LCQ8: Operation and usage rates of public resource centres
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Question:
There are views pointing out that a number of government departments and public organisations have set up facilities known as "resource centres" or "information centres" in various districts across the territory, but the public awareness and usage rates of some of the facilities are relatively low, resulting in public services not being used to their full functionality. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) apart from the Parent/Relative Resource Centres subvented by the Social Welfare Department, the Patient Resource Centres under the Hospital Authority and the Computer and Information Centres set up in public libraries, of the current total number of facilities known as "resource centres" or "information centres" set up by various government departments and public organisations; among such facilities, the number of those requiring users to make prior appointments before entering the centres or using the services provided there, together with a list of the names of such centres and the specific reasons why prior appointments are required;
(2) of the annual user counts for the "resource centres" or "information centres" referred to in (1); whether the Government has regularly compiled and published the entry or usage statistics for these centres with a view to assessing their service effectiveness and cost-effectiveness; if so, of the entry or usage statistics for the centres in the past three years; if not, whether the Government will consider putting in place a unified mechanism for statistics compilation and publication;
(3) given that the areas of some information centres mainly used for publicity and exhibition are relatively large, whether the Government will consider opening up part of the space in these centres and providing basic furnishings, such as tables and chairs, to be used by the public for brief rest or self-learning, so as to enhance the practical usefulness of the facilities and their usage rates; if so, of the details and the timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and
(4) with the increasing prevalence of AI and digital information, whether the Government has assessed the need for the continued operation of physical "resource centres" or "information centres", and the possibility of their services or functions being replaced by online platforms or AI technologies; if so, of the timetable for a review and the consolidation plan; if not, whether the Government will undertake such a review?
Reply:
President,
In consultation with the relevant policy bureaux and departments (B/Ds), the consolidated reply to the question raised by Professor the Hon Lau Chi-pang is as follows:
According to information provided by B/Ds, apart from the Parent/Relative Resource Centres subvented by the Social Welfare Department, the Patient Resource Centres under the Hospital Authority and the Computer and Information Centres set up in public libraries, there are currently 26 facilities operated by B/Ds and public organisations under their purview in the name of "resource centre" or "information centre". Some of these facilities offer appointment services to facilitate arrangement of visits, participation in guided tours or use of specific services, and to ensure proper and safe venue and crowd management, etc. Details are set out at Annex.
B/Ds should make good use of their properties and facilities, and will regularly evaluate the service efficacy and cost-effectiveness of their resources. As the policy objectives, target service groups, and facility configurations of various "resource centres" or "information centres" vary, B/Ds/public organisations will determine the most effective and cost-efficient operational and spatial utilisation modes based on their service scope, core functions, and actual circumstances for the provision of public services and activity spaces for the citizens. B/Ds/public organisations may also publish relevant information or data on the Open Data Portal.
Meanwhile, the Digital Policy Office (DPO) has been promoting the development of digital government by providing various digital support services and centralised platforms to B/Ds, such as the iAM Smart platform, Chatbot-as-a-Service, GovHK portal, and digitisation of public service applications. These initiatives facilitate B/Ds in supplementing, optimising, or substituting the existing services of their "resource centres" or "information centres" with digital or online options. That said, some facilities may still require offline or physical operations, for example to display large exhibits, offer interactive experiences and facilitate community access to services. B/Ds will continue to implement various measures to optimise the management and operation of their "resource centres" or "information centres," while the DPO will continue to assist B/Ds in developing and making good use of various digital government services.
Ends/Wednesday, June 3, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:34
Issued at HKT 12:34
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