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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
may provide more objective or professional advice. I consider that these three roles have operated efficiently under the existing 2-tier structure of district organizations.
It can clearly be seen from the above argument that retention of the 2-tier structure of the municipal councils and District Boards is highly imperative. I therefore support Mr. Joseph CHAN's motion. I also hope that when you, Mr. Chairman, negotiate about or discuss the review of district organizations, you will insist on retaining the 2-tier structure of the municipal councils and District Boards. Thank you.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese): I wish to say something about adopting a proper attitude towards the review of district organizations.
In his policy address, Mr. Tung said, 'We should take a fresh look at the district organizations, so as to decide for ourselves whether the present structure of local representative government will continue to ensure the efficient and responsive delivery of services to our evolving community.'
I consider that these 39 words have summed up the correct stand and attitude we should have towards the review of the 2-tier structure. First of all, he said 'we should take a fresh look' and I fully agree to it. By 'fresh look', it means new angles, new thoughts, new attitude rather than being confined to conventional, established and outdated perspectives and views. It is not to rule out and reject good things and novelty. It is to accept not only pleasant and preferred advice but also unpleasant and sharp criticisms. It is to listen to not only the majority views but also the minority and weak voices. It is to not only uphold the tradition but also inspire the future. It is to not only further promote the good, the correct, the comprehensive and valuable experience, but also redress the wrong, the improper, the cumbersome, the narrow and all the shortcomings. It is to have the courage to open up and to be far-sighted in working out an objectively regulated political structure which best suits the constitutional development of Hong Kong.
The Chief Executive also mentioned the need to assess whether the present structure suited the needs of an evolving community. This has pinpointed a very important and objective yardstick for the review and that is, it must be responsive to social changes. The Urban Council has been in existence for more than a century and is the earliest municipal council formed on an electoral basis. Following the constitutional development of Hong Kong, a lot of changes have taken place over the years, with the District Boards established more than 10 years ago. In line with the British Hong Kong Government's promotion of a representative government with a view to returning the right to rule to the people, a lot of developments have also taken place.
On 1 July 1997, Hong Kong entered into the new era in history of 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong'. The development of the political system has