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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Mr. Chairman, I hope that under your leadership, our Councillors will devote every effort to further improving municipal services. It is natural in a council that there are controversies between political parties and different views among Councillors. I do not think that this is a problem. I am the Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board and I agree to the views just expressed by Mr. Tommy CHEUNG Yu-yan, on the liquor licensing system. I find the existing liquor licensing system rather confusing. To complete the licensing procedure, we have to refer the information collected to various departments for processing or comment. I hope that in future applications for liquor licences can be handled by a single department to be assisted by seconded staff if necessary instead of being passed around in various departments, resulting in delayed issuance of licences.
Mr. Chairman, I support your motion.
THE CHAIRMAN, PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL (in Cantonese): Are there any other Members who wish to speak? The computer shows that several Members wish to speak but they are absent today. If no more Member wishes to speak, I will declare the adjournment of the meeting. In accordance with the decision of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council, I will exercise my right of reply at the next meeting of the Council to be held on Tuesday, 9 February 1999.
Before the meeting is adjourned, Mr. Joseph CHAN Yuek-sut wishes to clarify his speech made on 12 January. In accordance with Section 21(9) in page 15 of the Standing Order, he has the right to do so. I now invite him to clarify his speech.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman and Colleagues:
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to clarify my speech made at the Annual Convention Debate two days ago. First of all, part of the content of my speech was only my opinion about the personal performance of the Director. By no means does it contain any sex discrimination.
Secondly, I mentioned in my speech that "I was worried because of the ancient sayings that 'a beauty often incurs disasters' and 'a woman usurping man's leading power will bring calamities'. It was hard to predict whether her appointment would bring fortunes or misfortunes'." Such words represent my state of mind when I first met the Director several years ago. I just quoted the ancient sayings to express my state of mind and there was no implication of discrimination against females.
Mr. Chairman, if the two quotations "a beauty often incurs disasters" and "a woman usurping man's leading power will bring calamities" have caused any misunderstanding or disturbance among some people, I would like to withdraw the words now and offer my apology.
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