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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

some, one year, and others, much longer. The Council is, therefore, always following the Department's lead. But as far as authority is concerned, should the Department be led by the Council or should the Council be led by the Department? The question remains unanswered. Yesterday Mr. Li Wah-ming raised the issue of drawing up protocol arrangements. The message behind it is evidently a detraction from the practice of the Council leading the Department. In this regard, is there a need to clarify the rules governing the work of the Council and the Department?

Lastly, I wish to talk about the work of reviewing the structure of district organisations. Already now the Government departments concerned are getting down to the details and, as far as I know, a report will be submitted in April. Actually the people most qualified to review the structure of district organisations are you, my colleagues in this Council, particularly our more veteran Members. I think we should detach ourselves from the position of the Council and look at the matter from the overall perspective of Hong Kong. We should let the Chief Executive know what we feel about the future review of the structure of district organisations. Government departments look at this issue only from their own angle. The Urban Council is the most qualified to review the structure of the district organisations. If we do not voice our opinions, the Chief Executive will only have the Government's views to go by. It is my hope that the Chairman will provide us with leadership in the following areas:

(1) More communication with the Office of the Chief Executive;

(2) Greater coordination and unity in order to do a better job in future. This is all I have to say today.

I support the Chairman's motion. Thank you.

MISS ANNIE WU SUK-CHING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, like some of us, I am a new Member of the Provisional Urban Council. Today, I hope to share my heartfelt feelings with you as a Councillor appointed by Mr. TUNG Chee-hwa, Chief Executive of the SAR, I wish to talk about my personal hopes about the possible areas of the Urban Council's work and also my aspirations. Today marks the 199th day of Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. After 1 July, distinct changes have taken place in the territory's politics and system. Hong Kong has a very close relationship and very good liaison with the Central Government. I feel that we, as citizens of Hong Kong, especially as Members of the Provisional Urban Council, should try our best to help the public to preserve those good ties. Of course, we could consider keeping some of the former Colonial Government's measures provided that they are sound, but certain obsolete ways would have to be discontinued.

Here, I would like to share with you how I became acquainted with Hong Kong's history and contemporary Chinese history during my education in

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