North (2020-2023) Minutes of the 1st Meeting of the Committee on District Facilities, Culture and Recreation

Date : 20 January 2020 Time : 11:05 a.m. Venue : North District Council Conference Room

Present:

Chairman of North District Council (“NDC Chairman”) and Member of the Committee Mr LAW Ting-tak* (To chair Agenda Item 1)

Chairman of the Committee Mr CHIANG Man-ching* (To chair Agenda Items 2-6)

Members Mr CHAN Yuk-ming* Mr LEE Koon-hung, MH (11:05 a.m. – 12:08 p.m.) Mr LI Kwok-fung (11:05 a.m. – 12:08 p.m.) Ms LAM Tsz-king* Ms LAM Shuk-ching* Mr CHOW Kam-ho* Mr HAU Chi-keung (11:05 a.m. – 12:08 p.m.) Mr HAU Fuk-tat, Simon (11:05 a.m. – 12:08 p.m.) Ms CHAN Yuet-ming (11:05 a.m. – 12:08 p.m.) Mr YUEN Ho-lun* Mr CHAN, Vincent Chi-fung* Mr CHAN Wai-tat* Mr KWOK Long-fung* Mr KO Wai-kei (11:05 a.m. – 12:08 p.m.) Mr CHEUNG Ching-ho, Franco* Mr CHEUNG Chun-wai* Mr WAN Wo-tat, Warwick (11:05 a.m. – 12:08 p.m.)

Secretary Miss MOK Suet-sum, Amy Executive Officer I(District Council)1, North District Office Action

Remarks: * Members who attended the whole meeting ( ) Time of attendance of Members

In Attendance: Mr CHONG Wing-wun, JP District Officer (North), Home Affairs Department Ms KWONG Ting-lok, Maggie Assistant District Officer (North)1, Home Affairs Department Miss LAM Tsz-yan, Gloria Assistant District Officer (North)2, Home Affairs Department Ms CHU Wai-lin, Francoise Senior Executive Officer (District Council), North District Office Mrs. TAI YIP Sau-lan, Susana District Leisure Manager (North), Leisure and Cultural Services Department Ms TAM Oi-fan Deputy District Leisure Manager (District Support ) North, Leisure and Cultural Services Department Mr WONG Ping-kuen, Richard Senior Librarian (North), Leisure and Cultural Services Department Ms CHU Ching-han, Heidi Chief Manager (Festivals and Audience Development), Leisure and Cultural Services Department Ms WONG Kit-yi, Pat Senior Manager (Community Programmes), Leisure and Cultural Services Department Miss TAM Yuen-fun, Betty Senior Manager ( East) Promotion, Leisure and Cultural Services Department Mr YU Chun, Calvin Senior Executive Officer (Planning)22, Leisure and Cultural Services Department Miss IP Oi-in, Yen Executive Officer (Planning)22A, Leisure and Cultural Services Department

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Ms LAU Angel Executive Assistant (Planning)22, Leisure and Cultural Services Department

Opening Remarks

The NDC Chairman welcomed Members to the 1st meeting of the North District Council (“NDC”) Committee on District Facilities, Culture and Recreation (“the Committee”) and extended welcome to the District Officer (North) for attending the meeting. He stated that according to Section 35(2) of the NDC Standing Orders, he would preside over the election of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee for the new term, then the new Chairman of the Committee would chair the rest of the meeting. 2. The NDC Chairman went on to state that a total of 19 NDC Members had joined the Committee and asked Members to note the list of Membership.

