Minutes of the 4Th Meeting of District Facilities Management Committee (2016-17) Central

Minutes of the 4th Meeting of District Facilities Management Committee (2016-17) Central and Western District Council

Date: 2 June 2016 (Thursday) Time: 2:30 p.m. Venue: Conference Room, 14/F, Harbour Building 38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Present: Chair lady: Ms CHENG Lai-king*

Vice-chairman: Mr NG Siu-hong*

Members : Mr CHAN Chit-kwai, BBS, JP* (2:47 p.m. – end of the meeting) Mr CHAN Choi-hi, MH* Mr CHAN Hok-fung, MH* Mr CHEUNG Kwok-kwan, JP* Mr HUI Chi-fung* (2:57 p.m. – end of the meeting) Mr KAM Nai-wai, MH* Miss LO Yee-hang (2:39 p.m. – end of the meeting) Ms SIU Ka-yi* Mr YEUNG Hoi-wing* Mr YEUNG Hok-ming* Mr YIP Wing-shing, BBS, JP* Note: * Members who attended the whole meeting ( ) Time of attendance of members

Item 6 : Mr CHAIONG David, Stanley Chief Leisure Manager (Hong Kong West), Leisure and Cultural Services Department Ms LIM Ting-ting, Sylvia District Leisure Manager (Central and Western), Leisure and Cultural Services Department Ms CHOW Pui-shan, Cindy Deputy District Leisure Manager (District Support) Central and Western, Leisure and Cultural Services Department Item 7: Ms CHOW Pui-shan, Cindy Deputy District Leisure Manager (District Support) Central and Western, Leisure and Cultural Services Department Mr MAN Chi-chiu, Eric Executive Officer (District Management), Central and Western District Office

In Attendance: Mrs WONG HO Wing-sze, District Officer (Central and Western) Susanne, JP Miss LAM Bing-bing, Erica Assistant District Officer (Central and Western) Ms WONG Ming-wai Senior Executive Officer (District Council), Central and Western District Office Miss YU Yan-yan, Rosanna Senior Executive Officer (District Management), Central and Western District Office Mr MAN Chi-chiu, Eric Executive Officer (District Management), Central and Western District Office Miss LEUNG Wai-chun, Liaison Officer-in-chief (District Facilities and Community Karmen Involvement), Central and Western District Office Mr NGAN Suen-wa Inspector of Works (Hong Kong) Works Section, Home Affairs Department Mr KO Kwok-keung Assistant Inspector of Works (Central & Western) Works Section, Home Affairs Department Ms CHAN Shuk-hing, Daphne Senior Librarian (Central and Western), Leisure and Cultural Services Department Ms CHOI Suk-kuen, Shirley Senior Manager (Cultural Services) Hong Kong West, Leisure and Cultural Services Department Ms LAU Sin-yan, Irene Assistant Manager (Hong Kong West) Marketing, Programme & District Activities, Leisure and Cultural Services Department Mr. TONG Pak Yu, Simon Chief Estate Officer (District Lands Office, Hong Kong East, West and South), Lands Department Mr QIU Song-qing Chairman, Chung Wan and Mid-levels Area Committee Mr TONG Yeuk-fung Vice-chairman, Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun Area Committee Mr CHIU Shun-ming Chairman, Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui Area Committee

Secretary Miss SUM Sze-yan, Cyan Executive Officer (District Council) 4, Central and Western District Office

Absent with Apologies: Mr CHAN Ho-lim, Joseph Mr LEE Chi-hang, Sidney

Opening remarks

The Chairlady welcomed all members and representatives of government departments to the third meeting of the District Facilities Management Committee (DFMC) (2016/2017), and especially welcomed three new Area Committee members Mr QIU Song-qing, Mr TONG Yeuk-fung and Mr CHIU Shun-ming to attend the DFMC meeting for the first time.

Item 1: Adoption of a genda (2:36 p.m.)

2. The Committee adopted the revised meeting agenda.

Item 2: Confirmation of the m inutes of the Third DFMC M eeting held on 31 March 2016 (2:36 p.m.)

3. The Committee confirmed the minutes of the third DFMC meeting.

Item 3: Action c hecklist on m atters arising from the Third DFMC Meeting (C&W DFMC Paper No. 16/2016) (2:36 p.m.)

4. The Chair lady said that there were no matters arising from the third DFMC meeting.

Item 4: Chair lady ’s Report (2:36 p.m. – 2:43 p.m.)

