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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
433
As a Council vested with policy-making powers and financial autonomy, the PUC should aim at meeting the needs of the whole territory by making appropriate allocation of its resources. However, I notice that many district affairs which can be handled either by the District Boards or at district level have been brought forward at the Council meetings for questioning and discussion. I wonder whether this is a normal phenomenon in a democratic council. Bringing up individual district affairs to the Council for discussion not only lengthens our meeting time but also results in a lack of efficiency. The Department has to give a written reply on certain issues which can be solved if only the councillor takes the trouble to make a phone call. This is a waste of our valuable resources. I hope the Council could focus on policy matters or issues which cannot be solved at district level. In this way, the PUC can become a really efficient and high-quality council.
Mr. Chairman, since the facilities of Victoria Park are out-dated, the Council decided to redevelop it with the objective of renewing its existing facilities so that the public can continue to have a place of greenery in the central urban area where they can take a rest during their busy city life. What the public want is not a magnificent park, nor do they ask for an award-winning design to show off to the world. They only want to have the facilities renewed and improved for their use under the Victoria Park redevelopment. As the Chairperson of the Working Group on Victoria Park Redevelopment, I will, in keeping with the spirit of democracy, respect the collective decision of the Working Group on the organisation of an open design competition for the Victoria Park. Mr. Chairman, this is a good opportunity to fully voice our opinions and I would like to say that I hope the project would start as soon as possible. At a time while the Council's budget has been cut by the Government and the economy of Hong Kong is taking a downturn, I wonder whether it is worth spending HK$10 million to cover the consultant fee and related costs for the open design competition and to have the project delayed for at least one and a half year. I hope the Council will consider once and again whether the money of the taxpayers is properly used in this respect.
Mr. Chairman, as the Chairperson of the Entertainment Select Committee, I hope that the Council would adopt a more lenient and flexible approach in executing the policy on hiring of venues. For example, the ‘Underutilization condition stipulates that the hirer shall pay a penalty to the Council for failing to fully utilize the venue. Some hirers criticized this condition as being too harsh. In my opinion, if a hirer intends to monopolize the booking of particular dates, it is justifiable to fine him/her. However, if some objective factors are involved, for instance, the performers having difficulties in staging the performance or the number of performances has to be reduced owing to unsatisfactory sale of tickets caused by the local economic slump, then it is necessary for the Council to review the policy as soon as possible.
Mr. Chairman, I have been a Member of the Eastern District Board for the past seven years. I used to make proposals at the Urban Council annual
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