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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
special attention to two points: First, any reforms or expansion should not be made at the expense of efficiency. Second, while working out our policies, we should note the differences in the traditions, way of living and social structure between the urban areas and the New Territories. There should be flexibility rather than uniformity of policies.
(ii) As regards the extended jurisdiction of the Urban Council, I would suggest that, as a first step, all government functions concerning public health, environmental hygiene and those of a similar nature undertaken by other departments, such as recreation, cultural activities, country parks, environment protection, television and entertainment, and medicine and health should be included in the terms of reference of the Urban Council.
(iii) The number of appointed unofficial members should be reduced gradually until three-fourths of the seats are filled by elected members.
(iv) More elected District Board members should be appointed to the Urban Council in the near future, ideally in 1986 after the third election of the District Boards.
(v) District urban services management committees chaired by elected Urban Councillors of the respective districts and comprising local residents by invitation should be formed. These committees will supervise the urban services, manage part of the facilities, and recommend on priority of services at district level, as well as advise on the overall policies of the Council. I believe such committees will be more effective channels of monitoring and consultation than the District Boards for the following reasons: First, being answerable to the Urban Council, these committees could function more directly, promptly and effectively in matters of management, supervision and communication. Secondly, if the District Boards would expand to play a greater part in the formulation of policies of district interest and in consultation in regard to central government policies, it would be desirable to have a committee in a district to specifically deal with the urban services.
Conclusion
The political reforms I have proposed are by no means perfect democratic practices. For one thing, I have suggested that to a certain extent, the appointed unofficial members should be retained though their number be reduced gradually. I agree that reforms should be introduced step by step because we simply cannot have elected members starting from tomorrow, taking into consideration the well-being of the society as a whole and the opinions of the various sectors, and without causing social unrest. I believe that my proposals are feasible as transitional means to introduce the people of Hong Kong to democracy. If put into practice, these reforms, which are the best assurance of the future, will in time prove to be government's best contribution to the people of Hong Kong.
We are now facing a very important moment and we have to be co-operative in order to prepare ourselves for the above-mentioned reforms unless we are not responsible. Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—We adjourn for 5 minutes and we carry on at 3:53 p.m.
(Mr. B. A. BERNACCHI, Dr. Denny HUANG and Mr. Joseph CHAN left after the recess.)
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—I would like to resume the debate at 4:00 p.m.
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, before I begin my speech, firstly a few words on my observations. This is my first attendance at this Annual Debate and there are so many senior people with me, I feel that I am only a new-born baby. During the five minutes interval, I asked a senior member for some tips, so I better concentrate my speech on some practical problems. I am going to speak on the problems facing the lower strata of society and will then proceed to analyse the causes and put forward some solutions.
(1) Problems facing the residents in the 80's
In our society, where social security is wanting, unemployment inevitably poses a threat to the ordinary residents from time to time. For example, legislation governing the termination of employment is just too lax, making it possible for employers to sack or lay off their employees by taking advantage of the loopholes. Furthermore, cases of non-payment of salaries arising from bankruptcies have been very common. As unemployment relief is placed under the public assistance scheme, workers out of jobs must register with the Labour Department and can only get some meagre public assistance in the month following if they are still unemployed. So unemployment is indeed a heavy blow to those suffering it.
The standard of living has been declining because of inflation. According to government statistics, compared with the figures for the same period of the previous year, wages earned by workers in March 1983 showed a superficial increase of 3%, which, given the rate of inflation, in fact represented a minus growth. It can therefore be seen that the workers' living standard is really going downhill.
Social facilities are grossly inadequate, particularly in the matter of housing. The rents of private houses always stay at a high level and public housing, limited by the allocation of resources, falls far short of demand. Although 35,000 units (including those under the Home Ownership Scheme) are being built annually, there are still over one million people waiting for public housing.
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