5. The Chair lady said that papers on the District Free Entertainment Programmes and the Recreation and Sports Programmes, papers on historical reasons and district facilities would be submitted to the DFMC for review. However, since the papers were only about cultural, leisure and social activities, it was more thorough and appropriate to submit them to the Culture, Leisure & Social Affairs Committee (CLSAC) for discussion in terms of the overall provision of cultural, leisure and social activities. The Chair lady had an open mind on this, and asked whether members agreed that such papers should be submitted to the CLSAC for report and discussion in the future. The papers included the Report on the District Free Entertainment Programmes in the Central and Western District (C&W Dis- trict) Organised by the LCSD, the Suggestions on the District Free Entertainment Pro- grammes in the C&W District Proposed by the LCSD, the Report on the Organisation of Recreation and Sports Programmes in the C&W District Organised by the LCSD and the Plan for the Organisation of Recreation and Sports Programmes in the Central and West- ern District made by the LCSD.

6. Mr KAM Nai-wai asked whether the Report on the Management of Facilities in the C&W District by the LCSD had been submitted to the DFMC for report and discussion.

7. The Chairp lady said the papers concerned would be submitted to the DFMC for report and discussion. In addition, as the person who submitted the LCSD’s entertainment programmes was not representative from the government sitting at the DFMC meeting, he could not contribute to the discussion.

8. Mr CHAN Choi-hi said that if some members were interested in the item or required follow-up actions, the Committee could invite those who were not representatives of government departments to attend the meeting, or give a written reply after the meeting.

9. After discussion, the Committee agreed the LCSD to submit the aforesaid papers to the CLSAC.

Item 5: Installation of s treetside t ourist m ap b oards in Central & Western District (C&W DFMC Paper No. 15/2016) (2:43 p.m. – 2:57 p.m.)

10. Mr KAM Nai-wai said that a street trader in Sheung Wan pointed out that tourists often asked him for directions, and recommended the installation of tourist map boards. Sec- ondly, the tourist figures showed that there were quite a lot of independent travellers. Thirdly, the MTR line had been extended to the Kennedy Town, and visitors would travel to the three new MTR stations. While in almost every crossing of London, the tourist map boards containing drawings about one foot and a half to two feet wide were erected on the pavements or the sites concerned. Mr KAM Nai-wai recommended the installation of tourist map boards at relatively spacious and suitable locations, such as the new MTR station exits, Bonham Road, Forbes Street and so on. The Central and Western District Council (C&W DC) should be responsible for this issue or requested the Tourism Com- mission (TC) to follow up the open discussion. Mr KAM Nai-wai was also disappointed at the response from the TC saying that only 30 tourist map boards in Hong Kong were enough.

11. The Chair lady said that every time when he walked by the Conduit Road of Mid-Levels, visitors always asked him whether the site was the Peak, the Fool’s Pavilion. When they knew the Mid-Levels Escalator could not reach the Peak, and could only reach the Con- duit Road, they would return with disappointment. He used to submit a paper to the C&W DC requesting to install map boards indicating that the Conduit Road was not the Fool’s Pavilion, but found that the project was unfeasible after a field inspection. In addition, the Secretariat had sent out a letter to invite the representatives of the TC to attend the meeting. However, as the department pointed out that their response to the proposal had been specified in the written reply, they would not send staff to attend the meeting.

12. Mr KAM Nai-wai advised the DFMC to consult 15 (all) members of the C&W DC, and let those members suggest suitable locations for the installation of tourist map boards. If members agreed, this issue should be carried by the C&W DC.

13. Mr CHAN Choi-hi proposed to use new technologies such as mobile phone application (App), the quick response code (QR Code), etc.

14. Mr Y IP Wing- s hing said that tourism affairs were very important because the C&W Dis- trict and Hong Kong were both the hearts of tourism, and felt pity that the TC did not send their staff to attend the meeting. However, the installation of tourist map boards and other matters were not only the responsibilities of the C&W DC, and it was unlikely to improve the tourist map boards only depending on the views of 15 members of the C&W DC. Mr Y IP Wing- s hing hoped to cooperate with the TC to discuss and listen to the pro- fessional advices of the department, because the department had considerable technical support and more far-sighted vision. Cooperation could enable them to utilise resources more efficiently than just using the resources of the C&W DC to install the tourist map boards. He proposed to follow up the issue with the Chairlady, the Home Department and the TD after the meeting.

15. Mr CHAN Chit-kwai asked whether the terms of reference of the DFMC covered the contents of the paper.

16. The Chair lady said that one of the reasons why he invited the representatives of the TC to attend the meeting was to clarify which location could be available for the installation of the tourist map boards. The first item of the terms of reference of the DFMC was “Central and Western District Council are involved in the management of district facilities, to en- sure that the relevant facilities to better meet the needs and aspirations of people in the re- gion.” For that matter, the contents of the papers concerned should not conflict with the terms of reference of the Committee. Certainly, the district facilities referred to the locations managed by the C&W DC and the Central and Western District Office (the District Office).

