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In response to press enquiries about the Democratic Party's report on municipal services after their re-organisation, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) said today (July 13) that apart from services inherited from the two municipal councils, new initiatives and measures had been made to provide the best possible and value-for-money leisure and cultural services to the public.

The major initiatives and measures include the establishment of Customer Liaison Groups (CLGs), contracting-out cleansing and ancillary services, construction of new capital projects, improvement of library environment, extension of operating hours in the Hong Kong Museum of Art, introduction of session breaks at swimming pools and many others.

"All these initiatives and measures have achieved good results and the Department is fully committed to further enhancing its service standards of professional excellence," he said.

The spokesman said in an effort to enhance communication with the public, CLGs had been set up in 10 major leisure venues to obtain opinions from users with a view to further enhancing our services. Meetings were held between April and May and feedback gathered from members were so valuable and useful that they could help enhance our service standards to meet the needs of our clients readily.

The second batch of eight more CLGs will be set up in the remaining eight districts in July and August. In addition, formal and informal customer liaison meetings for users of LCSD's performance venues in urban areas and the New Territories have also been convened.

The spokesman said since its establishment in January this year, the department had launched several contracting-out initiatives, closed down some of the nurseries which were surplus to requirements and contracted out the management of the Jockey Club Tuen Mun Butterfly Beach Indoor Recreation Centre and cleansing and ancillary services of holiday camps.

"These contracting-out initiatives are well justified on cost effectiveness and efficiency grounds, and all permanent and contract staff affected have been internally deployed to work at new facilities," he said.

"No permanent or contract staff has been made redundant as a result of these contracting-out initiatives."

On capital projects, the spokesman said a total of 13 projects had been completed and handed over to the department since January this year at a total cost of about $2.17 billion. Major ones include the Film Archive, a sports centre in Sai Wan Ho and Hong Kong Central Library which will be opened early next year.

"There are 16 projects under construction with a total approved cost of about $5 billion. These include a swimming pool complex, a library and an indoor recreation centre in Tseung Kwan O as well as complexes in Luen Wo Hui, Tai Po and Chai Wan," he said.

"Since January this year, eight projects have been upgraded to Category A of the Public Work Programme at a total approved estimated cost of about $1.80 billion. Of the eight, three projects, i.e. Jordon Valley Recreation Ground Phase II, renovation to Sha Tin and Tuen Mun Town Halls and Man On Shan Indoor Recreation Centre, tenders have been invited.

"Another 16 projects estimated to cost $1.76 billion have been recommended for inclusion as Category C items of the Public Works Programme. In addition, 131 projects are under active planning although none of them have received funding commitment from the two former municipal councils."

The spokesman said another initiative was to provide a better library information and technology service by replacing the existing library system with a single upgraded automatic system at a cost of $160 million.

"Apart from upgrading the library services, libraries which are over 10 years old, are being renovated and potted plants are provided to major libraries to give a more pleasant environment," he said.

"To allow more time for visitors in patronising our exhibitions in the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Museum's opening hours has, since January 23 this year, been extended to open from 10 am, instead of 1 pm, to 6 pm on Saturdays and public holidays (except the first and second days of the Lunar New Year)."

Regarding the Hong Kong Coliseum and major stadia which the LCSD has been managing since January this year, the spokesman said the manning scales which had been adopted were inherited from the two municipal councils and had proved to be effective.

Another new measure is the introduction of two one-hour session breaks between noon and 1 pm and between 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm at all public swimming pools with effect from April 1 this year.

"These session breaks allow pool staff to carry out cleansing work twice a day to ensure a clean swimming environment and good water quality," the spokesman said.

"In order to cater for the needs of early morning and late evening swimmers, swimming pools in the New Territories are opened half an hour earlier to begin at 6.30 am and those in the urban are closed one hour later to end at 10 pm.

"Furthermore, the two session breaks enable the National Sports Association concerned and the swimming associations to use the lanes of the 50-metre pools and the training pools that have been cleaned for organising training programmes. This has enhanced the development of swimming and avoided any clashes with the public during the normal opening hours."

This measure has been widely publicised and well accepted by the public, he said.

The spokesman said that the Department would continue to work closely with various panels of the Legislative Council and various advisory bodies including the Sports Development Board, Arts Development Council, the Culture and Heritage Commission and Antiquities Advisory Board.

"We will continue to consult district councils and involve their members in all district leisure, sports and cultural matters," he added.

End/Thursday, July 13, 2000

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