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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English): -Ladies and Gentlemen, the Council will now come to order.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 14th June 1977 were confirmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-The Council should always be concerned with communication. To listen to the people on what they expect of the Council in matters within its ambit as well as to tell them what and why the Council is doing what it does. The two are indeed a single exercise. Its purpose is to bring about a better understanding between the people and the authorities through the genuine exchange of opinion and information.
There are things the Council must do by law and there are others the Council wants to do on its own initiative. Whatever it may be, what the Council does is intended to make living conditions better for all. But it may not always be generally understood to be so. Hence, all the more need for the Council to put its case in clear terms and to explain its aim and purpose in earnest. Evidently, it must have the means to do so properly.
In recent years, more so than before, the Council has struck out in many new directions to communicate with the people. All the time, it strives to win the people's understanding by every means it has, not only because the public has a right to know but also to counter wilful distortion of facts and insidious attempts to misrepresent objectives. In an open society every major policy in particular should be capable of being discussed in public in a fair manner with the common good as the sole criterion. Let the Council explore the ways open to it to achieve this purpose.
There have been many exhibitions in the City Hall and also in different parts of the urban areas, and they continue to be held. Some are static; others, mobile. Some of a specialized nature; others, ranging comprehensively. Notably, in addition to an unending variety of cultural, health education and public sanitation presentations, all popularly attended, there was URBCO 74 with its striking results. Perhaps a different exhibition on such a scale might be staged again. Indeed, one may well be in the offing.
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Many colourful posters are put up to announce an impressive diversity of activities, some never before undertaken here to entertain the public in ten different districts, and also to create a better cultural environment altogether. Booklets have been published to attract wider interest in local plant and animal life and also catalogues to commemorate cultural exhibitions of note. Moreover, apart from museum newsletters and also the City Hall's art news and calendar of events, the Council now publishes its own monthly bi-lingual newspaper for distribution among its numerous staff and also to many organizations, here and abroad, to disseminate news of what the Council does and to rally interest among the public for all its ambitious plans for a better Hong Kong.
Talks by staff to selected groups on special subjects are given regularly to spread knowledge on health and sanitation, food handling and pest control, and a number of other civic subjects besides. Furthermore, lectures are given and films shown in the museums; also, extension activities are organized in the libraries. Films are produced for local television screening, often during prime time. One such film was awarded an international prize in Asia. Radio and television are used regularly.
All along the line more is planned. But, in the end, it is still Members themselves who are the best means of communicating with the public by word and deed. For this reason, every opportunity is taken to enable select committee policies and activities to be made known through their chairmen. Every month, questions are put and answered here in this chamber and statements are also made.
There is thus a continuing search for new ways to maintain a worthwhile dialogue with all who are sincerely committed to Hong Kong. And so, every means is used to tell the Council story in simple terms for it has no ambition other than to work together with all concerned groups and citizens for the orderly progress of Hong Kong and the well-being of its people. Yet, all the time it is by what Members say and do that the Council's image is impressed upon the public mind. And, their own credibility is established in the process.
(Messrs. Kenneth T. C. LO, Peter C. K. CHAN and SHUM Choi-sang arrived at this point.)
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of June, 1977.
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