17. Mr CHAN Choi-hi approved the 15 members to give their advices, and discuss together with the Chair lady and the TC.

18. Mrs WONG H O Wing-sze, District Officer, said that she had the same view with Mr Y IP Wing- s hing and Mr CHAN Choi-hi that improving travel information was correct, and opined that this issue could be discussed with the Commissioner for Tourism on how to strengthen the information service in cooperation with the District Council. Mrs WONG H O Wing-sze thought that this project was an important issue, and if the Chairlady agreed, she would follow up members’ views on the installation of the tourist map boards for the TC, and reflect that the C&W DC attached importance to this project. The department would study how to strengthen the combination of various plans in this area with the TC so as to improve the utilisation of public resources, and respond to members’ suggestions. In addition, the department also mentioned the improvement of information boards on the Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail in this year’s budget. Mr CHAN Choi-hi and previous members had mentioned the use of more technologies, such as QR Code, and the department was considering from this perspective. At that time, the QR Code and information of the new information boards, to a certain extent, not only would include the Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail, but also could connect to the tourism information of the C&W District as a whole. The District Council might proceed from the Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail, and would report the matters concerned to the District Council within a short time, and the department could follow up the deficiencies so as to make good use of the resources. Al- though the original terms of reference of the DFMC was the district facilities managed by the District Office, members could also submit proposals through the Working Group on District Minor Works. Mrs WONG H O Wing-sze proposed to identify the areas for improvement in cooperation with the TC, after the TC and the departments concerned re- ported the master plan for the Sun Yat-Sen Historical Trail in a few months. If the District Council and the TC respectively managed a batch of information boards, the practice would be inappropriate and could easily cause confusion in the absence consistent designs and information. The government also hoped to improve the tourist information service.

19. After discussion, the Chair lady said that letters should be sent to all members of the C&W DC for comments, such as the locations suitable for the installation of the information boards, and then transferred those advices to the TC for follow-up actions.

Item 6: Funding a pplication for d istrict m inor w orks p rojects – “ Provision of a rbours and i nstallation of w all-mounted l ights in West End Park ” (C&W DFMC Paper No. 29/2016) (2:57 p.m. – 3:01 p.m.)

20. Ms CHOW Pui-shan, Deputy District Leisure Manager (District Support) Central and Western of the LCSD, introduced the paper to the Committee. 21. Mr C HAN Chit-kwai voiced his support for the works concerned.

22. Mr CHAN Choi-hi hoped the department could use energy saving lamps, such as LED lights (light emitting diodes).

23. After discussion, the Committee allocated $223,000 to the LCSD to implement the above- mentioned scheme.

Item 7: New p roposals on d istrict m inor w orks p rojects 2016-2017 (C&W DFMC Paper No. 27/2016) (3:01 p.m. – 3:24 p.m.)

24. Mr CHAN Choi-hi, Chairman of the Working Group on District Minor Works, introduced the contents of the new proposals on district minor works projects to members.

25. For the first project “Installation of rain canopies for outdoor seating in the parks and sitting-out areas in Central and Western District”, Mr YEUNG Hok-ming said that, in addition to this project, the seats in Clarence Terrace Children's Playground were also often found bird droppings without rain canopies. Mr YEUNG Hok-ming said that he knew that there were too many trees at this location, while the channel was narrow. Thus, it was dif- ficult to install the canopies there, but he still hoped that the department could follow up.

26. For the second project “Addition of message signs to St. Stephen Lane”, Mr CHAN Chit- kwai said that the resident concern groups of St. Stephen Lane and its vicinity hoped to install message signs, but recently he was informed that there were some objections. Therefore, he would conduct regional consultation again, and finally implement or shelve the project depending on the response. Mr CHAN Chit-kwai said that if the installation of message signs was unfeasible, he hoped that it was able to display the tree names, at- tributes, and so on.

27. For the third project “Addition of planters on railings and flowers to St. Stephen Lane”, Mr CHAN Chit-kwai said that they had intended to plant more trees, including Ficus mi- crocarpa, but found that it might be unfeasible after a site visit. There were also objections from the owners’ corporations of some buildings, including Ning Yeung Terrace and Reading Place. At present, as an alternative, planters were placed on the iron bars.

