HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
To provide one district library for every 200 000 of the population; To provide small or mobile libraries for densely populated or larger districts; to increase the stock of district libraries from 20 000 to 44 000 books;
To increase the stock of libraries to reach the target of 0.7 item per capita; 5 per cent will be audio-visual materials;
To raise the proportion of Chinese books to 80 per cent; that of English books will be 20 per cent;
To computerize library services to facilitate the finding, recording, borrowing and lending of books. (The Committee has started during the year to have the libraries open seven days a week)
The Committee hopes to reach the above targets before 1990. Meanwhile it will closely note the development in library services and try to reach the targets as early as possible.
Mr. Chairman, I support your motion.
(Miss Cecilia L. Y. YEUNG arrived at this point---2.45 p.m.)
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, more than a year has passed since the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Hong Kong's development, whether it be inside or outside the Urban Council, is significant to its future continuous progress. Hence, I would like to review today our work in the past year, especially areas such as finance, building of museums and capital work projects, and drawing from experience, put forward a few proposals. In addition, I would like to express my views on the Basic Law (about which the public are so deeply concerned), the formulation of government policies and political development.
On the financial side, the new financial package which is the result of the hard work of the Joint Working Party formed by the Council and the government will enable us to reach more balanced budgets in the coming years. Worth commending are the efforts of members of the Joint Working Party and the Urban Services Department staff concerned. The crux of the new package lies in the new apportionment of rates and other arrangements between the Central Government and the Council. While I am aware that at present rates are our main source of income, I do not think in future we should repeatedly resort to increase of rates as a way to make good our deficits. We should try every means to broaden our sources of income and reduce expenditure, as well as to further improve productivity and cost-effectiveness, in order to provide services that are good value for money.
As to reducing expenditure, during the past 3 years, thanks to cooperation from and hard work of the Urban Services Department, the Council has succeeded, through management studies and revision of policies and procedures, in improving productivity and cost-effectiveness. While the Urban Services Department has, during this period, deleted nearly 2 000 posts, urban services and facilities have not decreased but actually grown. Improved ways of collecting refuse alone have saved us millions of dollars. The public should appreciate our efforts at economizing, but perhaps because we work silently, they are not very much aware of our achievements. These achievements, of course, have in no way led to complacency. On the contrary, we have set up Working Parties and a Steering Group to further study ways of economizing and efficient management. We hope to carry out the work in a more systematic and effective way. Yesterday, a few of my colleagues mentioned some means of reduction.
On the broadening of income sources, I would like to put forward the following proposals:
(1) Privatization of some of the urban services.
I agree with the idea that we should consider contracting out some of our services to private enterprises, provided that the standard is maintained and it is more economical to do so and that the following three conditions are fulfilled:
(i) an effective monitoring system to ensure that the required standard is reached;
(ii) a contingency plan to mobilize staff in times of need to ensure continuity of services;
(iii) existing staff are assigned to other duties.
(2) Most of our facilities are conveniently situated in the urban areas, as for example, the Central Market. If, in the re-development or building of facilities, we are allowed to cooperate with developers and increase the gross floor area for letting to government departments and private firms, there will be an increase in income and better utilization of land.
Under the present Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements drawn up between the Council and government, we are not allowed to do this. I hope the Council will continue discussing with the government the feasibility of this proposal.
Planning of the first Science Museum in Hong Kong, to enhance the knowledge of science and technology of the public, has started since several years ago. Last year we were able to obtain a pledge in principle from the Jockey Club to donate $200 million to our building costs, but with objections from the Governor, the donation was withdrawn. Now we hope that we can construct a space museum. I do not intend to discuss here who is right or who is wrong. The incident, however, does reflect an unfortunate fact: there is inadequate communication between the Central Government and the Council, and the government does not fully consult or discuss with the Council before it makes a decision. The imminent dissolution of the recently established Municipal Services Branch is testimony to my point. Hence I would like to call upon the government to improve communication with the Council and fully consult or discuss with it when formulating central policies affecting the Council. This will enable us to better fulfill our functions and provide better services for the public.
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