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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
organizations. As far as our review of district organizations is concerned, I hope there will only be a one-tier representative body which is elected by the people. Is it yet another retrogression in democratization? It is not. On the contrary, it might be a progression. Why couldn't we stand up to this? Are we to be scolded for the retrogression? I consider this to be an irresponsible attitude.
The fourth point is about the conservative force. I am deeply worried about the review of district organizations being confronted with the conservative force, such as the force of self-protectionists (including the political parties) who fear that they may lose more seats, members of some district organizations who fear that they may be thrown out of employment, those who consider that their positions may be jeopardized, as well as those within the Council who consider that their powers may be weakened. I consider this to be improper. In the interests of the entire Hong Kong, to ensure effective allocation of resources, to enhance administrative efficiency and to make the district organizations more representative, we should have the courage to take one step forward. It is only then that the district organizations will be more democratic and representative, the administration, more efficient and allocation of resources, more effective. I consider this to be a very important issue which warrants deliberation. One should not involve one's sentiments and one's own interests in matters concerning representative organizations. I think this would result in confusion and even unfairness to the community in the present review. I consider that this is wrong. I appeal to members of all political parties to set aside their political differences, their own interests and the interests of small groups, and face up the new challenges aboveboard and courageously for the overall well-being of Hong Kong.
Mr. Eric Wong CHUNG-KI (in Cantonese):—First of all I wish to respond to Mr. CHAN Choi-hi's queries about the survey carried out by the Democratic Party. In my opinion, there has never been a questionnaire so direct as this one conducted by the Democratic Party, because it asked members of the public point-blank whether they were in favour of the merge of the two municipal councils. No organization, not even the Government, could possibly conduct such a survey, which asked the respondents whether they would like to have an elected representative body to monitor municipal services and policy formulation. If one had read our questionnaire, one would not have made such conclusions. There were of course a lot of questions which we would like to ask but they were difficult either to put to or to answer. There were also many hypothetical questions we did not care to ask. For instance, we would not ask whether they wanted to retain appointed members for the provisional district organizations (including the Urban Council, Regional Council and District Boards). We unilaterally assumed that the public absolutely would not support such system. Neither would we ask them whether they considered that Members of the Legislative Council were wasting public money, which is a solid fact. Regarding the proposed deferment of the election of the two-tier
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