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2.
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
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keep releasing information during the consultation period, such as indicating that 30 to 40 submissions have been received and what the public preference is.
It was never the Government's practice to let the press or public know the views collected before the consultation period ended. The findings were made known only after the consultation period concluded. It is therefore obvious to everyone this time what the Government is really up to.
The Municipal Councils are mainly responsible for three areas, namely, food safety, environmental hygiene and culture, arts, recreation and sport. The Central Government's resumption of the duties of food safety and environmental hygiene without going through any consultation in the first instance is like cutting off the wings of a bird. This would be disastrous to the municipal councils. The Government's plan is to disband the municipal councils and then revert the management of the above-mentioned services to the Central Government. As for the areas of culture, arts and sport, since there are already the Sports Development Board and Arts Development Council, the municipal councils can be dispensed with.
I hope we could defend whether the incidents quoted were attributable to the municipal councils. Was it because of the two municipal councils that these incidents deteriorated? I am glad that the airport incident has nothing to do with the municipal councils, because the municipal councils have been blamed for all the mishaps ranging from the avian flu to red tide, and even for the shortage of supply of flushing water. Indeed, it has been blamed for too many problems.
I just want to say that the consultation period has almost reached the end. In the analogy of a football game, the football has now been passed to the Legislative Council. There will be a motion debate at the Legislative Council on 29 July and soon after that there will be a decision. Even if our term is extended and the election postponed to 2000 as Hon. Ambrose CHEUNG proposed, this will necessitate legislative amendments because under the existing law, the term of the Councillors will last only until the end of 1999. Any extension will require the blessing of the Legislative Council. The Legislative Council's endorsement will also be required for the abolition of the two municipal councils and the establishment of a new district structure as the Government has proposed. Even if the situation remains the same, the Legislative Council's endorsement is still required. As we are only of the provisional nature, the future municipal council too will need the endorsement of the Legislative Council. Hence, the football will soon be passed to the Legislative Council. I hope that my colleagues in the Council, especially those colleagues who are also Legislative Councillors, will take the initiative to negotiate with the Government. Nevertheless, the final decision will rest with the Legislative Council.
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