Item 1 - Election of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee

3. The NDC Chairman stated that an email enclosing the nomination form and election procedure for the Chairman of the Committee was sent to Members by the Secretariat on 10 January 2020, which specified the nomination period for the office of Chairman of the Committee would end at 9:30 a.m. on 20 January 2020. Before the close of the nomination, the Secretariat had received only one valid nomination for the office of Chairman of the Committee. Mr CHIANG Man-ching was nominated by Mr CHEUNG Chun-wai with Mr YUEN Ho-lun as the seconder. He declared that Mr CHIANG Man-ching, being the sole candidate, was elected uncontested as the Chairman of the Committee. 4. The NDC Chairman went on to state that an email enclosing the nomination form and election procedure for the Vice Chairman of the Committee was sent to Members by the Secretariat on 10 January 2020, which specified the nomination period for the office of Vice Chairman of the Committee would end at 9:30 a.m. on 20 January 2020. During the nomination period, the Secretariat had received one nomination in respect of Mr CHEUNG Chun-wai for the office of Vice Chairman of the Committee. The Secretariat subsequently was notified of Mr CHEUNG Chun-wai’s withdrawal of his candidature. There being no candidate, the office of the Vice Chairman would be left vacant.

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5. Mr CHONG Wing-wun added that as the office of the Vice Chairman was vacant, an election procedure would be arranged at the next meeting of the Committee. (The remaining parts of the meeting was chaired by CHIANG Man-ching, the Chairman of the Committee.) 6. The Chairman of the Committee (“the Chairman”) thanked Members for their support. He stated that the Committee would work hard on the operation and management of district facilities and on promoting various kinds of cultural, arts and sports activities in the district in the next four years with a view to building a better community for the residents.

Item 2 - Proposal on Provision of District Free Entertainment Programmes by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (“LCSD”) in North District for 2020/21 (Paper No. 1/2020)

7. The Chairman welcomed the following representatives of LCSD to the meeting:

District Leisure Manage (North) Mrs Susana Tai Deputy District Leisure Manager (District Ms TAM Oi-fan Support) North Senior Liberian (North) Mr Richard WONG Chief Manager (Festivals and Audience Ms Heidi CHU Development) Senior Manager (Community Programmes) Ms Pat WONG Senior Manager (New Territories East) Miss Betty TAM Promotion Senior Executive Officer (Planning) Mr Calvin YU Executive Officer (Planning) Miss Yen IP Executive Assistant (Planning) Ms LAU Angel 8. Miss Betty TAM presented Paper No. 1/2020. 9. Mr CHAN Yuk-ming pointed out that as especially remarked on the list of performance venues of free entertainment programmes in North District, individual venues in (such as Ka Fuk Estate and Wah Ming Estate Amphitheatres) were only suitable for holding passive activities to avoid noise nuisance because of their proximity to residential neighbourhoods. But the Cheung Wah Estate Amphitheatre was not so constrained. He appreciated that in identifying venues the LCSD had to take various factors into consideration and could not impose too many

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restrictions. Being the councillor of the constituency, however, he wished to understand the criteria adopted. He suggested that the LCSD should consult members of the individual constituencies and owners' corporations in considering activity venues. 10. The Chairman noted that arts groups/organisations could only make an approved list when their performance was ascertained to be of a certain standard by the LCSD. But many secondary and primary schools in the district needed to have the chance to perform to gain experiences. He hoped the LCSD would strike a balance between performance standard requirements and nurturing and supporting artistic development of local students in arranging programmes. It could invite DC members to participate in evaluating the performance standard of arts groups/organisation. Furthermore, more traditional and cultural programmes were offered than contemporary and pop programmes and those for children, with Cantonese opera and operatic song concerts outnumbering others. He hoped the department would evenly allocate resources among various types of programmes. Also, the remuneration to artists made up a large proportion of the expenditure of the activities. He understood that the rates of remuneration were based on the performance standards of performers. He suggested that the department should lower the thresholds to give new arts groups or young people more chances to perform to promote cultural and arts development in the district. 11. Mr KO Wai-kei pointed out that according to the Paper only 10 people participated in the free entertainment programmes provided in and areas. Although Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling were in remote areas with less people, more participants would surely be drawn with enhanced publicity. He urged the department to do so by, for example, liaising with the rural committees to strengthen the promotion of the activities to avoid wasting resources. 12. Mr CHOW Kam-ho agreed with the Chairman and indicated that many young people were adopting busking to promote music and other forms of art. He suggested to the department to provide more chances for young people to perform. He also suggested that it should improve venues facilities as the Paper had noted that some venues could not be used for certain kinds of performance due to constraints like inadequate space and electricity supply. 13. Mr Vincent CHAN opined that the low turn-out for shows in remote areas was possibly due to inadequate publicity and transport inconvenience. He suggested to the department to liaise with local publicity media to strengthen promotions of activities and improve the

