HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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in hand. We passed a motion last year on this matter. The point is whether we have used the trump card to prosecute cleaning contractors who have failed to comply with the terms set out in their contracts with the Housing Department. In regard to the assessment proposed in the original motion, I feel that instead of directing Council resources on making assessment in all estates, we might as well direct our resources on blackspots and prosecutions. It will be more practical and effective to do so.
The Association will abstain from voting on both the original and amended motion. However, we suggest that the Chairman of the Public Health Select Committee follow up on using our trump card. In using it in the past year after the relevant motion was passed, were there any obstacles? Were we capable of exercising our power via our Departmental staff to make prosecutions in blackspots in public estates? We feel this is what we need to consider. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. SUEN KAI-Cheong (in Cantonese):-I also want to tell a story. Mr. Lau spoke about law enforcement by the police. Let me talk about police helping people to educate their children. If Mr. Lau goes home one of these days to find a policeman sitting on his sofa and his children parading in front of the policeman for assessment on which one is more willing to be taught, I am sure he will be furious. He may say to the policeman that if his children have acted against the law, he can arrest them, and if not, he is not welcomed into his home to teach. Teaching one's children is one's privilege. In fact, I can guess his response. The representative of the Association of Democracy and People's Livelihood spoke just now. I concur with their view on some parts, but I want to point out that we are not building an administrative structure for a simple matter. We already passed a motion to step up enforcement action in public estates. If we find enforcement work not effective, why don't we supervise the Department to do better? Why do we choose to set up another structure instead? It will be a waste of public money to do so. Under this premise, I think there is already clear division of power and responsibility. And I note that the amendment differs from the original only on which department is to be responsible. Teaching your children is the responsibility of the children's father. Managing public estates is the responsibility of the Housing Department. Taking enforcement action under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance is the responsibility of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department. To those who violate the Ordinance, we prosecute. It is the same with children violating the law. The police will prosecute them. Before a person violates the law, the police leave him alone.
I think that is the angle with which to analyse this matter.
I also want to ask the Association of Democracy and People's Livelihood the reason its members choose to abstain from voting. Its representatives said clearly that it was only a matter of enforcement, not one of building an administrative structure. I don't understand this action of abstention. Anyway, I want to...
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