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3. MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Abattoirs (Amendment) By-laws 1984 be made under section 77 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132
He said (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:
'RESOLVED that the Abattoirs (Amendment) By-laws 1984, be made under section 77 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132 The purpose of the amendment by-laws is to provide for an increase in fees for the slaughter of animals. With effect from 1 April 1984, all slaughter fees at the Urban Council's two abattoirs at Cheung Sha Wan and Kennedy Town will be increased by 10 per cent.
The revised fees will bring in about $132 million to meet part of the abattoirs estimated running costs of $148 million, but there will be an estimated deficit of about $16 million for the financial year 1984–85.
The cost of running the abattoirs at Kennedy Town and Cheung Sha Wan has increased considerably over the past year. One of the main factors in the rise in operating costs is wages for staff who are required to work both day and night shifts to supply fresh meat for the trade, especially in the early mornings. Another reason is increased maintenance costs for equipment and of the actual buildings.
It is not expected that the revision in slaughter fees will affect meat prices significantly as the maximum increase in retail prices of pork and beef is equivalent to about 11 cents a kg (7 cents a catty) and 21 cents a kg (13 cents a catty) respectively.
Sir, I beg to move.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT, Vice-Chairman of the MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT Committee, seconded (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as Vice-Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee, I rise to second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
4. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved the following motion:
'RESOLVED that this Council expresses its views on the desirability of having only one policy-making body to direct and co-ordinate the services at present being provided by the Urban Services Department for the whole territory of Hong Kong.'
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He said (in English):—I rise to move the adoption of the motion on today's order paper:
'RESOLVED that this Council expresses its views on the desirability of having only one policy-making body to direct and co-ordinate the services at present being provided by the Urban Services Department for the whole territory of Hong Kong.'
The motion is so worded that it will enable individual members of the Council to speak out with a clear conscience on what they believe to be in the best interests for the whole territory of Hong Kong in the long run, concerning the provision of a range of environmental services, culture and entertainment, and recreation and sport.
I recall a speech which I gave on 25 August 1959–25 years ago-to a Rotary Club on the subject 'Enlarge the Scope of the Urban Council', from which I quote the following paragraph:
'I have no doubt that the boundaries of the Urban Council can be administratively extended to cover parts of the New Territories for the purpose of bringing to bear the experience and facilities of the Council to improve public health conditions there, particularly in industrial townships such as Tsuen Wan. There is no reason too why the New Territories should not have one or more representatives sitting on the Urban Council. After all, many Urban Council voters are resident in the New Territories.'
For the past 25 years the Urban Council has been seeking to provide such services for the New Territories, only to be restricted from so doing by the Central Government, which is now proposing to set up a separate council in the New Territories to do the same work.
This subject has engaged the minds of Urban Councillors ever since the proposal for a second council was announced by the Chief Secretary in Legislative Council on 15 February 1984. So the debate will revolve on whether there should be two regional councils for Hong Kong or whether there should be a territory-wide Council as advocated by the Urban Council over the past quarter century.
Furthermore, members will have to consider whether or not the Government's proposal will have any bearing on our future—administratively and constitutionally—before 1997.
Administratively, one serious problem which will arise from the Urban Council's point of view will be the likely drain of experienced Urban Services Department directorate and other key personnel servicing the urban areas to service a second council in the New Territories as and when it is set up.
Constitutionally, the proposed second council could be regarded in some quarters as having very much a bearing on 1997. Also, to what degree would the