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ancillary transport facilities for venues. 14. Mr CHAN Yuk-ming was concerned with the number of participants of the activities. He considered that the first task was to do a better job of publicity and review if those types of activities were suitable for the areas. After the meeting he would find out from the LCSD the evaluation criteria of arts groups/companies. If the department would relax the criteria, many young people and even street performers might be attracted to participate in local activities and enhance their sense of belonging in the district. 15. Mr CHEUNG Chun-wai enquired if bazaars could be held in LCSD venues, being of the view that bazaars could provide young people with room for development. As transactions would be involved, he asked if there were restrictions in law. 16. Mr Franco CHEUNG indicated that most of LCSD’s funding applications in North District were for recreation and sports activities. He hoped the department would allocate more resources for the promotion of cultural and arts development. 17. Mr YUEN Ho-lun supported the suggestion of arranging local residents to participate in local performing activities. He believed it would help create a cultural atmosphere. He also asked about the actual expenditure of the free entertainment programmes provided in Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling areas in which Mr KO Wai-kei said only 10 people participated. 18. Mr CHAN Wai-tat opined that although Members were concerned with the turn-out for the performances, the focus should not be on the numbers or it would go against the intention of promoting cultural development. The department could make use of every opportunity available by inviting different arts organisations and holding various forms and types of programmes, such as those of minority arts forms. He considered that prudent use of public funds should be adopted together with suitable publicity to help the development of different cultural and arts forms in the district. 19. Mr LAW Ting-tak stated that there was a lack of cultural promotion activities in Queen’s Hill area where there were many elderly people and they did not have a lot of pastimes. He hoped the department would make suitable arrangements and not neglect the rural areas. If Queen’s Hill area did not have venue for activity, the department could enhance publicity to that area of activities to be held in Luen Wo Hui to keep the residents informed.

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20. Mr CHOW Kam-ho supported Mr CHEUNG Chun-wai’s proposal of holding bazaars in LCSD venues and hoped the department would deploy more resources to underpin the development of local creative and handicraft industries. 21. Ms Heidi CHU thanked Members for their opinions and made the following consolidated reply: (a) The LCSD had been striving to promote performing arts in the district in the hope that the general public could come into contact with and participate in different kinds of performing arts. For this reason, it had always emphasised on the quality and standard of performances, hoping that high standard performances would attract audiences and enhance their interest in performing arts. At the same time, the department also attached great importance to providing chances for new arts groups, and primary and secondary students to perform in the district. Hence it would endeavour to strike a balance between the two. The Audience Building Office and the Community Programmes Office of the LCSD had been organising various kinds of activities, such as lantern carnivals and youth nights, which were open for local organisations and schools to join; (b) Concerning the turn-out for the activities, the department had been active in promoting performing arts in different venues in the district (including rural areas). Some sessions could have less participants. But from the viewpoint of promoting arts and culture, it was necessary to keep offering these activities. The department would enhance publicity and promotion as well as arrange more performing activities in the rural areas as necessary; (c) Concerning the arrangement of venues, individual activities would have parks or basketball courts booked for them. As the venues were not intended for performance, the supply of electricity might not be adequate currently. Members would appreciate that the venues could not be converted to cater for the once or twice a year performance due to resource constraints. Nonetheless, the department would strive to improve the arrangements of venues; (d) The actual expenditure of the free entertainment programmes provided in Sha Tau Kok and Ta Kwu Ling areas was around $10,000. Though participants were not a lot, the

