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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

There are recommendations in the Report for an expansion in the Urban Council's scope to include matters concerning Education, Social Welfare, Traffic and Transport, and Medical Services, which have a close affinity to the daily lives and needs of our urban population.

I am convinced that if the Government were to carry out a poll of public opinion in Hong Kong, the overwhelming majority of the people would be in favour of giving the Urban Council some responsibilities in these subjects which are so directly related to their daily living environment.

Phase I also recommends that the Government should train a cadre of simultaneous interpreters so that simultaneous translation in English and Cantonese may be introduced into the Council's meetings at an early stage. We are still awaiting Government's decision on this recommendation.

The fact that the Elected Members have not walked out again since last March ought to be taken and accepted by the Government as an indication of the self-restraint and self-discipline of the Elected Membership of this Council.

If there is no positive action forthcoming by the Government on the reform of local government within a reasonably short time and in a manner acceptable to the Elected Members, consideration will have to be given to taking appropriate action to impress upon the Government the need for giving this subject a higher priority. I assure you, Mr. Chairman, that whatever action is taken by the Elected Members in the near future will not be mere gestures of showmanship, but will, as far as the Elected Members are concerned, sincerely represent their continued serious concern at the very slow pace of change towards local government reform in Hong Kong.

Mr. Chairman, I now move the motion which reads:

"Resolved that this Council continue to press the Government to implement the recommendations of the March 1969 Urban Council Report on the Reform of Local Government."

MR. PETER C. K. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, I rise to second the Motion, but reserve my speech under Standing Order 10, rule 11.

CHAIRMAN: The Motion has been moved and seconded, does any Member wish to speak?

MR. LO TAK-SHING:-Mr. Chairman, may I propose an amendment to it? Is this the correct time to do that? I am wholeheartedly behind the sentiment which underlines the Motion from my friend Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, that considered recommendations from this Council should not be shelved by Government indefinitely or at all. However,

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I think it would be a mistake for this Council to press for the implementation of recommendations, without further discussion or consideration, particularly when it may be said that the chief aim of these recommendations is to increase the power of the Council.

We all know that conditions in Hong Kong do change quickly, and this has been particularly true in the last few years. Should not the Council be given a chance to reappraise its recommendations, in the light of all that's happened since they were made? Perhaps it would wish to strengthen some of these recommendations, perhaps it would wish to modify the priority for the phasing, perhaps other adjustments are needed in the light of Hong Kong today. Furthermore, these recommendations were made by Council in 1969, since when its membership has changed somewhat, and two of us here today were not Members then. I mention this one with some diffidence, in that I am one of the two new Members here, and I do feel that it would be fairer if we were given, all given, a chance to discuss these very important recommendations before being asked to rubber-stamp them. Accordingly, Mr. Chairman, may I propose that the Motion be amended in a very minor way, so that we could support it with a unanimity that I am sure it deserves, namely, delete the words 'to implement' and substitute therefore the words "for a decision on".

DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG:-Mr. Chairman, Mr. P. S. Woo wants me to read a small remark in support of Mr. Lo's amendment. Mr. Chairman, I beg to second Mr. Lo's amendment. However, my reasons are quite different from Mr. Lo's. I personally feel that it is up to the new Members to study the Motion, and if it's necessary to move another motion to take this

MR. BERNACCHI:-On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, can a Member not present second a Motion? Either a concrete Motion or a Motion amending another Motion?

MRS. SYMONS:-Mr. Chairman, if the answer to Mr. BERNACCHI'S question is "no", then, as Mr. Woo is not here, may I?

CHAIRMAN:-I accept that.

MRS. SYMONS:-I would like to second this amendment proposed by Mr. Lo. It is my firm belief that a decision should not be further delayed, if Members of this Council are to play a fuller part in the life of our city. Mr. Chairman, I reiterate what I said at the Annual Debate last year.

Like Mr. Lo, I came on inheriting the 1969 report. I did ask, unofficially, whether there would be anything that I, as a newcomer, could say.

The answer was it was a fait accompli, it was a report that very, very many people had worked on over a long period, and it was now in the hands of the Secretariat. I therefore did what I felt was

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