMW) Projects

2.Members endorsed the procedure and process for submission and implementation of proposals on District Minor Works (DMW) Projects as provided in the paper. Besides, DFMC had relayed the matters relating to the maintenance of the projects to the Home Affairs Department earlier on and learnt that the department was concerned about the matter.

Progress Report on the Approved DMW Projects (Proposed by District Council Members)

3.Members endorsed the proposal to support the continued implementation of nine DMW projects and the proposal to earmark $20,000 to organise the opening ceremony for “Wing Hing Sitting-out Area”. Members also proposed that the Highways Department should consider providing street lights under the project “Enhancing greening for Yuen Long Town South - Sitting-out facilities” (YL-DMW008).

DMW Projects Pending Approval (Proposed by District Council Members) as proposed during the Last Term District Council

4.Members unanimously endorsed the proposal to cease proceeding with four projects, namely “Basketball court and sitting out area in Fung Kong Tsuen, Ha Tsuen”, “Provision of sitting-out area on Wang Tat Road”, “Provision of lighting and illumination for the Sitting-out area adjacent to Aster Court, Hung Shui Kiu” and “Sha Kiu Tsuen Sheung WanSitting-out area, Ping Shan Heung”. As regards the project “Request for the provision of benches and shade structures”, the Chairman proposed to write to the Civil Engineering and Development Department in the name of DFMC and request for the inclusion of the project into the Greening Master Plans for consideration. DFMC endorsed the proposal to further follow up the rest of DMC projects (proposed by District Council Members)which had been raised by Members during the last term District Council but were pending approval. Besides, the Chairmanproposed that the district office should relay villagers’objection against individual works to local district councillors, project proponents and rural committees so as to maintain proper communication with the objectors.

Progress Report on the Minor Environmental Improvement Programme for 2011/2012

5.Members noted the said paper and confirmed the increases in the project estimates for YL-DMW083, YL-DMW087, YL-DMW095, YL-DMW096 and YL-DMW110 to $180,000, $225,000, $100,000, $550,000 and $4 million respectively. DFMC endorsed the proposal to cancel two projects, namely YL-DMW094 and YL-DMW099.

Proposed Projects under the Minor Environmental Improvement Programme for 2012/2013

6.Members endorsed an allocation of $2.5 million for the implementation of “Minor Environmental Improvement Programme for 2012/2013”. The Chairman hoped that the district office could have more communication and discussions with local district councillors in relation to the project designs for the implementation of works.

New Proposed Facilities for the District Open Space in Area 107, Tin Shui Wai (Remaining Portion) in Yuen Long district (Third Revised)

7.Members endorsed the paper and the proposal to refer the following motion to the Home Affairs Bureau and Legislative Council Panel on Home Affairs for follow-up action: “This committee urges the government to immediately commence the construction of swimming facilities in the District Open Space in Area 107, Tin Shui Wai (Remaining Portion) so as to relieve the congestion of swimming pools in the district.” Besides, DFMC was aware of the demand of the local community on various recreational and sport facilities (such as sports centres, soccer pitches and tennis courts, etc) and, having considered the great demand of local residents for swimming facilities, would render continuous support to the construction of a pool complex in Area 107, Tin Shui Waidespite the existence of three pool complexes in Yuen Long district. DFMC would also put the works in thecapital workspriority list in the hope that the relevant departments would continue to actively followup the project.

Proposed Facilities for the Redevelopment of Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground

8.Members endorsed the provision of proposed facilitiesfor the redevelopment of Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground and hoped that LCSD could accept Members’ views on the project without affecting the progress of the works and where it was technically and financiallyviable. Besides, Members also hoped that LCSD could providemembers of the relevant constituency and or DFMC members with more information about the construction progress of the proposed facilities of Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground so that they could relay such information to residents.

Preliminary Feasibility Study Report for Local Open Space at No. 2 Hung Tak Road

9.Members endorsed the said paper and an updated project estimateof $6.5 million. Members also urged the consultant and LCSD to implement the project as soon as possible.

Recreation and Sports Programmeto be implemented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department in Yuen Long district for the period from April 2012 to March 2013

10.Members endorsed “Recreation and Sports Programmeto be implemented by LCSD in Yuen Long district for the period from April 2012 to March 2013” and an allocation of $6,544,450 for the implementation of the programme.

LCSD Improvement Programme for Leisure and Sports Facilities in Yuen Long District for 2012/2013

11.Members endorsed “LCSD Improvement Programme for Leisure and Sports Facilities in Yuen Long District for 2012/2013” and an allocation of $4,033,000 for LCSD to implement 15 improvement works. Members also hoped that LCSD could implement the works as soon as possible.

