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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
said, the Housing Department denied the obvious fact that the ceilings have fallen off. If Members have had any dealings with the Department, you would understand that such bureaucracy cannot be changed overnight. Unless the Housing Authority is directly elected, I cannot see how the Housing Department can improve its work. So, cooperation doesn't mean that it is not bound by legislation. We can still cooperate with the Housing Department despite the fact that there is legislation to institute prosecution against it. Therefore, I oppose the amended motion.
MR. JOSEPH LAI (in Cantonese):—I do not know whether I understood correctly. Some people said the USD is the second largest department in the Government while the Housing Department is the third. If we try to rank one department above the other and adopt a confrontational attitude, then an unfavourable phenomenon will be created. I just want to ask whether the ICAC can prosecute the police? Is the Hong Kong Government's authority shared among its various major departments and the judicial system independent of the Administration? If that is the case, it is an irony. Secondly, if one department is trying to defend the work of another, then there won't be any fair play in the Administration. If we can accept the Housing Department's denial of the fact of the collapsed ceilings, then what is the function of an elected Member? Mr. Chairman, I am rather disappointed.
Furthermore, as regards whether we have adequate manpower resources to prosecute unclean areas, I would like to ask why we can still take our prosecutions against water suppliers who supply sub-standard untreated water, unlicensed hawkers, all of which are on Council's agenda. The question is: are we capable of addressing the problems? So, please don't underestimate our ability. The council consists of 41 elected Members. We should painstakingly co-operate with each other to serve the community and spare no efforts to overcome whatever difficulties.
Mr. Wu Chi-wai (in Cantonese):—I oppose the amended motion because of two reasons. The first one is that Mr. Cheung's amended motion asks the Housing Department to comply with the legislation. What will be done if it fails to comply? Shall we institute prosecution afterwards?
Secondly, under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance we do have the powers, but we haven't exercised it. The Housing Department is just the same as any other management companies, why should it be exempted from the provisions of our Ordinance?
MR. STANLEY NG (in Cantonese):—I would like to express my view on Mr. CHEUNG's second reason for amending the original motion. He considered that in terms of manpower resources and monitoring work, it is not appropriate to ask the second largest department to carry out such a massive exercise because of inadequate resources. I think such thinking is putting the cart before the horse.
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