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department considered it was necessary to keep offering the activities so that the residents could come into contact with various cultural and arts activities. The department would continue to work with the NDC to actively enhance activity publicity; (e) Concerning the arrangement of offering more traditional and cultural programmes than contemporary and pop programmes, the main reason was the former covered more performing programmes, such as concerts, Cantonese opera, dance performances and Chinese traditional puppet shows. The department proposed programmes mainly based on past opinions collected. As many elderly people in the district indicated that they liked Cantonese opera. The department would adjust the types and sessions of performance based on the views of the NDC; and (f) As for the proposal of holding bazaars in the district, it was not under the purview of the LCSD. The department would keep an open mind should local organisations were interested in setting up booths at activities such as the lantern carnivals. 22. The Committee endorsed Paper No. 1/2020. The Chairman asked the LCSD to take follow-up actions. LCSD Item 3 - LCSD’s Programme Plan of Extension Activities to be Organised by Public Libraries in North District for 2020/21 (Paper No. 2/2020)

23. Mr Richard WONG presented Paper No. 2/2020. 24. Mr CHAN Yuk-ming enquired about participation to the programme plan of extension activities organised by public libraries in North District. Pointing out that only some $50,000 was applied as funding, the Committee could consider increasing the allocation should the activities were popular. 25. In response, Mr Richard WONG advised that there were three public libraries in North District, which were Public Library, Fanling Public Library and Fanling South Public Library. The libraries organised a one-hour session of Storytelling for Children every Saturday, guided by instructors who were mainly qualified kindergarten or primary teachers holding Diplomas in Early Childhood Education. The expenses involved were about $290 per hour. Another main funding activity was

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thematic seminars. In response to the local readers’ interests, the LCSD planned to hold thematic seminars on history and culture in North District in the coming year, with experts in the fields (such as on the history of walled villages) as speakers, and also thematic seminars on STEM education. Should Members agree to increase allocation of funds, the department would make suitable arrangements as far as possible. 26. Mr Franco CHEUNG suggested that apart from promoting reading through seminars, storytelling and workshops, the libraries could also set up “Member’s Bookcase” for Members to take turns to introduce the books they read, so that the NDC and the libraries could work together in promoting a reading culture among residents of North District. 27. Ms CHAN Yuet-ming remarked that mobile library service would only be provided to Ta Kwu Ling once every other week from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ta Kwu Ling Car Park. But not many residents knew about it. She suggested that the department should enhance promotion, such as liaising more with the rural committee for better publicity with village representatives to keep residents informed of the mobile library service point. Furthermore, Ms CHAN indicated that the rural committee should be able to provide parking space for the library van for the convenience of the villagers. The population of Ta Kwu Ling was on the rise, but library service had not been boosted much. She hoped improvement to it could be made. 28. The Chairman said the Sheung Shui Wai mobile library service had been suspended once earlier because its parking space was occupied by other vehicles and some rubbish. He had contacted Mr WONG about it at the time. He hoped to meet with library representatives later together with representatives of the rural committee to discuss arrangement for the mobile library service point. 29. Mr CHOW Kam-ho suggested that the libraries should augment their collections of audio books for the visually impaired to share in the joy of reading. 30. Mr CHAN Yuk-ming indicated that the demand for sessions of Storytelling for Children was great but many parents were unaware of the libraries’ storytelling service on Saturdays, which was probably due to inadequate publicity. He advised that the libraries should review the demand carefully and if found there was such a need, consideration might be given for increasing the allocation of fund for more sessions of such activity. Earlier he suggested adding a mobile library service point at Cheung Wah Estate. Now in view of the growing population of North District, he suggested that the department should allocate more resources to

