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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Annex I
(TRANSLATION)
Speech by Mr. WONG Kwok-hing
at the Provisional Urban Council Meeting on 14 July 1998
We should set out in a clear-cut manner to protect the rights of our citizens in knowing, monitoring and participating in the formulation of policies on public hygiene and food safety
Introduction
In June, the Constitutional Affairs Bureau published the Consultation Document on Review of District Organisations in order to review district organisations in the direction disclosed by the Chief Executive Mr TUNG Chee-hwa in his first Policy Address delivered in October last year. Following that, the writer promptly published in the press an article entitled 'An accurate look at the comprehensive review of district organisations (literal translation)' in support of Mr. TUNG's opinion that 'We should take a fresh look at the regional organisations, the Municipal Councils and the District Boards, so as to decide for ourselves whether the present structure of local representative government will continue to ensure the efficient and responsive delivery of services to our evolving community.'
However, it is a great pity that the contents of the Consultation Document on Review of District Organisations are very rough and the basic, important information provided is neither comprehensive nor sufficient. The Paper gives the impression that Government has a pre-determined stand and set directions, so much so that the result of consultation seems concluded before the consultation process even starts.
Part 1: The review of district organisations should be practical and realistic When the writer responded to the Chief Executive Mr. Tung's intention to review district organisations in November last year, I pointed out clearly as follows. In seeking to find out whether the present structure of district organisations can ensure responsive delivery of services to the evolving community, Mr. TUNG has set a unique and accurate target. For this, we must first of all understand fully the history, being and development process of the set-up of our present two-tier district organizations. Only from knowing the present condition, role, function, use, merits and demerits of the set-up can we formulate in a practical and realistic manner accurate opinions and recommendations on improvement and reform. Only then can we ensure nothing is based on groundless guesswork as well as come up with recommendations that are practical, feasible and genuinely responsive to our evolving community. In short, we must be genuinely practical and realistic if we are to achieve the aim of being responsive to our evolving community.'
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