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problems are common to us and I think we should stick together to see things through and to overcome them with confidence and goodwill.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion before Council. (Applause).
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left the meeting at this point.)
MR. CHAN CHI-KWAN, PETER (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, This is the second Annual Debate since the re-organization of the Council and its financial autonomy. Also this is the sixth time that I take part in the debate. I must regard it as a shame to me to have seen that the Council has not only failed to expand its scope of jurisdiction but is required to hand over the management of car-parks to the government. This means a further reduction of its power. It is, in fact, unnecessary for me to reiterate what I had mentioned at a debate on financial matters last month about my opposition against a further reduction of the Council's power.
Speaking on the financial management of the Council, I do not have any adverse comment on the whole, except on the use of four to five hundred thousand dollars on the last Urbco Exhibition, which expenditure I strongly objected from the very beginning to the end. In fact, public response has sufficiently reflected that my personal view on the matter was not lack of support, though I also deeply believe that the purpose of holding such an exhibition is to enable the public to have a better understanding of the Council. Anyway, the cost for this is too high and I do not hope that such expensive and labour-consuming programmes will be held again.
The Council intends to contribute $300,000 to the Hong Kong Arts Festival which is due to begin soon. It can be seen from the records that I had strongly objected to this move in the Committee Meeting. Though I don't understand much about arts, $300,000 is a very great sum.
At a time when the whole world is suffering from an economic recession and every country is trying its best to exercise frugality, I sincerely hope that the executive Committee of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society Limited would greatly retrench expenses so that this Council can reduce its contributions. In this way we will not be wasting the money of the rates-paying public.
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According to unverified reports there are at the moment possibly 200,000 people in a state of unemployment or underemployment. If the Council can do away with all the unnecessary expenses and subsidies, and try to create some more temporary unskilled posts (such as cleansing workers of various categories), then both these people and the society will get the benefit. Even if, in so doing, we had to use the several ten million dollars of the Council's reserves, our actions would not be unjustified.
In the past five years, I used to touch on subjects which are outside the jurisdiction of the Council. This year, I intend to make them short because I would prefer to use more time to gain a deeper insight into the various problems now plaguing the community especially the middle-and-low-classed people and the poverty-stricken public who are worried about how to make both ends meet. However, I am confident that with the industrious characteristic and the great adaptability to unfavourable circumstances of the people of Hong Kong, we will surely ride out this difficult period which will not be too long.
On every Annual Debate, there are more than twenty Councillors who reel off their opinions but they seldom realize how busy the staff of the Council Secretariat are in translating, fairing and printing their speeches during the ten-odd days before the debate. I would therefore like to avail myself of this opportunity to extend my gratitude to this group of behind-the-curtain heroes.
With these remarks, I support the motion. (Applause.)
CHAIRMAN (in English):-I would like to thank those members who have spoken today.
ADJOURNMENT — 4.25 P.M.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-As agreed, the Debate will now be adjourned until Thursday, 16th January, 1975 at 2.30 p.m. Council stands so adjourned.
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problems are common to us and I think we should stick together to see things through and to overcome them with confidence and goodwill.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion before Council. (Applause).
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left the meeting at this point.)
MR. CHAN CHI-KWAN, PETER (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, This is the second Annual Debate since the re-organization of the Council and its financial autonomy. Also this is the sixth time that I take part in the debate. I must regard it as a shame to me to have seen that the Council has not only failed to expand its scope of jurisdic- tion but is required to hand over the management of car-parks to the government. This means a further reduction of its power. It is, in fact, unnecessary for me to reiterate what I had mentioned at a debate on financial matters last month about my opposition against a further reduction of the Council's power.
Speaking on the financial management of the Council, I do not have any adverse comment on the whole, except on the use of four to five hundred thousand dollars on the last Urbco Exhibition, which expenditure I strongly objected from the very beginning to the end. In fact, public response has sufficiently reflected that my personal view on the matter was not lack of support, though I also deeply believe that the purpose of holding such an exhibition is to enable the public to have a better understanding of the Council. Anyway, the cost for this is too high and I do not hope that such expensive and labour- consuming programmes will be held again.
The Council intends to contribute $300,000 to the Hong Kong Art's Festival which is due to begin soon. It can be seen from the records that I had strongly objected to this move in the Committee Meeting. Though I don't understand much about arts, $300,000 is a very great sum.
At a time when the whole world is suffering from a economic re- cession and every country is trying its best to exercise frugality, I sincerely hope that the executive Committee of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society Limited would greatly retrench expenses so that this Council can reduce its contributions. In this way we will not be wasting the money of the rates-paying public.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 140 of 187
241
According to unverified reports there are at the moment possibly 200,000 people in a state of unemployment or underemployment. If the Council can do away with all the unnecessary expenses and sub- sidies, and try to create some more temporary unskilled posts (such as cleansing workers of various catagories), then both these people and the society will get the benefit. Even if, in so doing, we had to use the several ten million dollars of the Council's reserves, our actions would not be unjustified.
In the past five years, I used to touch on subjects which are out- side the jurisdiction of the Council. This year, I intend to make them short because I would prefer to use more time to gain a deeper insight into the various problems now plaguing the community especially the middle-and-low-classed people and the poverty-stricken public who are worried about how to make both ends meet. However, I am confident that with the industrious characteristic and the great adaptability to unfavourable circumstances of the people of Hong Kong, we will surely ride out this difficult period which will not be too long.
On every Annual Debate, there are more than twenty Councillors who reel off their opinions but they seldom realize how busy the staff of the Council Secretariat are in translating, fairing and printing their speeches during the ten-odd days before the debate. I would therefore like to avail myself of this opportunity to extend my gratitude to this group of behind-the-curtain heroes.
With these remarks, I support the motion. (Applause.) CHAIRMAN (in English):-I would like to thank those members who have spoken today.
ADJOURNMENT — 4.25 P.M.
-
CHAIRMAN (in English):-As agreed, the Debate will now be adjourned until Thursday, 16th January, 1975 at 2.30 p.m. Council stands so adjourned.
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