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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. RONNIE M. C. WONG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded the motion (in English):----Mr. Chairman, I would like to second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
2. DR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, Moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Public Swimming Pools (Urban Council) (Amendment) By-laws 1990 be made under section 42 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
He said (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, I rise on the motion standing in my name:-
'RESOLVED that the Public Swimming Pools (Urban Council) (Amendment) By-laws 1990 be made under section 42 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
The purpose of the amendment to the By-laws is to introduce the following hire charges for the use of the new electronic scoreboard and the function room at Kowloon Park Swimming Pool Complex with effect from 1 April 1990.
(i) Electronic Scoreboard
(a) Normal rate at $175 per hour;
(b) Commercial rate $1,750 per hour; and
(c) Use of the Scoreboard to display advertisements at $140 per minute.
(ii) Function Room
Use of whole and half of the function room at $80 and $40 per hour respectively.
The operating cost for the function room is estimated to be low. However, despite the introduction of the hire charges for the use of the new electronic scoreboard, the Council will still be subsidizing 75 percent of its operating costs, and the deficit in 1990/91 is estimated at $0.58 million.
Sir, I beg to move.
MR. RONNIE M. C. WONG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, Seconded the motion (in English): Mr. Chairman, it is my pleasure to second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
309
3. MR. PETER C. K. CHAN moved the following motion:-
'MOVED that this Council express its views on the Hong Kong political structure, and the Legislative Council constituencies and election processes for 1991 that may affect the future of this Council.'
He said (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, in 1967 I first participated in the Urban Council election for a seat. At that time, the entire Hong Kong and Kowloon Region was one big constituency to elect five members to the Urban Council. At that election, fifteen candidates had participated in the election and the first five candidates became Urban Councillors. I was ranked seventh so I was not elected as an Urban Councillor. In 1969, the number of seats was increased to six and since I got the fifth place so I won the election and ever since then, all elections involved Hong Kong, Kowloon and the NT area as one single constituency. The first five or six candidates would win and one advantage of this system is that each candidate only needs to get a certain number of polls. As long as they have sufficient votes within the first five, they would win and they did not necessarily have to be the first one. In 1983, a change in very small constituencies took place and I ran my election in Kowloon City. You had to get the first place if you wanted to be elected as an Urban Councillor. Regarding this major change, it was a great challenge to all elected members and some of us had dropped out of the election races. There were a lot of new candidates running for election and this was of course a good thing. Now Hong Kong is facing a direct election in 1991 for the Legislative Council. In the case of my constituency, only those who get the first and second place could win and the third one would lose as the constituency is a very small one. Whether the Legislative Council constituency should be big or small, is a matter of different opinion. Actually, I had experienced both kinds of constituency be it large or small. If you are a capable political talent, you would not be afraid of whether the constituency is large or small. Regarding campaigning efforts, some people think that in a small constituency, it would be easier for them to liaise and have closer contact with the general public. In general, large or small constituency has its own merits or demerits. We all know for certain that there will be eighteen directly elected seats for Legislative Council next year. Are we going to divide the entire Hong Kong into six constituencies each electing three seats or nine constituencies each returning two seats or eighteen constituencies each returning 1 seat? Which option should be adopted is of course once again a matter of different opinion. But if you ask me to choose among the three, maybe I would like to take the middle of the road approach i.e. nine constituencies each returning two seats to Legislative Council may be acceptable to me. One thing stimulates me. In particular, when we discussed the Draft Basic Law last October, the most important factor that would affect Hong Kong's stability and prosperity is that the political development in Hong Kong should converge with the Basic Law. As we are aware that next year we are going to have eighteen directly elected seats on Legislative Council and later on it is going to be increased to twenty which I think converges with the Basic Law and this is going to benefit Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. Whether we adopt six...