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4.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
urged the Capital Works Select Committee to set up a 'Working Group for Monitoring Delayed Projects'. Unfortunately, my request has been turned down by the Committee. My proposal may be turned down, but government funds must not be abused, and the public's right to use the facilities must not be deprived of. Therefore, I hereby propose again that Capital Works Select Committee set up a working group in the coming year to closely monitor the projects.
Reforming the Delegated Member System and the Licensing Procedures The most serious problem in the whole Delegated Member System is that it is not easy for a Delegated Member to fully comprehend the application cases which he has signed. In theory, a Delegated Member who has put down his signature is supposed to have a full picture of the case concerned and will be held responsible for it. But in reality this is not so. While working as a Delegated Member, I have had 2 informal meetings with the licensing officers of the Department to discuss the matter. I hope that the Department can provide more information and assistance for Councillors to scrutinize the progress reports in future review papers:
(i) Solution of long-standing cases (e.g. over 12 months) which fail to
fulfill the requirements stated in the 'Letter of Requirements';
(ii) Records on the prosecution and inspection of unlicensed operators in the
aforesaid cases;
(iii) Provision of Land Registry information to indicate whether the property concerned may be used for the operation of restaurants or similar businesses;
(iv) Increasing the transparency of the work of the licensing authority; a licence must be endorsed by a Delegated Member before its issuance.
(v) Deployment of at least one licensing officer to assist the Delegated
Member in understanding the case concerned.
Lastly, Mr. Chairman and Members, with 1997 approaching, some Members are worried about the transitional problems, some have proposed ways to pledge allegiance and others have agreed to the restoration of the appointment system in exchange for a smooth transition. Their reactions are multifarious and fascinating. Nevertheless, what I am worrying about is, just as Miss Ada Wong has mentioned, whether the Council can build up a prestigious image in the minds of the general public in the coming 2-3 years. That is to say, the Council should take public opinions into account when providing municipal facilities for the betterment of Hong Kong in an effective and constructive way. Otherwise, opinions regarding the removal of the municipal councils' independent financial and administrative power, or the merging of municipal councils into district boards by legislation will become the point at issue before the next election.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
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