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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

more time to be effective, those measures which could bring immediate effect should be implemented right away.

Through the continuous efforts of the Council, the designs of public toilets have improved considerably, but there is still room for improvement in the cleanliness and maintenance of public toilets. The Working Group on Public Toilets has already worked out a series of measures to strengthen supervision over the contractors' efficiency. A schedule of work has been laid down to promote a public monitoring system. On the one hand, the designs of existing toilets are improved and the number of cleansing workers deployed to station at the toilets is increased. On the other hand, we appeal to toilet users to keep the toilets clean.

In summing up, the views put forward by Members could be classified into two major types. The first type is about the matters that the SAR Government could do. I will certainly reflect these views to the relevant authorities. The other major type of views involves the Urban Council's purview. I will refer the matter to the Department for action and to the relevant Select Committee for follow-up and implementation, to ensure that all the views are given due consideration and put into action. Thank you.

With these remarks, I move the motion.

MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—I second.

The question was put.

The motion was carried unanimously.

V. MOTIONS

CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):―The next agenda item is motion debate. A total of four motions have been received. The fourth one about the rates issue is moved by Mr. CHAN Choi-hi, with Mr. Li Wah-ming proposing amendments to the motion. According to the Council's legal advice, the original motion, which is about freezing and reducing rates, falls outside the ambit of the Council under Sections 24 and 25 of the Provisional Urban Council Ordinance and Standing Order 14(1). As for the amended motion, it involves that portion of the rates revenue not allocated to the Council and therefore also falls outside the Council's ambit. These are the Council's legal advice.

I agree with these pieces of legal advice, but in order to embody the spirit of democracy, I still wish to let Members know that there is such a motion. The original motion is moved by Mr. Chan Choi-hi and seconded by Mr. To Boon-man. The amended motion is moved by Mr. Li Wah-ming and seconded by Mr. Wong Chung-ki. In order to let the public know that Members of the Council are genuinely concerned for their difficulties, especially the concern shown by the proposers of the original and amended motions, I have included

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