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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
2. MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor Licences) (Specification of Fees) (Urban Council Area) Notice 1990 be made under section 6(5) of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, Cap. 109.'
He said (in English): Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:
The Dutiable Commodities (Liquor Licences) (Specification of Fees) (Urban Council Area) Notice 1990 made under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance now before the Council will, when adopted, increase the fees for liquor and club liquor licences by 4%.
The existing fees for liquor and club liquor licences were last revised in June 1987. There has been no increase in these licences for 1988-89. Under the existing Council's policy, all fees for licences should be designed to cover administrative costs by not more than a reasonable margin. If these fees remain unchanged, the Liquor Licensing Board will incur a deficit of about $81,000 in the licensing and control of these businesses for the year 1989-90.
The purpose of the amending By-laws is to help meet the annual cost of administering the licensing and control system of these premises and to maintain a reasonable standard of hygiene.
The increases have been carefully considered by the Liquor Licensing Board and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council, and I am satisfied that due weight has been given to all implications of the proposals.
Mr. Chairman, I beg to move.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE LIQUOR LICENSING Board, seconded the motion (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
3. THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved the following motion:- "THAT this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1990-91.'
He said (in English):—I rise to move the motion standing in my name.
First of all, I'd say, welcome to the new decade. Looking back on the past ten years of change and solid achievement by the Council.
I think we can look with confidence ahead, especially if we concentrate on the tangible objectives, such as completing projects now in the pipeline, it may help to relieve the tension as 1997 approaches.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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The well-known Scottish poet Robert BURNS in his poem 'Ode to a Mouse', referred to the future as, 'forward though I canna see, I guess and fear'. I suppose that phrase in a way sums up the misgivings on the future by many of us in Hong Kong. Otherwise why the steady migration to other countries?
Following on the tragic events in June, this Council initiated a back up to the OMELCO approach to the British Government, by writing directly to some 470 municipal authorities throughout the United Kingdom, asking for their support on the right of abode issue. In reply, most pointed out that national political matters were ultra vires and outside their jurisdiction. In spite of this, a substantial number of Councils, after debating the matter, wrote to their Members of Parliament expressing sympathy with Hong Kong in its dilemma, and fear for the future.
The package now partially unveiled by the British Government does promise a measure of security, but alas only to a selected few. Hopefully, the process of selection will not become too painful and a divisive factor at a time when we need to be united.
At the beginning of the last decade, the Council numbered some 24. This was increased to 30 in 1983. With the addition of District Board members last April, we now number 40. I would like to thank all a comprehensive cross-section of civic-minded, politically conscious men and women, able to tackle the more complicated tasks that lie ahead.
In the Governor's recent address to the present LegCo session, reference was made, amongst other things, to several large projects. One a great new central reclamation, which is no doubt intended to block off the harbour view from these Chambers. But seriously, the opportunity would arise to re-develop the entire City Hall area into a new complex, encompassing Departmental and Council requirements, in conjunction with commercial development. A fascinating exercise in civic re-construction for this Council.
Meanwhile, the alterations to this Chamber serve our purpose well and I am sure that we all are much happier here than if we had been shunted off to temporary quarters elsewhere. In this connection, I congratulate Members of the Working Party involved, and their professional advisers, for an excellent compromise done at relatively low cost in comparison with the very expensive alternative of moving elsewhere.
The decade also saw the birth of our sister Council, the Regional Council. Not without a few teething troubles to sort out our respective roles, particularly the most recent one of the forthcoming demise of the Municipal Services Branch. However, I believe that with compromise on both sides, a mutually acceptable solution will be found.
We note with some envy that the Regional Council claws the full rate into its coffers. A point to be considered when we make our appeal for additional revenue to cover burgeoning costs. The major factor in these costs has of course been the incremental effect on the monthly wage bill of the Urban Services
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