28. For the fourth project “Request of heightening the guardrails of local soccer fields and basketball courts”, Mr YEUNG Hoi-wing said that, in the Forbes Street Temporary Play- ground and the King George V Memorial Park, Hong Kong, there were often some footballs and basketballs flying to the nearby children’s playgrounds, easily causing accidents.

29. Mr YEUNG Hok-ming said that an elder reflected that five doors of the soccer field in the King George V Memorial Park, Hong Kong had no gates, only the door facing the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children Thomas Tam Nursery School had a gate. As footballs would directly fly out the doors without gates, easily causing accidents, he hoped that the department could follow up.

30. Mr NG Siu-hong said that there were also some footballs and basketballs flying to the children’s playground and street nearby from the soccer field and basketball court in Blake Gardens. He hoped that the department could heighten the protection bars of those sports grounds.

31. Mr CHAN Choi-hi found some fences were sagged, especially the ball court behind the Sai Ying Pun Station, its fences were severely buckled. He hoped that the department could arrange for the replacement when they found badly dented fences during the inspection.

32. Ms CHOW Pui-shan, from the LCSD, said that she would study with the Architectural Services Department (ASD) after conducting field inspections with the members concerned.

33. For the fifth project “Installation of canopies to open bus stops“, Mr CHAN Hok-fung said that the bus stops along the Victoria Road in Kennedy Town to the Mount Davis Road had no canopies, and recalled that he had submitted a paper on this issue during the last term of District Council but the bus company failed to follow up. Therefore, he hoped that this issue could be referred to the District Council.

34. For the sixth project “Community Beautification Programme – 2016/2017 Pillars Decora- tions of the Footbridges in Central”, Ms YU Yan -y an, Senior Executive Officer (District Management) of the C&W District Office, said that it was a constant project, and she would submit an application for project funding at the next meeting.

35. For the eighth project “2016/17 Central to Mid-levels Escalator System Festive Decora- tion Projects”, Ms LEUNG Wai -c hun, Liaison Officer (District Facilities and Community Involvement) of the C&W District Office, said that she would submit an application for project funding at the next meeting.

36. For the ninth project “Conversion of the waterfront area near Fung Mat Road into temporary sitting-out area”, Mr CHAN Hok-fung said that, at present, the seaward side of this place had barbed wires, but had no fences. Although it could be opened to the public without seats or arbours, the place would become unattractive if it was all surrounded by barbed wires, and it was not ideal to open it to the public under such circumstances. This proposal was a major project for the District Council, for its construction costs would be up to more than $3,000,000.

37. Mr CHAN Hok-fung specially thanked the Drainage Services Department (DSD) for lay- ing lawns and eco-bricks and saving a lot of expenses for this project.

38. Mr YEUNG Hok-ming voiced his support for the proposal, and opined that the barbed wires surrounding the beach did not fit in with the seashore landscapes.

39. The Chair lady hoped that the DSD could set display panels to introduce the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) for promotional and educational purposes, and recommended the establishment of sundials and telescopes, and proposed to consider designing a name for the site.

40. Mr CHAN Hok-fung said that the beaches in the C&W District had their own names, such as Central and Western District Promenade - Sheung Wan Section. This site might then be named as Central and Western District Promenade - Fung Mat Road Section. The site would be connected to the docks of four key projects in the future. At present, there was a gate between them, for the fifth dock of the key projects was still used by the non- staple food market traders. At that time, he might have to discuss with the ASD about the construction of a new gate, and coordinated with the Agriculture Fisheries and Conserva- tion Department (AFCD) on how to open up the Fung Mat Road for the transport of key items upon completion of cargo handling at the dock in the early morning hours.

41. Mr CHAN Chit-kwai said that he hoped that it could be technically feasible to link up the non-staple food markets in Sheung Wan, Central and Western Districts.

42. Mr NG Siu-hong was concerned about the maintenance of lawns after opening to the public, and hoped that the public could easily enter the turf areas in the future.

43. Mr CHAN Hok-fung hoped the department could clarify whether the amount of funds allocated to district minor works each year could exceed 200%, indicating that the total funds approved each year were more than $30,000,000.

44. M iss YU Yan -y an, from the District Office, said that the total approved project cost for the district minor works might exceed the aggregate annual allocation for projects, for the project costs might appear in more than one financial year. In principle, the un-budgeted approved commitment of the project should not exceed 200% of the aggregate annual allocation for projects of that financial year. As for the allocation of more than $10,000,000 for district minor works in Central and Western District in 2016-17, the excess project allocation should not exceed more than $20,000,000. This was the upper limit, but it was generally hoped that the allocation should be allocated within the budget as much as possible.

