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provision of study facilities is in fact one for the Education Department rather than the Urban Council. Whilst we of course wish to assist, I must make a plea that the Director of Education should be the person to make such facilities available, particularly in the evenings when there must be many hundreds of classrooms which could be used for this purpose.
Markets and Street Traders
A number of points were made concerning the problems of markets and street traders. Since the Council's Working Party to Review on Hawker and Related Policies is expected to report its findings to the Council shortly, I do not wish to anticipate the detailed recommendations of the Working Party.
Recreation
Turning to recreational matters, Mr. Kenneth Lo raised the question of use of reservoirs for active recreation. I understand that this is not a simple matter as there is obviously not only a problem arising from currents caused by the inflow of water during wet periods, but also water outflows which are underwater and potentially dangerous for recreational users. However, we are not dropping this idea but are seeking workable solutions.
Mr. YOUNG asked about the provision of a running track for West Kowloon and I am delighted to report that an 8-lane modern synthetic track will be provided in the Cheung Sha Wan Sports Ground. Construction is expected to commence next month with completion expected by April 1987.
Mr. YOUNG also made a point on the provision of electrically-heated barbecue pits on a trial basis, and this is being considered.
Finance
The question of the Council's future financial situation was raised by many members during the Annual Debate.
The Council's finances have made a lot of headlines lately, and it is quite true that we are all concerned about our financial future... but let me make one or two points very clearly.
Firstly, the Council will not be asking for any increase in its share of the rate in the coming financial year. Ratepayers can take that as a firm assurance concerning the coming 1985-86 financial year.
Secondly, what we are all concerned about is our financial position after 1985-86 because it costs a lot of money to provide the services and facilities that the Council supplies to the people of Hong Kong, and the combined effects of inflation, plus rising construction costs for important civic projects, are steadily eroding our financial reserves. We, the Council, definitely do not want to reduce services, because we are proud of our city, as I am sure all of us living here are, and we want to keep Hong Kong the way it is, and of course improve
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on it where we can do so. What we are constantly looking for is to find more ways to increase productivity and achieve better efficiency, and I can assure the public that in everything the Council does, the thought of getting value for money remains uppermost in our minds.
But the plain fact is that our reserves are gradually shrinking and possibly by 1986-87 we could be getting into a critical financial position. We have been well aware of this likelihood since the second half of last year at which time we started a dialogue with the Financial Secretary to see what should be done. We have decided to accept the proposal by the Financial Secretary made to us in December last to participate in a Working Party to go further into the matter of the Council's longer term financial needs.
The Future
I now turn to another concern among some members of the public, and that has to do with what the future holds in store for all of us. I have advocated confidence in Hong Kong's future for some years already and I believe that following the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration last December, the future of Hong Kong is even more assured, and that Hong Kong will continue well into the 21st century as an international financial and trading centre, and an international port and communication centre.
A Hong Kong Identity
We who have achieved so much—and who now have the chance to achieve even much more should not only be proud of our great city, but should also be proud of our many achievements.
Let us then develop a community spirit based on our past achievement and let the world know that we as Hongkongers are justifiably proud of our city and intend to guide its destiny as China's gateway economically and culturally—to the rest of the international community, and thus to play a significant role in China's modernization programme. In so doing, we will equally be ensuring that Hong Kong and her 5.5 million people will remain a stable and prosperous community, and will be governing ourselves under the rule of law, preserving a high living standard and upholding social justice and respect for individual freedom.
(Messrs. Augustine S. K. CHUNG, Edmund W. H. CHOW and Frederick K. K. FUNG arrived during the Chairman's address.)
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of January 1985.