HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
187
to implement. The motion carried at the Select Committee only referred to authorization vaguely. It did not mention the party that would make the authorization. We should move clear motions for the reference of Central Government. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. JOSEPH Chan Yuek-sun (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I speak on this subject, not from the stand of the party.
Mr. Chairman, I think there is no real need to move this motion. We can discuss it if everyone is interested. Procedure wise, a motion was carried at the meeting of the Select Committee and there would be no need to repeat it more emphatically at our monthly meeting. I find the motion before us just an emphasised version of the last one.
Mr. Chairman, there is another possibility. If the motion is not carried here, what is the position of the motion carried at the meeting of the Select Committee? Procedure wise, we are facing a risk. The Public Health Select Committee carried a motion and on behalf of that Committee, I raised it at the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. The Chairman did not oppose it. So it was gathered that the Whole Council accepted it. If anything unusual happens today (meaning the motion is not carried), there will be procedural problems. I therefore feel that the procedural motion by Mr. LAI is a correct move.
Chairman (in Cantonese):—Thank you for your opinion.
I now put the question on stopping the motion debate to the vote in accordance with Section 18(2) of the Standing Orders by show of hand. Would The Secretary please count the votes.
The question on the procedural motion by Mr. Lai Hok-lim in accordance with Section 18(2) of the Standing Orders was put to the vote.
The procedural motion was carried with 21 votes in favour, 7 in objection and ... in abstention.
Chairman (in Cantonese):—All right. The motion is adjourned. The crisis is over. We now get on to the third motion. Mr. CHAN Kwok-leung please.
3) MR. CHAN Kwok-leung moved as follows (in Cantonese):—In order to safeguard freedom of arts and freedom of expression, RESOLVED that the Council should not, on political grounds, refuse to rent its venues to hirers for holding activities, assemblies and for display of works of art.
He said (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, freedom is the bedrock of prosperity in Hong Kong. It is a basic right honoured in international community. In Chapter 3 of the Basic Law, freedom of speech, expression, assembly,
Page 186 of 654
Page 186 of 654
Page 186 of 654