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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
to provide more free entertainment, or to extend library opening hours, the situation remains the same. In reviewing such matters, we very often find ourselves helpless because for the new ideas we come up with, the Department will point out a lot of limitations. We have to be accommodating as far as establishment is concerned. In fact, we in the past have allowed our policies to be subordinated to the establishment instead of setting targets, pinning indices and then creating or deleting unimportant posts to match the targets and indices. We should not be automatically playing down policies we want to put forth or steering away from desired directions in light of establishment constraints. I therefore think we should re-define our targets and then we may find out the directions of reviews.
Mr. Chairman, the amendment by Mr. LAM to be moved shortly in fact expects us not to rush. Instead, he wants us to take things step by step in order to uphold the morale of the Department. I certainly hope to uphold the morale of the Department too, but looking back at Departmental reviews in the past, there were great hindrances and officers were sometimes put in very difficult situations. The work and targets of the Management Services Unit currently undertaking an internal review are similar to those of the Efficiency Unit in the Chief Secretary's Office. There are at present only 6 or 7 staff members in the Unit. The topics of review are assigned by the Deputy Director. Questionnaires are distributed to staff to collect information on the number of working hours per day. On completion of the survey and review, staff members and their unions will be consulted before proposals are finalized and submitted to relevant committees. We can see that the reviewing procedure taken up by the Department is one that meets with substantial stumbling blocks. Matters are filtered level by level before they can be submitted to the Council. The consequence is that everything seems no more than a scratch on the surface.
Mr. Chairman, I hope we can take a small step ahead. I myself believe the amendment is a moderate one. I am not asking for the appointment of a consultancy firm at once and there is no commitment to do so. However, I feel that it is important to commission a consultancy firm because in most cases, we can analyze matters more objectively by being more detached. I believe this can prevent some personnel problems caused by the review of certain establishments. I think an outside consultancy firm should be commissioned to handle larger topics. In fact, the same approach is being taken for reviews carried out by other government departments.
I hope we can agree on taking one small stride. This small step will neither upset the Department's establishment, nor result in overnight changes or affect staff morale. Through this small step, we can demonstrate to every member of the public that we are committed. They will know that we seek to make good use of the large amount of public money in our hands and to perform our duties as Urban Councillors. Mr. Chairman, I rise to move this amendment and I hope to have support from fellow Members.
FO