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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Lastly, I wish to emphasize that phase-III and phase-IV projects are not advanced for implementation but it is hoped that they would be carried out as scheduled without delay if adequate resources were available. Mr. Chairman, these are my remarks. I hope that everyone will support my motion.
MR. JOSEPH LAI CHI-KEONG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
MR. LAM MAN-FAI (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in face of the serious unemployment problem, the DAB has been advocating six measures as a solution, one of which is to advance the implementation of some infrastructural projects to create more job opportunities so that local people may have work to do.
There are a lot of these projects under the Council, Ms. Grace AU's motion comprises two parts. In the second part, it is recommended that phases III and IV of the projects be implemented as early as possible. In fact, according to our plan, these projects are scheduled for implementation but are forced to be shelved temporarily because of the Council's financial situation. For example, the detailed plan of the Hammer Hill Road Park in front of the Chi Lin Nunnery has already been finalized and the Wong Tai Sin District Board has written to us requesting that the project be carried out as scheduled, but because of the shortage of funding, it has to be placed under the phase-III category and shelved. There are local needs for the project and in today's motion, we also agree that it should be re-accorded priority. I believe that there are a lot of projects which call for such an arrangement. I therefore hope that after the motion is carried, a review will be conducted to prioritize this type of project so as to create job opportunities and ensure early completion.
The other part of the motion recommends the creation of additional posts. We consider that this must be done. If there is a genuine need for a post, it should be created, but it must not be randomly created. There are positions genuinely needed, such as the recently completed Hong Kong Museum, which will soon open. The Department recommended the creation of 13 new posts but because of the objection of the Democratic Party, only nine were eventually created. I hope that after the motion is carried today, a review will be conducted on the demand for new posts. If everybody considers that there is a genuine need, the motion should be materialized by topping up the posts required, because if there is a genuine need to create the posts, they should be created. This is the proper and pragmatic attitude. We should not adopt the approach of wavering between the creation and reduction of posts. At least the originally planned posts should be created, and as quickly as possible, because the new museum is about to open and if there was not sufficient manpower, its operation would certainly be affected to some extent. If we reviewed each division, we would find that many vacancies are still unfilled. I hope that we
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