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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meetings held on 11 November and 9 December 1986, confirmed.
## 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 November 1986.
## MOTIONS
1. THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved the following motion:-
'THAT the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1987/88 and the list of works which the Council proposes to undertake during the next financial year be approved for transmission to the Governor in accordance with Section 39 of the Urban Council Ordinance.'
He said (in English):-I move the adoption of today's Motion on our budget, which is otherwise known as the 'Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure', with accompanying list of capital works for the 1987/88 financial year which will commence on 1 April 1987.
Like every other Member of this Council I am very happy at the continued turnaround in our financial position—even though we shall end the current financial year with a rather modest surplus of about $45 million.
This welcome turnaround is to a certain extent the result of strict fiscal measures, value-for-money exercises, the setting up of Working Parties to examine more cost-effective methods for dealing with several of the Council's major areas of activity, and of course the introduction of modern management techniques and technology.
However, we have not, so to speak, turned off the tap blindly—rather we have fine-tuned our expenditure to give the greatest benefits to the largest number of people. In accordance with this line of thinking, we will spend this year a record amount of about $330 million on capital works projects to upgrade and increase the number of our facilities, venues and services for the people of Hong Kong. Many projects big and small—each of which makes a positive contribution to Hong Kong's lifestyle—have come on stream or are about to do so, whether they be Multi-storey Complexes, Indoor Complexes, Indoor Games Halls, Parks, Cooked-food Centres, Sports Grounds or humble Refuse Collection Points. The current 5-year capital works programme envisages an overall commitment on capital projects in the region of $2.7 billion with actual expenditure to be incurred in the region of $1.7 billion for the period 1986/87 to 1990/91.
Another major reason for the significant turnaround in our finances is the successful conclusion of the negotiations on the new funding package agreed between the Government and Council towards the end of the last financial year—the objective of which was to ensure, for the present, the Council's financial security and enable it to maintain a balanced budget at least for the next few years.
I am pleased to be able to report that the success of these negotiations has been borne out by the results—the Council will record a surplus both this year and next, thus enabling us to continue and indeed improve on the excellent standard of services and facilities provided for urban dwellers.
A further point which I would like to report to members is that the proposed date of 1 April for implementation of phase 1 of the on-line financial management information system will be achieved. This system will enable us to obtain considerably enhanced financial data on which informed decisions can be made, thus ensuring better and more effective utilization of our available financial resources. Without going into specifics, considerably more detailed information on the allocation of our resources together with the actual revenue and expenditure by select committee, activity, cost centre, etc. should be readily available. It is also intended during phase 2 to introduce micro-computer-based applications in such areas as costing, financial modelling, budgets, forecasting and so on.
I would also like to place on record the Council's appreciation for the work of the Chief Treasury Accountant, Mr. MANNING, and his staff for their hard work in producing this year's budget.
In the absence of our hardworking Chairman of the Finance Select Committee, we have to invite the Vice-chairman, Urban Council, Mrs. Tu, to read his speech and second the motion.
MRS. ELSIE TU on behalf of MR. WALTER M. SULKE, CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded the motion (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I speak on behalf of Mr. SULKE.
In seconding the motion following your speech recommending adoption of next year's budget, I want to heartily endorse your congratulations to the USD, and our Chief Treasury Accountant in particular, for preparing these figures and getting them out on time. Speaking as Chairman of the Finance Select
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