HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
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simple? Or are Urban Council Members basically incapable of judging and recognizing what Hong Kong people today expect of them—their calibre, their ability to discharge business and make decisions in an open and transparent manner, and their attitude when responding to issues that arise—in order for them to take an introspective look at themselves? This idea has never occurred to anyone before. Last year, when everyone was talking about the Kwong On stocks, I had suggested a good way out, which was to set up an independent investigation committee. My suggestion was ultimately rejected in this Council and Mr. Tim S. Manuel Chan, Chairman of the Working Party on Provisional Urban Council Allowances, was forced to step down. This is a clear indication that our Members, who were appointed in the past, did not give any thought to or seriously consider the Government's situation today and what the public expect of their politicians here and now. Their attitude and reaction are, in my opinion, outdated. If we really want to change the Urban Council's image, I sincerely hope you will give some serious thought to how we should face the political environment of the nineties.
In the past, we often remarked on the harmonious relationship between the Urban Council and the Urban Services Department. Of course, everyone tends to believe in the Department's proposals and does not think of them as mere lies. But is this the case? If you care to go over the record of discussions we had held with the Urban Services Department in the last 2 to 3 years, you will agree with me that quite the opposite is true. Let me give you a simple example. The proposal of the corporatisation of the 3 performance companies was passed in 1989 and a detailed plan was drawn up. But the Department shelved the proposal and nothing was done about it. Another example is the Cheung Sha Wan Abattoir. Why was the decision made at that time to do away with night slaughtering, not day slaughtering? Was the question of loss in revenue and cost effectiveness ever considered? Or was there a deliberate attempt by the Department to conceal certain facts in its recommendations? Today the meat sellers are telling us clearly that they would like slaughtering to be carried out at night, preferably starting at 3 in the morning. Why had night slaughtering, and not day slaughtering, to be scrapped? If we read the documents again, we will find out that day slaughtering is carried out mainly by machine. Why then was night slaughtering, and not day slaughtering, scrapped? This only imposed a heavy financial burden on the Cheung Sha Wan Abattoir today. The policy that I see is one of delay and procrastination. Now the Cheung Sha Wan Abattoir will soon be closed and the problem will, of course, be resolved. But can we continue to believe in all the documents that the Department presents to us?
As Urban Council Members, we fully understand that the Urban Council is a body with decision-making powers and financial independence. The Legislative Council is different; it can criticize but not formulate policies. It can only speak in response to the Government's budget. We, on the other hand, can allocate our resources according to our timetable. But I do not understand
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