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Capital Works Select Committee, I am most concerned about the following issues which I believe the public may also have to face in the future.
The first is the Redevelopment of Victoria Park. The Council has already approved the appropriation of funds for the project but its progress will be something we can never tell. The Central Library has been completed amid rows but its operation will also be something we cannot tell. We wouldn't know from whom we should seek help when the project is held back, stalled or ends with a whimper after starting off with a bang. We also don't know whom to turn to when the venue is in need of repair or when the public is in need of a decent hard surface pitch to play football. The Chairman has just now mentioned that the Capital Works Select Committee had been very successful in carrying out its work in the past few years and many projects had been completed as scheduled. This is the result of laborious work of our colleagues and the staff of the Planning and Development Division of USD. Many of my colleagues have just mentioned the appointment system. The Government did indicate that members of the public would be appointed to give their views on the planning of municipal services in future. But I believe that meetings will be held behind closed doors. I myself have also attended some advisory committee meetings which were conducted behind closed doors with a few or so people participating in the discussions and that is all of such meetings. It will be meaningless for us to have further debates on personal appointments which the Government have full authority to decide. I believe that whatever the Government intends to do, they will have it done. However, as representatives of the public, we will not give up so easily even when we are being kicked out of the Council. Being an incumbent DB Member, I have served the District Board for 10 years. I know that DB is a council with neither power nor influence but it does have a certain degree of transparency and Government officials are required to attend its meetings and answer Members' questions, provided that the District Officer has given the green light.
Lastly, I would like to stress that my words are not directed against anyone for his/her dereliction of duty. However, if they have a clear conscience, I hope that they will have a good self-reflection at home or in their offices even though there are no Councillors to supervise their work. They need not explain to us whether they have a guilty conscience, but I believe that their conscience will speak for itself. As a Member of the Council, maybe for the last term, I trust that we are not the ones to blame. I shall step down with honour but without regret. Thank you.
I support the motion.
Mr. Suen Kai-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—Mr Chairman,
The future of the Council is yet unknown. Probably, it may be dissolved in less than one year. Nevertheless, we should do our best to discharge our duties in each of the remaining days. The public will certainly wish to see an Urban
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