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increase the number of mobile library vans so as to serve more communities. 31. Mr LAW Ting-tak supported Mr Franco CHEUNG’s proposal of setting up a Members sharing readings time. He would be interested in sharing books on anthropology and history of the development of villages and walled villages in North District. Additionally, he suggested to set up a mobile library service point at Queen’s Hill, possibly at Wing Ling Basketball Court, Kun Lung Wai basketball court or the derelict football pitch by Kwan Tei Village. He also considered the department should liaise more with the rural committees and village representatives to enhance publicity; in particular, better use should be made of banners to let villagers know the service time of the mobile library service points. As for the Storytelling for Children service, he suggested it could be extended to Queen’s Hill and other rural areas, especially to Lung Yeuk Tau, where there were many young families and the number of children would grow, so there was a real need to increase such service. 32. Mr LI Kwok-fung supported Mr LAW Ting-tak’s suggestion, being of the view that more services should be provided to the young people in the district. 33. Mr Simon HAU said a mobile library service point was provided at Kam Tsin Village Ho Tung School, Sheung Shui Wai last year which proved popular with the children and students. He understood that given the large body of the mobile library van, many arrangements had to be made regarding the parking space and electricity supply. But he considered there was a need for the department to extend the mobile library service to the rural areas and provide more diverse readings for the villagers. 34. Mr KO Wai-kei hoped the department would implement the relocation plan of Sha Tau Kok Public Library promptly which had been in discussion for many years. He urged the LCSD to contact the Hong Kong Housing Society (“HKHS”) promptly to discuss arrangements for the relocation of the library. 35. Mr Vincent CHAN was of the view that the LCSD should enhance the promotion of the mobile library service. Considering that individual communities covered large areas, more banners should be put up and contacts should be made with the housing estates to enhance promotion. 36. Ms LAM Shuk-ching suggested that the libraries should organise more family activities as well as more reading activities in the rural areas, which should strengthen the imagination, creativity and potential development of the children and alleviate the study pressure on them.

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37. Mr Richard WONG gave the following consolidated reply: (a) Concerning the relocation of the Sha Tau Kok Public Library, following policy support was given by the Home Affairs Bureau in October 2018, the LCSD had actively liaised with the Government Property Agency and HKHS to follow up on the relocation; (b) Concerning additional Storytelling for Children sessions and the promotion of reading, the department was happy to support non-profit making organisations and DC Member ward offices to set up community libraries by making a loan of around 300 books to them to promote the culture of reading in the district. Storytelling for Children sessions had always been popular, and the participants were mostly kindergarten and primary pupils. If the NDC would increase funding, the department could also provide more Storytelling for Children sessions or arrange such activity in community libraries. The Department would keep an open mind toward this arrangement; (c) Concerning family activities, the department had organised such in the past. This year the department turned to deploying resources towards holding STEM education activities. Subject to the availability of resources, the LCSD would organise family activities in the district as support; and (d) The LCSD had 12 mobile library vans serving over 100 mobile library service points in the 18 . The department recently launched the “Joyful Reading at Your Neighbourhood: Library-on-Wheels” Pilot Project. A specially designed truck was turned into a Library-on-Wheels and visited the 18 districts all over Hong Kong to hold activities. As the body of the Library-on-Wheels was smaller, and outside power generator and notice boards were not needed, it was more flexible in operation. Currently it was visiting various pilot locations in Hong Kong, with Estate in North District being one, to hold activities. The department had proposed for the Library-on-Wheels to visit Cheung Wah Estate to organise activities but was refused by the estate office. Noting the demand for mobile library service by the residents of and Queen’s Hill areas, the department would actively consider including them or other suitable

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areas as pilot locations when planning the next stage of the pilot project. 38. Mr CHAN Yuk-ming opined that 12 mobile library vans were inadequate to serve the 18 districts in Hong Kong. He hoped the department would allocate additional resources to augment the number of the vans. Concerning the refusal by Cheung Wah Estate office to allow the Library-on-Wheels to park at the estate, he would find out the details from the LCSD for follow up after the meeting. 39. The Committee endorsed Paper No. 2/2020. The Chairman asked the LCSD to take follow-up actions. LCSD Item 4 - LCSD’s Plan for Recreation and Sports Programmes to be Organised in North District from April 2020 to March 2021 (Paper No. 3/2020)

