XN000022-1983-04-18 — Page 2

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1983

GOVERNOR PAYS TRIBUTE TO URBAN COUNCIL

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THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS SEEN MANY CHANGES IN ITS COMPOSITION FUNCTIONS AND METHOD OF SELECTION IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITION OVER THE 100 YEARS OF ITS EXISTENCE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY.

AND IT HAS GROWN FROM A SANITARY BOARD WITH THREE OFFICIALS IN 1883 TO AN ENLARGED ASSEMBLY COMPRISING 30 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO DATE, HE ADDED.

+THAT IS A REFLECTION OF THE NEED FOR PUBLIC BODIES TO RESPOND TO THE CHANGES IN THE SOCIETY WHICH THEY SERVE.

+THE SANITARY BOARD GREW OUT OF A REQUIREMENT TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG THEN LIVED, SIR EDWARD SAID.

THE GOVERNOR WAS SPEAKING AT THE SPECIAL URBAN COUNCIL CENTENARY MEETING HELD AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS TODAY (MONDAY) TO MARK THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S PREDECESSOR BODY, THE SANITARY BOARD, IN 1883.

THIS YEAR IS ALSO THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RECONSTITUTION OF THE COUNCIL IN 1973 AND MARKS THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE NEW PROCESS UNDER WHICH MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME BEEN ELECTED ON A CONSTITUENCY BASIS.

SIR EDWARD RECALLED THAT WHEN SIR GEORGE BOWEN BECAME THE GOVERNOR IN 1883, HE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO INFORM THE SECRETARY OF STATE THAT +PĀRTS OF HONG KONG WERE OVERCROWDED, FILTHY AND DEFICIENT IN ALL THE PRIMARY ELEMENTS OF HEALTH AND DECENCY+.

HOWEVER, HE SAID +WHEN I ASSUMED THE GOVERNORSHIP SOME 99 YEARS LATER FOUND NO NECESSITY TO REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN A SIMILAR VEIN.

+THAT THE NEED HAS GONE OWES MUCH OF THE DETERMINATION OF THIS COUNCIL OVER THE YEARS TO MAKE HONG KONG A CLEANER AND PLEASANTER PLACE TO LIVE IN TO THE BENEFIT BOTH OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND OUR INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION.+

BUT HE ADDED QUICKLY THAT THE COUNCIL'S AREA OF CONCERN HAD LONG GONE BEYOND CLEANSING AND HYGIENE.

WITH ITS INTEREST IN MARKETS, STREET TRADERS, LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AS WELL AS CULTURE, THE COUNCIL IS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES WHICH CLOSELY AFFECT THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF LOCAL CITIZENS.

+THEIR EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT CAN CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR SOCIETY BY MAKING THIS CITY A PLEASANTER. EASIER AND LESS STRESSFUL PLACE TO LIVE IN, AND IN SO DOING CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE SOCIAL EVILS OF THE MODERN WORLD FIND IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GROW.+

/AS THE