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# HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
concerted efforts of fellow Councillors and the Department, we will be able to achieve all our aims.
The Council operated very smoothly in the past year. This would not have been possible without the valuable contribution of our fellow Councillors and the hard work and unfailing support of staff of the Urban Services Department, other Government departments concerned and the Council Secretariat. My sincere thanks go to you all.
With these remarks, I propose adoption of the motion in my name.
MR. JP Kwok-Chung, Vice-Chairman, PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, with the passing of the eventful 1997 comes 1998, a new year after the return of sovereignty to China. We had, as usual, the count-down ceremony at midnight. Looking back on the past year, it has been a stable yet challenging year.
At the last Annual Conventional Debate, I pointed out that 'there are people who spread views that Hong Kong's future, after the handover, is gloomy. They predict that once the British leave the territory, Hong Kong will suffer major retrogression in democracy, freedom, rule of law and human rights. Even in economy and people's livelihood, the prospects are bleak. We must continue to prove, by what actually takes place, that such alarmists' views are wrong.—This is what I said last year. In fact, what actually happened has fully proved what I said is true. There has not been any major retrogression in democracy, freedom, rule of law and human rights in Hong Kong after the handover. Nor was the financial crisis between late 1997 and early 1998 triggered by the 1997 factor. Moreover, the lack of co-ordination among various departments in the chicken slaughtering exercise following the bird flu outbreak has once again showed my foresight when I said, 'It is not that we are blindly optimistic. We do not underestimate the difficulties and problems that lie ahead in building for the future of the Special Administrative Region. Nevertheless, we have the courage and confidence to surmount these difficulties and obstacles.'
1997 was a special year. Apart from the return of sovereignty to China, the Provisional Urban Council also saw some changes. The number of Councillors has increased from 41 to 50. The Council continued with the provision of municipal service to the public, and worked towards further enhancing the quality of its services.
During the past year, the Council went through many storms and crises, receiving both praises and criticisms. The Central Library issue, the incident of contaminated vegetables and the operation of markets, for instance, were tackled pragmatically and with courage and commitment by fellow Members. Let me cite the example of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee of which I was Chairman. It attained achievements in the various areas of its work. In respect of markets, the Director of Audit submitted in early 1997 a
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