40. Ms TAM Oi-fan presented Paper No. 3/2020. 41. Mr Vincent CHAN enquired the details and financial estimates of the various programmes, such as the Community Garden Programme to be held in the North District Park, and if quotas could be increased. 42. Ms LAM Shuk-ching said that some residents had reflected that the Wo Hing Sports Centre did not have adequate fitness equipment and hoped the department would provide more of such. 43. The Chairman said that some residents had reflected that they could not enrol in the Briefing on Proper Ways to Use Fitness Equipment (“the Briefing”) of the LCSD as the sessions and quotas available were insufficient. Given individual programmes were popular (such as the Briefing and Yoga classes), he hoped the department would increase allocation of resources correspondingly. In addition, he hoped the LCSD would continue to arrange for residents of North District to participate in the horse riding programmes in Tuen Mun. 44. Mr LAW Ting-tak suggested forming an NDC football team to play exhibition matches or against other teams in suitable activities such as carnivals which would be conducive to health and promotion. 45. Ms TAM Oi-fan made the following consolidated reply: (a) Since the plan involved organising over 1 300 recreation and sports programmes in North District, detailed information could not be provided for each of them. If Members required details of individual programme, they were welcomed to contact the department about it. Concerning

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the expenditure of the programmes, for training classes which accounted for most of the programmes, most of the expenditure involved was coach fees with the procurement of equipment and instruments and publicity banners coming next; (b) Under the current Community Garden Programme to be held in the North District Park, a site would be divided into many small gardens for the application of citizens. They were generally provided for a period of three to four months, after which they would be cleared for the application of another lot of residents. Since the department had to arrange manpower to assist in watering and to provide other ancillary facilities, careful consideration had to be given as to the suitability of the sites. Subject to the availability of resources, the department would increase the quotas as far as possible to allow more people the chance to participate in the Programme; (c) Concerning the proposal of providing additional fitness equipment in Wo Hing Sports Centre, there were altogether five sports centres in North District, each of them had a fitness room. The number of sets of equipment provided in each fitness room depended on its size. The department would optimise the use of space as far as possible and install suitable fitness equipment. As for the arrangement of the Briefing, qualified coaches were conducting fitness assessment classes on proper fitness knowledge in Lung Sum Avenue Sports Centre. Residents might, based on their needs, choose different fitness programmes to learn about fitness so as to become qualified to use the equipment in the fitness rooms. The department would also deploy resources as appropriate to meet the needs of the residents; (d) Concerning the horse-riding programme, the Department regularly arranged horse riding fun days for the residents in North District, but coordination had to be made with the riding school in Tuen Mun. The Department would make the arrangement as far as possible; and (e) The LCSD welcomed the forming of an NDC football team and would provide assistance as far as possible. 46. The Committee endorsed Paper No. 3/2020. The Chairman asked the LCSD to take follow-up actions. LCSD

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(Ms CHAN Yuet-ming, Mr HAU Chi-keung, Mr Simon HAU, Mr KO Wai-kei, Mr LEE Koon-hung, Mr LI Kwok-fung and Mr Warwick WAN left the meeting at this juncture.)

Item 5 - Any Other Business

47. The Chairman advised that the Secretariat had received an provisional motion from Ms LAM Shuk-ching. He asked Ms LAM Shuk-ching to brief the meeting of the provisional motion enclosed at Annex. 48. Ms LAM Shuk-ching presented the provisional motion. She asked to correct a typo in the first sentence of the Paper and noted that Mr LAU Ki-fung, one of the seconders of the motion, had not joined the Committee. 49. Mr Vincent CHAN agreed to set up Lennon walls, but considered reference could be made to the mode of the democracy walls in university campuses to cater for different opinions in society. 50. Mr CHAN Yuk-ming supported the motion by Ms LAM Shuk-ching. He considered it was not important whether the facilities were to set up following the mode of a Lennon wall or a democracy wall, the focus was to provide a legitimate channel for people to express their political views and their social concerns and demands. Lennon walls would allow people to express their views freely, irrespective of their political stands, as long as no improper speech was involved. 51. Mr LAW Ting-tak supported the motion and expressed that many communities had set up Lennon walls of their own volition, leading to many disputes and social conflicts. If Lennon walls could be set up formally to let people express their views, social conflicts would be reduced. He pointed out that many community halls and LCSD facilities could be used to set up the Lennon walls and hoped that the departments concerned would co-operate in the matter. 52. Mr CHOW Kam-ho supported the motion and hoped that a legitimate channel could be provided for people to express their views on political issues and social matters. He considered the move would help implement democracy in society and allow people to know that their views were valued. 53. Ms LAM Shuk-ching opined that the Lennon walls should be at convenient locations, the actual sites could be considered later. But she pointed out that young people were unlikely to go to the community halls frequently. She considered that the Lennon walls should be legitimised so

