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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
organizations for the Chief Executive's consideration. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. CHAN CHOI-HI (in Cantonese): Just now at the luncheon meeting, some Members asked whether the review meant a reduction in the number of members. I don't think so.
I feel that there is a kind of irrational attitude among us now. The first one is self-protection. I feel that some of us in the Council have already developed such an attitude. This is the first kind.
The second kind of attitude is 'wait and see'. We don't know how the Chief Executive wants it to be done. We are placed in a passive position and it is something like 'wait and see', that is, wait and see what the Provisional Regional Council does first.
I consider that neither attitude is proper. Just now Professor Shane ZEE Sze-yong and Ms. Jennifer Chow Kit-bing have put up some options. I think we should adopt a more active approach. Members of the Urban Council should in the first instance have an exchange of their views within the Council to address the issue.
The fact is that a review of district administration is not something new. It is not something that crossed Mr. Tung's mind yesterday when he woke up. That is not the case. In fact, such a call has already been in existence in Hong Kong society for 10 years or more. It was a call that emerged more than 10 years ago, but then the Regional Council had just come into being, that is, 11 years ago. Nevertheless, in view of the political considerations of the Regional Council itself, it is not proper for us to say anymore.
The problem now is what the Urban Council should do in face of the new situation. I am in full support of the first point. We need an administrative arrangement and that is, since we have the consensus, we should discuss the issue within the Council and then put forth our options and views to the SAR Government.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): Is there any other Member who wants to speak? Mr. Joseph CHAN Yuek-sut. I wish to remind Members that under Standing Order 21(6), a Member's speech must be related to the issue discussed or an agenda item of the meeting. He may also make his personal analysis under para 10 of this Standing Order.
The topic we are now discussing is, 'In view of this, it is resolved that the Council should review the present situation as early as possible and set up an established system to more effectively strengthen the communication and cooperation of the two Councils'.
The topic does not cover the review of the structure of the Urban Council or the district organizations. It seems that the few Members who spoke just now