HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
modern, cost-effective and environmentally friendly incineration plants as part of the comprehensive approach of the disposal of domestic wastes. You may still recall that I am not alone in putting this message across. In 1993, the then Legislative Councillor, the Hon. Peter H. Y. WONG had expressly indicated his support for the incineration option as a means to supplement the use of landfill. In the same year, the UK Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, chaired by Sir John HOUGHTON, also lent support to my assertions. More recently, our past Councillors, Professor P. C. LEUNG and Dr. Samuel WONG have respectively in their addresses in the Council's 1995 Annual Conventional Debate and in the article published in the Hong Kong Economic Journal in August 1995, both pledged a similar message.
Finally, I wish to appeal to the Government again that in the interest of the environment, public health, economical use of land and cost effectiveness, the Government should review its domestic waste disposal policy and consider introducing modern, cost-effective and environmentally friendly incineration plants as a supplementary means for the disposal of domestic wastes in Hong Kong.
I propose adoption of the motion in my name.
Mr. Joseph Chan Yuɛk-sut (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, since we became a fully elected Council last year, there has been added vigour and liveliness in the Council. We have greater accountability and representation, and I am pleased to see that all colleagues are acting on public opinions in improving the living conditions and quality of life of the people of Hong Kong. Since democratization of the Council, all our meetings have been open to the public, thus increasing the transparency of the Council, improving greatly the relationship between the Council and the public, and at the same time enhancing the image of the Council.
The democratization of Councils also has great impact on the Urban Council. As Members are eager to speak and want to seize every minute to do so, our meetings have become longer. A number of Members usually speak at great lengths in the first half of the meeting and then leave early, leaving the voting to the few Members who stay on till the end. I believe that this is neither a healthy nor responsible practice. Some Members have respect only for their own political party and behave arrogantly. They often try to outshine other colleagues and make themselves outstanding. They attack those who hold different views and pick on the Department. This is a phenomenon which I have never seen since I joined the Council.
The Urban Council is responsible for the provision of municipal services. It is not a venue for chatting, for criticizing individuals or for discussing economic issues and talking politics. It is therefore more appropriate for us to refrain from talking politics and pay more attention to municipal services instead. In order to ensure smooth continuation of the municipal services, it is important that Hong Kong maintains the status quo beyond 1997 and enjoys a smooth transition. Should
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