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Party considers that it is inappropriate to use a multitude of codes beyond the understanding of the public for labelling purpose. I think some detailed explanations of the codes are necessary. For instance, the use of excessive codes in European countries has rendered consumers unable to figure out whether the things they have chosen to buy are suitable for them. Consequently, the labelling systems there cannot serve any useful purpose at all. I therefore call on the Department of Health to introduce provisions to the food labelling regulations, requiring manufacturers to specify clearly the ingredients and composition of their products.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. AMBROSE Cheung WING-SUM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, at this year's Annual Conventional Debate, I, as before, shall review, in terms of administrative management and from a professional angle, the Urban Council's performance in the past 12 months and its future.
I mentioned two issues at last year's Debate in the hope that the Urban Council would pay attention to it. The first issue was about the stepping up of concern for our future and transition. The second issue was my proposal that the Urban Council fortify its image and improve efficiency, a practical suggestion to that effect being the implementation of the five-year plans.
While I agree that many of the Council's services and facilities were somewhat improved in the past 12 months, as can be witnessed, certain macro and fundamental problems have yet to be resolved properly. As a result, our exertions have been little rewarded. Looking back at the past 12 months from this angle, did we handle the problems regarding our future? Did we implement our five-year plans? I describe the results as very disappointing. In these two aspects, I am absolutely dissatisfied with the Urban Council's performance in the past year, and I am truly worried about our future. Perhaps you might ask how come there has been little progress in these two aspects. There are several reasons, but I find that there is only one overall reason, that is, the Urban Council is in need of leadership. Such leadership is not personal leadership but collective leadership. There lies the fact that the 41 Councillors do not have the ability for collective leadership. What problems usually appear when a large organisation lacks leadership? When a large organisation lacks leadership, it will have no direction and no goals, which, in turn, renders it unable to formulate strategies and decide timetables and concrete plans for work. In the end, one is unable to see the usefulness of the organisation. Applying this to the Urban Council, let us determine from three recent examples whether the Urban Council suffers the problem of lacking collective leadership. The first example is the issue concerning our future, the second is our five-year plans, and the third is the discussions every three years between us and the Government on the matter of fund allocation.
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