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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Political parties also have a spokesman system. With the existence of political parties, it will be easy for the Urban Services Department to implement new policies. Once the Department reaches an agreement with the spokesmen of these parties, the policy can get their support. The same applies to the government in its dealings with the Legislative Council and Provisional Legislative Council. This is common knowledge to those who are well experienced in serving on councils. The fact that political parties have organization and a spokesman system brings much convenience to the operation of government departments since there are specific targets for dialogues and lobbying, making negotiation at meetings possible. As regards independent Members, they are individuals only. If there are 13 independent Members, lobbying activities will have to be directed at each and every one of them, let alone the possibility that some of them will change their minds anytime for unknown reasons. Am I right?
I am not trying to assert whether Members from political parties or independent Members are better. I just want to make a balanced statement that Members from political parties are not monsters and have not stayed away from the public. I think we should look at the matter from this point of view. What Mr. PAO meant by non-politicization just now was that when Urban Council was formulating a policy, public interests should supersede those of political parties.
With the existence of political parties, what is the corner-stone of survival for elected Members? Is it not the support of the public? Speaking more plainly, it is the votes they get! Yes, what matters is the votes. If not for the votes, how can an elected Member be elected? This does not apply to appointed Members since they do not need any votes to be appointed and there are no voters at their backs. As we elected Members want to be elected, we have to try our best to get votes. If I do not reflect public views, how can I get a seat here? And in fact, I have been elected for nearly 20 years. The same rationale applies to political parties. If the words of a political party deviate from the aspiration of the public, how can its members be elected? If this is the case with our Democratic Party, we would be finished and would have no chance of getting any votes once we announce our political platform. Why is it like that? Has Mr. PAO ever thought about this? I would like to reiterate that I am not asking anyone to join political parties. I am just trying to make a fair statement. Independent Members always criticize Members from political parties as bowing to votes and politicizing the Council. I just hope that every one of us can look at the facts clearly.
Last but not least, I would like to say something in response to the bird flu outbreak. I have been following up the development of the bird flu issue and have joined the 48-hour sit-in demonstration of chicken vendors. That is why I have a better understanding of the problems facing chicken retailers as well as those working in 'chicken hotels'. I do not intend to talk about hygiene or market problems. I just want to look at the operation of the SAR Government