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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
401
and for doing something contrary to the spirit of contract. In fact, I think what this incident reflects is the intensification of class contradictions in the current economic recession. The wealthy businessman has already initiated legal action against the Councillors concerned and there is no need for him to make such remarks. What he said is, in fact, tantamount to a warning from the people of a class to those of another class. Another issue I want to bring up is a serious split in the leadership of a political party. This so-called line of struggle is just a social class struggle reflected in a political party. These two issues crop up not only in that political party. The other political parties will also have to realign their own party lines because of the current economic problems and the intensification of social contradictions. They will participate in the future elections, representing the interests of different classes. During this period of economic recession, if they do not have any clear stance, they will be barred from the threshold of councils.
As the social contradictions have intensified, the actions taken by the political parties to put forward their requests are bound to increase and the spearhead will be directed at the commercial sector or the Government representing the interests of the commercial sector. Therefore, should anything go wrong in the policies formulated by the Government, the Government will come under attack by the political parties and by those which are dissatisfied with the Government. At the same time, it will also be attacked by those groups representing the interests of the commercial and industrial sectors. As such, the Government will face attacks on all sides and there may be a management crisis as well.
With regard to the most important task for the Government, is it aimed to solve the social problems or to create social problems? Should the councils be fully used as a buffer against the social contradictions or should they be dissolved to facilitate a hand-to-hand combat between the Government and the public? Dissolving the Urban Council does not mean breaking the Councillors' "rice bowls", but only depriving the public of their political rights. If the problems arising from the dissolution of the Municipal Councils are not properly resolved, then it will not be a blessing for Hong Kong, Mr. Chairman, I make the above remarks from the bottom of my heart, in the hope that the Government will listen to me. Nevertheless, whether the Government will listen to me or not, I will support your motion. Thank you!
Mr. Lai Hok-LIM (in Cantonese): —Mr. Chairman,
A recent round of consultation carried out by the Government is on how to form a new structure for arts and culture. Having attended one of the consultation forums, I learnt that the general concern of the arts and cultural community is on how resources will be allocated under the new framework and how it will be set up. A more important question few people have asked is on how to prevent the Tung Chee-hwa Administration with obvious ideological disposition from directly affecting or interfering with the freedom of arts and
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