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Page 253 of 654
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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
The motion was carried with 30 votes in favour and 1 in abstention,
(4) MR. SZETO WAH moved the following motion:—
*RESOLVED that under the monitoring of the public, the Council should reform its services in order to build up a good image."
He said (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, complacency makes one drop behind while self-scrutiny brings about progress. The recent series of incidents have resulted in a negative effect on the image of the Council in the minds of the public. The aim of my motion is to urge the Council to scrutinize itself as a whole, so as to improve the municipal services and turn the bad things into good things.
Image is more than packaging. The outside is influenced by what is inside. It is the impression we give to the public, or else it would only be a rotten substance with a glittering coating which can easily be detected by the people with shrewd eyes. The substance here is improved services. As the services are provided jointly by the Council and the Department, naturally reformation in the internal operation is involved. The most important drive comes from public vigilance and as to how this drive should be made use of, it is the responsibility of Members of the Council and officials of the Department. We should review whether the channels used in the past are unobstructed, adequate, efficient and effective.
The motion I have moved is an accommodating one. There are no specific proposals but there is ample room for Members to voice their views. The more views the better because although they might not be valid, they might serve as a catalyst for constructive ideas. In reality it is rare that with only one stroke, one accomplishes the task. My motion is only the beginning. The process will be that the views expressed today will be collated, further studied, concluded and implemented. Throughout the process, there must be perseverance and concerted efforts before the objectives can be fulfilled.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I move the motion.
MR. LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
MR. AMBROSE CHEUNG WING-SUM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I support Mr. SZETO Wah's motion. I have asked to speak but my speech will mainly centre round a few points, some of which were already covered in my earlier motion.
I consider that if we are to improve our image and reform the municipal services, we should first of all position ourselves, or as I have repeatedly urged in the past two years, the entire Council should, under the leadership of the Chairman and through the concerted efforts of all, identify a position with a wider perspective and vision, which will take the Council forward into a new