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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
why our colleagues are afraid to assume responsibility. Last year, we pointed out that the structure of the Urban Services Department was too cumbersome and came up with ways to trim it down and improve efficiency. We suggested employing a private consultant company to look again into the issue. But this idea did not receive your support and now my prediction has come true. I had mentioned in last year's Annual Convention Debate that if we do not take this matter seriously and take the initiative to carry out a review on the Urban Services Department, the Government will do the job and, in the process, take care of the Urban Council as well. At this present point, I can only say one thing: if we do not face reality, we will have only ourselves to blame.
These are my remarks.
Ms. GRACE AU YUK-HAR (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, looking back on the Urban Council's work in the past year, I can sum it up in two phrases: 'misfortunes did not come singly' and 'unexpected events set the town agog'. Incidents such as 'the Central Library', 'the Pillar of Shame', 'the Cheung Sha Wan Abattoir' and 'H5N1' have not only aroused public doubts about the capability of the Urban Council, but also brought about lingering damage to our image. Though the criticisms overshadowed the compliments, I still believe that we ought to acknowledge and appreciate some of the achievements made by the Urban Council in the past year.
In my capacity as the Vice-Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, I am delighted to note that we are making headway in the right direction. Examples of such work include the installation of shark nets, the enhancement of intermediate sport training, the introduction of concessionary admission fee at swimming pools etc. Not only did these policies benefit the public, they had also helped attain some of the goals set out in the Recreation Select Committee's Five-Year Plan. However, there is still much room for improvement in respect of the recreational and sports services as well as the management of facilities under the charge of the Urban Council. Some of our work in these areas has also attracted criticism from the public. Take, for instance, the management of swimming pools. Over the years, people often complained to me about the unsatisfactory quality of pool water. In most cases, the Department reiterated that the water quality did not pose any problem, probably because it had made assessments according to the established standard. Yet, I think the swimmers' personal experience should be given due regard. Otherwise, how can we build up the public's confidence in the Urban Council swimming pools? Apart from counting on its own professional judgments, I urge the Department to step up its efforts in gauging the views of our clients such as the swimmers, and to respond promptly to the feedback. Likewise, appropriate responses should be made by the Department in its management of urban facilities and the provision of other services.
Some of the newly completed facilities such as the Hammer Hill Road Leisure Pool and Jordan Valley Leisure Pool evoked much criticism shortly