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that people could express their views on posters which would help reduce conflicts and promote social harmony. 54. The Chairman noted that most Members supported the motion on the setting up of the Lennon walls. In Sheung Shui, many residents expressed their views on the external wall of the North District Town Hall (“NDTH”) facing Sheung Shui Centre. He suggested that the Lennon wall in Sheung Shui should be set up at the external wall of the NDTH. 55. Mr CHAN Wai-tat considered Members should submit their views on the locations of the Lennon walls/democracy walls in writing for the departments concerned to follow up. He himself proposed to use the NDC notice boards in various areas as Lennon walls/democracy walls for residents to express their opinions. 56. The Secretary advised in response that the NDC notice boards had specific purpose and was for posting information of the NDC and Members only. 57. Ms Heidi CHU pointed out that the NDTH was located within the North District Community Centre with venue partners stationed there, and that the Community Centre was mainly under the management of the Home Affairs Department (“HAD”), while the external wall mentioned by Members were used as publicity channel by venue partners and other cultural programmes/activities. Should the NDC have demands regarding the setting up of the Lennon wall, the department would need to consider if it would affect publicity of cultural and arts programmes and would have discussions with the HAD. 58. Mrs Susana TAI advised that the recreation and sports notice boards in North District were mostly used for publicising activities and balloting results for the information of the residents, also for posting information of other government departments (such as health information of the Department of Health). Should NDC wish to set up the Lennon walls at the recreation and sports facilities in the district, the department would need to study and consider the matter carefully. 59. Mr CHAN Yuk-ming agreed with Mr CHAN Wai-tat and considered they should first resolve if the provisional motion would be passed; if passed, Members would be invited to submit their views on the locations of the Lennon walls/democracy walls in writing. This would help saving meeting time and Members could also consult the residents. 60. The Chairman stated that the provisional motion would be put to the vote then and that according to Section 31(1) of NDC Standing Orders, the passage of the motion would require an absolute majority vote of the

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Members, which took over 50% of the valid votes (excluding abstentions) cast. 61. In respect of the provisional motion, 12 Members voted in favour of the motion (Ms LAM Tsz-king, Ms LAM Shuk-ching, Mr CHOW Kam-ho, Mr YUEN Ho-lun, Mr CHAN Yuk-ming, Mr Vincent CHAN, Mr CHAN Wai-tat, Mr KWOK Long-fung, Mr Franco CHEUNG, Mr CHEUNG Chun-wai, Mr CHIANG Man-ching and Mr LAW Ting-tak), no Member voted against or no abstention. The provisional motion was passed. (Post-meeting note: At the time the above provisional motion was put to the vote, only 12 Members were present.) 62. Mr CHAN Yuk-ming suggested that the Secretariat should invite Members to submit their proposals on the locations of the Lennon walls/democracy walls in writing. Secretariat 63. The Chairman asked the Secretary to follow up on the matter. (Post-meeting note: The Secretariat consulted Members on the proposed locations of the Lennon walls on 20 February and asked them to reply before 2 March.)

Item 6 - Date of Next Meeting

64. The Chairman announced that the next meeting would be held at 9:30 a.m. on 10 March 2020 (Tuesday) in the NDC Conference Room. 65. The meeting was adjourned at 12:26 p.m.

North District Council Secretariat March 2020

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