Comprehensive Report on the Recreation and Sports Activities to be held in Yuen Long district and the Management of Facilities by LCSD (March 2012 Issue)

12.Members noted the said paper.

LCSD Extension Programmes for Public Libraries in Yuen Long District for the period from April 2012 to March 2013

13.Members endorsed “LCSD Extension Programmes for Public Libraries in Yuen Long District for the period from April 2012 to March 2013” and an allocation of $47,558 for the implementation of the programmes.

Report on the Extension Activities Organised by LCSD for Public Libraries in Yuen Long District as well as their profile of use

14.Members noted the said paper and hoped that LCSD could consider Members’ proposal to extend the opening hours of the students’study rooms.

Proposal on the Regular Free Cultural and Entertainment Programmes to be co-organised by LCSD and YLDC for Yuen Long district in 2012/2013

15.Members endorsed the “Proposal on the Regular Free Cultural and Entertainment Programmes to be co-organised by LCSD and YLDC for Yuen Long district in 2012/2013” and an allocation of $918,000 for the implementation of the proposal.

LCSD Work Plan on Cultural Programmes for Yuen Long district 2012/2013 and Report on the Cultural and Entertainment ProgrammesImplemented in Yuen Long District as well as the Utilisation Rate of Yuen Long Theatre

16.Members noted the said paper. As regards the arrangement for DFMC members to deliver speecheson DFMC-sponsored cultural and entertainment programmes on behalf of DFMC, Members agreed thatlocal district councillors should be given priority to attending the relevant functions and the members concerned could only attend such functions and deliver speechesafter obtaining DC’s confirmation and the speechesdelivered had to be relevant to the cultural and entertainment programmes.

Projects and Community Involvement Activities on Greening in Yuen Long District for 2012/2013

17.Members endorseda total of 14 greening works under “Projects on Greening in Yuen Long District for 2012/2013” with project estimates totalling $1.6 million, which would be implemented with DMW funds. Besides, Members also endorsed $1 million for the implementation of “Community Involvement Activities on Greening in Yuen Long District for 2012/13” and the proposal to earmark $800,000 for the replacement of hanging flower pots. Besides, DFMC would continue to support LCSD to provide green talks for primary and secondary schools in the district for the promotion of green messages. As it was found that the hanging flower pots on Fung Yau Street North Yuen Long had been maliciouslydamaged, Members proposed to write to the police in the name of DFMC and request for strengthening patrolling.

Funding application for the Employment of Project Assistants

18.Members endorsed an annual allocation of $400,000 in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 respectively for the creation of three full-time project assistant posts, and recommended the proposal and funding application to the Finance Committee for consideration and approval.

Report of the Review on the Pilot scheme on “Extension of Opening Hours for Community Halls and Community Centres in Yuen Long District”

19.Members endorsed the cessation of the scheme on the extension of opening hours on Christmas Eve and New Year’s eve, and endorsed an allocation of $28,000 forextending the opening hours of Long Ping Community Hall and Tin Yiu Community Centre, and proposed to refer the views on openingthe conference rooms of the community halls for study purpose to the Working Group on the Management of the Facilities in the Community Halls and Community Centre in Yuen Long District for follow-up action.

Utilisation Rate of Community Centres/Community Halls in Yuen Long District

20.Members noted the above paper.

Proposed Schedule of Meetings for DFMC under YLDC in 2012

  1. Members unanimously endorsed the said schedule of meetings.

Invitation for Nomination for “Sports Ambassadors”

22.Members endorsed the appointment of Mr MAN Kwong-ming and Miss WONG Wai-ling as “Sports Ambassadors” of YLDC.

Proposal to set up the “Working Group on the Yuen Long District Greening Programme”

23.Membersunanimously endorsedthe setting up of the “Working Group on the Yuen Long District Greening Programme” and the appointment of Mr CHING Chun-ming as the Chairman of the working group.

Proposal to set up the “Working Group on the Managementof Facilities in the Community Halls and Community Centres in Yuen Long District”

24.Members unanimously endorsedthe setting up of the “Working Group on the Managementof Facilities in the Community Halls and Community Centres in Yuen Long District” and the appointment of Ms CHIU Sau-han as the Chairlady of the working group.

Proposal to set upthe “Working Group onthe Progress of Swimming Pool Construction in Area 107 Tin Shui Wai”

25.Members unanimously endorsedthe setting up of the “Working Group onthe Progress of Swimming Pool Construction in Area 107 Tin Shui Wai” and the appointment of Mr YIU Kwok-wai as the Chairman of the working group.

Yuen Long District Council Secretariat
12April 2012