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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Mr. John FAN Kam-ping was appointed to the Council in 1985 and he has put a great deal of efforts in the MUS S/C and he has chaired the Working Group on Leisure Pools. The Council has recently approved funds for modification and building of a major new leisure pool, much of the results are due to Mr. FAN's hard work.
Mr. TONG Kam-biu has been with the Council since 1983 and he has served the Council in many capacities. His major contribution has been as the Chairman of the Joint Keep Hong Kong Clean Committee where he has worked hard to make Hong Kong cleaner and a better place to live.
Mr. LAM Chak-piu has likewise been with the Council since 1983 and has not offered himself again for election. He has served the Council in many capacities, more recently as the Vice-Chairman of the MST S/C but has shown a great deal of interest in the LIB S/C, and in particular has a close infinitude with the Council's various performing companies.
Dr. Philip Kwok was first appointed to the Council in 1980 and has for a number of years been the Chairman of the MUS S/C. It is during his chairmanship that we have seen the Science Museum come to fruition, the structure of the Museum of Art completed, the extension of the Museum of History reach an advanced stage and the replacement and refurbishment of the Space Museum exhibits also reaching an advanced stage of completion. Philip's good humour will be missed as will his ability to deal expeditiously with the business of the MUS S/C.
Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN is a long standing member having first been elected to this body in 1969. His achievements are so many that they would be difficult to list. However, while he has chaired the REC S/C over the past year, his major contribution for many years was chairman of the LLB which duty he performed in his own individualistic style including taking Members to the Wanchai bars. Peter is a Chinese opera performer of repute and he also claims to be a tennis player of outstanding skill although some would question this. Peter is in fact a man with no malice in his soul. He has a big heart and he will be missed by all councillors and staff likewise.
We now come to our longest continuously serving member, Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN. Hilton was first elected to this Council in 1957. He was the Council's Vice-Chairman during the period 1973-75 and 1979-81 and was the Council's Chairman from 1981–86. 34 years is a long time to give to any organization and the Urban Council will really no longer be the same place without Hilton being around. Most of us were very surprised to see him not stand for election but the public cannot really expect people to serve them indefinitely and for most people, 34 years is a whole working life time. We will, of course, see Hilton around as he is still very much a man about town.
Now we come to the last but certainly not least, Mr. Gerry FORSGATE, our current Chairman. Gerry has served the Council since 1965 and is the longest serving appointed member on the Council and probably the longest serving appointed member ever. He has proved an excellent Chairman of the Council. He has allowed members to get on with their duties with the minimum of interference but has always been willing to give guidance where he thinks this is necessary and avail to all for consultation. He has been in many ways a father figure to the Council, and in fact rarely ever lets visitors out of his office without showing them a photograph of his 7 grandchildren. He is a keen sportsman and still plays tennis, golf, skis and participates in wind surfing. He is still vigorous and active in many spheres and I doubt if he will know what to do in his spare time once he leaves the Council at the end of this month.
Fellow members, we have been well served by all our retiring members, some for a great number of years and the others for a comparatively few years but the Hong Kong public should be grateful for having people who have given their time, energy and talents in so many ways. We wish them good health and all the best for the future. (Applause)
DR. ELSIE TU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I think Stephen has said most of what I want to say but anyhow since Brook BERNACCHI is not in Hong Kong, I think that as the longest-serving elected member remaining on the Council next session, I need to say a few words.
This is a sad day, as Stephen has just said, a sad day as we meet in this chamber for the last time as the Council of 1989 to 1991. We are going to miss those who are leaving us.
I pay tribute to you, Mr. Chairman, for all you have done to weld this Council into a united and hardworking body, even though we are regarded by some as only a hardworking ox. Our achievements and public image under your leadership are incalculable.
Personally I pay tribute to you, Mr. Chairman, for your co-operation and encouragement during the three years when I was your Vice-Chairman. You shared everything with your Vice-chairman and made it easier for the appointed and elected members to work harmoniously. Ten to twenty years ago this was a very divided Council split by factions. Hilton began the process of reconciliation, and I pay tribute to Hilton for that. You, Mr. Chairman, completed that process and we are no longer regarded by the public as a divided council.
As to our other colleagues who sit here for the last time this year—and who knows, you may be back in the future? We shall miss the smiling faces of Peter, Kam-biu, and Vicky. We shall miss the friendship of Hilton, Philip, Wai-keung, Chak-piu and John. There may be others leaving from the D.B. membership, hopefully not. But we have just heard that Arthur and David are leaving and we are going to miss any who do leave because they have quickly become our valued colleagues.
We have had a happy two plus years together, and for those of us who remain there will be gaps in our hearts that are hard to fill, even though we know that all the seats will be filled.
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