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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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The annual recurrent expenditure of the U.C. Secretariat for the financial year 1995/96 is estimated to be around $27.7 million, as compared to $23.4 million in 1994/95.
It is the normal practice for the appraisal report of the Secretary of the Urban Council to be written by the Chairman of the Urban Council and countersigned by the Director of Urban Services. This practice has worked well in the past and there are no reasons to suggest that the impartial nature of the work of S.U.C. has been compromised in any way.
Mr. Lee Kwok-keung (in Cantonese):—I have a follow-up question. The Secretariat does not provide any policy research nor information collection services. However, at most meetings of the Council, recommendations and decisions are proposed by the Department for consideration by Councillors. Under such circumstances, Councillors make decisions only basing on the information provided by the Department. The Councillors' views on the matter are influenced this way, that is, the Department has administrative convenience to influence the views of Councillors. Hence, would the Secretariat consider taking up policy research and information collection work in future?
Secondly, for part (d) of the question, we know that D.U.S. also countersigns the performance report of the S.U.C. and the answer says that this will not compromise the impartial nature of the work of the S.U.C.. Will there be other adverse effect on the Secretariat? Will the Administration Select Committee reconsider or re-examine the independence of the Secretariat?
Mr. Suen Kai-Cheong (in Cantonese):—Mr. LEE's question has to do with the scope of services provided by the Secretariat. Provision of additional services by the Secretariat can be considered based on the request of the Councillors, but implementation will of course be subject to the approval of the whole Council.
Regarding the independence of the Secretariat, I am willing to raise this point again in the Administration Select Committee if Members feel concerned about this.
MR. CHAN CHO-HI (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, can we obtain similar information from the Regional Council through you because a Working Group of the Regional Council is reviewing the independence of their Secretariat. Can the Administration Select Committee obtain the information for our reference?
Mr. Chairman (in Cantonese):—I think that it is possible to do so.
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—Yes, this is possible.
10. Ms. Jennifer Chow Kit-BING asked the following question (in Cantonese):— In view of complaints by the public that the URBTIX service is not entirely satisfactory, eg uneven distribution of the URBTIX locations and inconvenience in
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