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Council and Provisional District Boards under the Chairman's leadership. But what should the pattern of communication be to ensure effectiveness and fairness? I consider that in the process of communication, a number of principles must be laid down. These principles are in fact to make up for what the present motion has failed to cover.
I think the first principle is fairness. By 'fairness', I mean in the Urban Council's communication with different councils and boards, what kind of method should it adopt in order to ensure that all the 50 Members have an equal opportunity to be involved and to present their views? Should representation be based on political parties or on the chairmanship of the various select committees? This is a question indeed. It is these arrangements and modes that determine whether every Member of the Council has an adequate and fair chance to take part in the discussions. This is the first principle.
The second principle is openness. I consider that these discussions should not be unofficially held. Neither is this desirable. For preliminary discussions, this is acceptable but we must draw up a series of discussion items to make known to the public openly what our views and perspectives are.
The third principle is comprehensiveness. About comprehensiveness, I notice that this is already covered by the motion, in that we must conduct a comprehensive review of our functions, organization and relationship with other boards.
Mr. Chairman, there are questions though in respect of all these steps of preparation. Does time allow us to do all these preparations, to have appropriate dialogues with different councils/boards, to express our views, to collect public comments and to have a fair chance of participation?
Mr. Chairman, my last point is that given the number of principles and questions involved, we must identify the most important and pressing ones for action. In my opinion, the most urgent one is none other than discussing immediately with the central government as to whether the schedule for the review of the 2-tier structure is a feasible and appropriate one and whether the mode of review is appropriate. If we consider the mode of review and schedule to be inappropriate, we should put forth our views immediately. We should not, simply because the Government has other reasons and considerations, allow a review of such complexity to be completed in barely six to nine months, only to find ourselves end up in regretting over the framework thus created.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion moved by Mr. Joseph CHAN today.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—It is now my turn to speak.
I have a few points to raise in connection with the motion.
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