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different from those of the Regional Council. Indiscriminate imitation can only give rise to poor effect that ruins the fine tradition of the past and downgrades the efficiency of the Urban Council. I am of the view that due respect must be given to the independent nature of the two municipal councils, and, to better serve the residents of the urban areas and the New Territories, suitable structures should be formulated for the two councils, taking into consideration their respective historical background and environment factors.
Regarding the relationship of the Urban Council with the Urban District Boards, the Green Paper suggests the need to improve the relationship between the Urban Council and the District Boards. It also proposes to have seats in the Urban Council for District Board members like the existing composition of the Regional Council, in order to strengthen the ties with the districts. I must say that this form of arrangement, instead of improving the communication UC and the districts, will only work to the detriment of the efficiency of the Urban Council.
A big council, or rather a council composed of members from various streams, is not equivalent to an efficiently and smoothly operated council. A proof can be found from the present Legislative Council which consists of officio and appointed members as well as those elected from functional constituencies and electoral colleges. For time to time, they argued over the conflicts of their own interests and commotion ensued.
Furthermore, in providing municipal services, the Urban Council will consider district-wide needs while catering to the whole territory in its work of the distribution of resources and the utilization of land. We therefore need to give a second thought to the provision of seats for District Board members who may, whenever conflicts of interests arise, even sacrifice the territory-wide interests in order to secure benefits for their own district.
It is the current practice of the Urban Council to have detailed consultation with the District Boards on the provision of various types of facilities and services. There are also elected Urban Council members in various districts who work for both the Urban Council and the District Boards. Thus, there are already adequate channels for communications. Moreover, the elected members of the UC are those directly elected by the residents from the relatively larger constituencies. They are by no means weaker than any District Board member in terms of their representation and understanding of their district.
The District Boards should not infer that they should also have representatives in the Urban Council on the grounds that some District Board members have seats in the Legislative Council.
The Urban Council has a hundred years experience in direct elections. The proposed indirect election of members to the Urban Council from the District Boards is indeed a big retrogressive arrangement, which complicates the structure of the Urban Council, disintegrates resources and affects the efficiency of the Council. Now, a good relationship is maintained between the appointed and elected members within the Council. They all make the best of their efforts to provide the urban services needed by the public. My point is that the existing composition of appointed and elected members of the Council should be retained such that the time-honoured good tradition of the council may not be affected.
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and elected members within the Council. They all make the best of their efforts to provide the urban services needed by the public. My point is that the existing composition of appointed and elected members of the Council should be retained such that the time-honoured good tradition of the council may not be affected.
The District Boards, on the other hand, are basically the consultative bodies at district level without any executive arm. In order to intensify their functions, the District Boards should therefore strengthen their consultative role, enhance their supervisory power in district affairs, and give more weight to their leadership role in the District Management Committees.
Finally, I give full support to the calls of the Governor and the Secretary for District Administration that other Government departments should pay heeds to the importance of the views of the District Boards which will then secure their well-deserved respect of the public and perform their functions satisfactorily.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman,
Three Features of the Urban Council in the Representative Government Before accepting the proposals on the future development of District Boards and the two Councils, I find it necessary to first understand the comparatively special and superior features of the Urban Council vis-a-vis the Legislative Council, District Boards and the Regional Council. It is cautious and wise only to make further development on this basis so as to comply with the mode of gradual and orderly development of a representative government.
At present, the Urban Council is comparatively superior in three aspects: (1) a democratic system of accountability, which has undergone constant changes and improvement in over a hundred years, (2) a sound and highly efficient planning and executive system, and (3) a high degree of autonomy and tight control in the use of money, so the Council can formulate long term development policies of great influence to provide updated services and facilities of high standard.
Democratic System of Accountability
Among the existing councils, the Urban Council is the first one to elect Councillors to represent public opinion through direct elections. The Sanitary Board, forerunner of the Urban Council, held the first direct election as early as 1887 through which two members were elected. After over a hundred years of gradual development, the number of directly elected Councillors has increased to fifteen, an equivalent of the number of members being appointed in accordance with their individual specialty.
Since the publication of the White Paper on District Administration in Hong Kong 1981, the Urban Council has replaced the original territory-wide election with geographical constituencies to elect its Councillors. Elected Councillors sit as ex-officio members in the Urban District Boards. Not only do they serve as a communication channel between the Urban Council and District Boards, but