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it would unnecessarily interfere with Hong Kong's prosperity and indeed Hong Kong's contribution to China. As a headmistress, she considered that schools had a very important part to play in educating future generations for political changes which would take place over the next several years and that the Urban Council also had a part to play in this. She gave a specific example where she considered that the Museum of Science and Technology now under active planning should display inventions and innovations formulated by Hong Kong scientists.
Miss Victoria CHAN used the opportunity to urge more action on anti-smoking campaigns generally and urged more all-round efforts be put into this subject and considered that too little was done to discourage smoking in Hong Kong although the current fall in cigarette sale was heartening. One other member of the Chan clan may of course dissent.
Dr. Ronald LEUNG dealt with the problem of collecting refuse and in particular the general public's difficulties with the collection of junk and the problems of the collection of accumulated refuse on illegal canopies which in some areas caused great problems, and urged the Council to take a more active role in assisting owners' corporation in dealing with these problems. This is an age-old complaint stretching back to the first resettlement blocks as Mrs. Tu, Peter CHAN, Hilton and I well remember.
He further dealt with matters concerning the maintenance of Urban Council-run facilities and the role of Architectural Services Department in performing the duties for the Council at, I might say, Council's expense. He suggested also that a few technical personnel should be employed by Urban Services Department to coordinate minor repairs works. I am sure that this matter will be looked into by the Council over the next few months.
Mr. LEE Chik-yuet gave a review of the work of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee over the past year. He had some criticisms in the way rentals for market stalls were set, as the rents were by and large based on valuations by the Rating and Valuation Department, which appeared to be reasonably unrefined when taken stall by stall. He also commented factually on the role of the two Senior Police Officers who had been seconded to the Council to report on the General Duties Team.
Mr. LEE then turned his attention to the visual arts and supported the suggestion for building a Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, containing workshops for paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography etc. and thought that this should be as far as possible a public facility so that the man in the street could see how the artists worked.
Mr. LEE then gave his views on the political developments for Hong Kong and he thought that in particular after 1997 not less than half of the legislature should be returned by direct elections but this should be achieved progressively from 1988 onwards. He was also of the opinion that the existence and role of several hundreds of advisory committees should be reviewed. He considered
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that a review of the Central Government Administration was far more urgent and important than a review of district administration.
Mr. LEE then went on in poetic vein and supported the motion in verse which I believe is the first time such has been done in this Council. Perhaps next year we could have the motion in verse also and a sub-committee may be required under the chairmanship of our resident poet, Mr. Walter SULKE. The Secretary of the Urban Council suggested the following:
The Statement of Aims as today proposed strays far from our usual borders As our worthy Chairman is not opposed to stretching the Standing Orders
Mrs. Nellie FONG has dealt with the departure of various senior Government officials over the last 12 months and rumoured the departure of others and urged the Government to try to retain the services of some of the more senior officials to assist the new Governor in his difficult task.
Mrs. FONG further went on to express her views on the question of direct elections and the effect on various facets of Hong Kong's life and indeed whether such elections would produce what was really wanted. She suggested that a mad rush towards direct elections should be avoided and perhaps more thought should be given before any precipitate action was taken.
Mr. TONG Kam-biu gave his suggestions on what kind of person the new Governor should be and what policies he should direct his attention to on his appointment. He also stressed the desirability of continuing with the 3-tier system of Government. If any changes needed to be made, it should be by combining the second and third tier and giving the new body power in medical, housing and education matters in addition. He then gave his support to the introduction of a Central Provident Fund.
Mr. Samuel WONG outlined the new recreational projects which have come on stream over the past Council year and gave details of the major projects which would be opened over the next two years or so. He also mentioned the very exciting plans for the development of the Victoria Barracks area and the plans for the imaginative re-development of Kowloon Park by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club on which work has now started. He also stressed the fact that the Recreation Select Committee had been bringing the various District Boards into a more active role by inviting them to join in with the Committee's monthly visits to district facilities and to exchange views on site.
Mr. Lo King-man gave Council's, and indeed the whole of Hong Kong's cultural community, a timely warning that there was grave danger that Hong Kong would soon be over-providing cultural venues, and the Council would have to attempt to fill some 22,000 seats daily. This excluded the Hong Kong Coliseum and Queen Elizabeth Stadium, which can be regarded as sports and entertainment venues. I myself share this concern, particularly in view of District Board demands for more district-based cultural facilities which I fear, if built, will be so many extremely expensive white elephants.