HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
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Other's duties. For example, we recently discussed the issue that a number of the food catering areas inside the Council's venues probably had not fulfilled the licensing requirements. Our colleagues in the Department responsible for prosecution matters surprisingly told us that they were responsible for prosecution but not leasing of venues and asked us to make enquiries with other branches. I therefore consider that there is a need to make the principal executive officer directly answerable to us and report to us on the implementation of our policies.
Some may ask whether there is any oversight, as Section 26(2) of the Ordinance concerned states, 'The Director of Urban Services shall (In the Chinese version, the wording literally means 'is still required'. I wonder whether he/she has to ask for leave from the Chairman of the Council, since it is stipulated in the English version that he/she 'shall' attend) notwithstanding that he is not a member thereof, attend the meetings of the Standing Committee and report on the execution of its decisions and may tender such advice as he thinks fit.'
However, our wise Chairman (who is not present) made a very clear direction at a monthly meeting that any questions put to the Director should be confined to the matters reported by the Director and must not go beyond the scope of what was reported. In other words, no questions can be asked of matters not being reported by the Director. Moreover, if we expected the meetings of the Standing Committee to be effective in questioning the Director with ample time allowed for her, the question-and-answer session now suggested for the monthly meetings would in fact be most appropriate, otherwise we would have to amend the modus operandi of the Standing Committee substantially by introducing more time constraints, questioning and queuing arrangements, so as to ensure that the Standing Committee may, within the parameters, ask the Chairman or the Director of Urban Services questions about the implementation of the Council's policies.
I believe that most of our colleagues are not opposed to the recommended question-and-answer session for the Director. Those who have different views ask whether the session could be arranged at meetings other than the monthly meetings. Our reply today is that the monthly meetings are the most appropriate forum. As for the accusation that this is unconventional, we consider that the Council is constantly changing to ensure the best services for the public. We consider that as long as the changes result in more effective implementation of our policies, there is no big deal in being unconventional. What is unconventional is to change the elective system of the Council wholly or partly to one of appointment. I therefore hope that Members will support the motion we put forth today.
MR. LEE KWOK-KEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
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