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In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs Betty Fung, together with the Deputy Director (Culture), Mr Chung Ling-hoi, and the Assistant Director (Libraries and Development), Mr Lee Yuk-man, met Legislative Council members Mr Wong Kwok-hing and Dr Pan Pey-chyou yesterday (December 2) to listen to their views on the future manpower arrangements for public libraries.
The spokesman said the issue had been examined by the department for several years and the department was now ready to consult stakeholders and staff concerned. The meeting between the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services and the two LegCo members from the Federation of Trade Unions yesterday was just part of the department's consultation process with stakeholders who had expressed interest in library development and staffing matters.
He stressed that the Director had not raised the issue of Hong Kong's bid for the 2023 Asian Games during the meeting.
"The proposed manpower arrangements for public libraries, including the creation of civil service posts, if any, have nothing to do with the proposed bid for the Asian Games nor will they be used to gain LegCo members' support for the Asian Games bid," the spokesman added.
Ends/Friday, December 3, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:22
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