45. The Chair lady said that proposed project was temporary works, and asked whether the department knew how long it would take to complete the permanent park if a funding application was presented to the Legislative Council.

46. Ms CHOW Pui-shan, from the LCSD, said that the department had begun to study the work specifications, but had no real timetable at the moment.

47. Mrs WONG H O Wing-sze said that the LCSD was following up a number of waterfront projects. As for the funding application to the Legislative Council for this project, the en- tire process of funding approval might take six to eight years in general. It was believed that local residents hoped to enjoy the seaside as soon as possible.

48. After discussion, the Committee adopted the contents of the paper.

Item 8: LCSD Report on the Usage and Extension Activities of the Public Libraries in the Central and Western District (C&W DFMC Paper No. 26/2016) (2:24 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.)

49. Mr CHAN Chit-kwai asked why there were only 16 people attending the Shek Tong Tsui Public Library Reading Club in April, lower than the 57 people in March, and requested the department to step up publicity and liaison, and asked whether the Hok Hoi Books Tower had any activities.

50. Regarding the number of participants attending the reading clubs, Ms CHAN Shuk-hing, Senior Librarian (Central and Western) of the LCSD, said that relevant activities were held for eight times in March, while held for four times in April, so that the total number of participants of each activity differed. The department had encouraged students to participate in the activities. If the students were able to attend the activities for a specific number of times at a certain period, the department would confer certificates to them as incentives. The department would also contact the teachers, and encourage students to participate in the reading clubs. The number of participations by reading club members might also vary depending on the target groups of activities. If this month’s reading club was especially designed for secondary or primary school students, the number of participations would differ.

51. Regarding the Hok Hoi Books Tower, Ms CHAN Shuk-hing said that the dates of lectures held in Hok Hoi Books Tower could refer to Annex III. The City Hall Public Library would hold a lecture per week on average, and generally the attendance rates were more than 80% or 90%.

52. Members noted the above paper.

Item 9: Report on the f ree e ntertaining p rogrammes launched by LCSD in the Central and Western District (C&W DFMC Paper No. 25/2016) (3:35 p.m.)

53. Mr CHAN Chit-kwai asked how interested parties could apply to the department for co- organising programmes.

54. Ms LAU Sin -y an, Assistant Manager (Marketing, Programme & District Activities in Hong Kong West) of the LCSD, said that reference could be made to the annual proposed programmes project submitted by the department, including the types and locations of the proposed programmes. Those applicant organizations could submit applications for joint activities to the Cultural Services Office (Hong Kong West) five months before the months in which activities were to be held. He welcomed members to contact the department to obtain relevant data.

55. Members noted the above paper. This paper would be submitted to the CLSAC in the future.

Item 10: Report on the f acility m anagement by LCSD in the Central and Western District (C&W DFMC Paper No. 28/2016) (3:35 p.m.)

56. Mr NG Siu-hong said he used to reflect that the children’s playroom of the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park had no enough upholstered entertainment facilities, and asked whether the department had added the facilities.

57. Ms CHOW Pui-shan, from the LCSD, said that they had added the facilities, and the department would review the service conditions of the facilities concerned and make alternative arrangements in due time.

58. Mr CHAN Choi-hi enquired whether the removed trees mentioned in Item 7 would be re- planted.

59. Ms CHOW Pui-shan, from the LCSD, said that the department would consider supple- menting plants each time they removed the plants, depending on whether it was suitable to do so, such as whether there was enough room for them to grow.

60. The Chair lady hoped that the department could plant flowering trees, such as Lager- stroemia, Poinciana.

Item 11: Report on the r ecreational and s ports a ctivities by LCSD in the Central and Western District (C&W DFMC Paper No. 30/2016) (3:35 p.m.)

62. Members noted the above paper. This paper would be submitted to the CLSAC in the future.

Item 12: Financial r eport on d istrict m inor w orks p rojects in the Central and Western District (C&W DFMC Paper No. 31/2016) (3:36 p.m.)

Item 13: Report of the w orking g roup (3:37 p.m.)

Item 14: Any other b usiness (3:37 p.m.)

65. There was no other business.

Item 15: Date of the n ext m eeting (3:38 p.m.)

66. The Chair lady announced that the third DFMC meeting would be held on 28 July 2016. The paper submission deadline for government departments would be on 7 July, while the deadline for members would be 13 July.

67. The meeting was adjourned at 3:38 p.m.

28 July 2016 The minutes were confirmed on

Ms CHENG Lai-king Chairlady:

Miss SUM Sze-yan, Cyan Secretary:

C&W District Council Secretariat July 2016