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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
489
He said (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, today's motion under my name is 'Resolved that the Council appoint an academic institution or expert to compile the history of the Urban Council.'
116 years ago, i.e. in 1883 A.D., Queen Victoria was still reigning Britain and China was under the Qing Dynasty (the 11th year of Emperor Guangxu). The population in Hong Kong was around 110,000 of mainly Chinese. Europeans or English and Indians numbered only 4,000-odd. At that time, Hong Kong faced problems of inadequate supply of fresh water, insufficient sewers, dirt, soot and air pollution. The wheels of time kept turning and 116 years soon passed. Today in Hong Kong, we are still faced with serious environmental problems. What kind of change did we bring about in the last 116 years in respect of sanitary conditions, recreation and sports?
One obvious difference as compared to 1883 is the transformation of the former Sanitary Board into the present day (Provisional) Urban Council with a mechanism for improving and solving sanitary problems. Many people may ask why I move this motion today. Does it signify an end, a close down, so that it is now time for a 'verdict'? No, this is not the angle from which I am looking at the matter.
After reunification, there is a general atmosphere to review the past and look back at the history of Hong Kong in the last century. This is the line I am taking. I feel there is need to look back at the Council's history for a fresh reflection. There are two main reasons for this.
First, it is about timing. No matter it is fated to be One Council One Department or disbandment, this Council has by now come to a turning point. It is time opportune for us to review our 116 years of history in municipal services from 1883. The compilation of a complete book of history of the Council is therefore very meaningful. Many people involved in the operations of this Council in its early days are still alive. They can give testimony to the Council's history and relate their personal experiences to help compile the Council's history. If we delay further, we may lose the opportunity to gather first-hand experiences from them.
Secondly, as the saying goes, 'learning from the past teaches us on the present, carrying forward from the past enables us to forge ahead in the future'. In the past year, there was considerable controversy over the existence of this Council. Those for or against the proposal of abolition voiced different views about the function of the Council in the past. Some felt the Council had completed its historical mission. Others believed the Council had made great contributions to Hong Kong and her past. There is not one complete book of history offering systematic information as a base for us to reach any conclusions. What role did the Council play in the past 116 years in the development of Hong Kong? What changes were apparent in municipal constructions, cultural, recreational and sports policies? We are all aware that our work at present is very different from the past. In 1953, we had our
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Page 569 of 606
Page 569 of 606