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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
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Council's history of more than 100 years, no Member has ever been prosecuted for criminal offences. Mr. Chairman, you may have to correct me on this point if there have been such prosecutions, but as far as I can recall, there is none. However, there are Legislative Councillors who have committed criminal offences. Then, do we have to dissolve the Legislative Council merely for the wrongdoings of one or two Councillors? This is somewhat like putting the cart before the horse with the facts being distorted. Very often, the Urban Councillors or Members of other Councils, and even some media workers, have all fallen into the traps set by the Government and misled the public into making the wrong choice. They have been induced to think that “all troubles will come to an end with the scrapping of the Urban Council". But is that the case?
Many fellow colleagues have talked about this Council's achievements. However, our achievements have never been reported or made known to the people. This is because the Council carries out its duties in a pragmatic manner and we want to directly benefit the public in what we do. Let's take the reduction of rentals as an example. This Council took the lead in reducing market stall rentals to relieve the hardship of the public in the midst of the current economic downturn. Even the Housing Authority was not as determined as we did in caring for the well-being of the people. What has our Government done for the public? Hence, if the Council is to be dissolved solely for the poor performance of its Councillors, it must be admitted that something which is not true has been unduly exaggerated.
I would also like to talk about the unaccomplished tasks in my term, at which I still have much regret and I wonder if Mr. Chairman would share my feeling. These tasks include the construction of the high-temperature incinerator and waste recycling as mentioned by fellow colleagues. These projects were previously within the Urban Council's ambit of responsibility but have been put under the control of other departments by the Government. If the departments concerned are willing to do their jobs and an executive-led administration can put everything in order, then why should they still have to worry about the overflowing of landfills and the incapability in handling the overspill? This is because they did not take heed of our opinions. I alone have moved more than four motions in this regard during my term of office, let alone those being moved for discussion in other committees. However, did our Government listen to us? Volumes of well-written consultancy reports have been compiled, but how much has been done? The waste recycling trade hoped to get Government assistance, but how much assistance has our Government given after all? This is so much a regret to me.
Lastly, I still have one more remark to make: we are here today in defence of the survival of the Urban Council, and this has nothing to do with protecting our own interests as some people have said. Let us put this clearly in mind even if we are not appointed, and even if this is not the Provisional Urban Council but the Urban Council elected in 1995, we still have to offer
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