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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

I think some of my colleagues could play a greater role on this subject. They are in constant touch with people from all walks of life as well as with various groups and organizations. These contacts provide a good base for obtaining feed back from the public on the facilities which this Council made available. Such information should be channeled back to the Departmental Planning Unit so as to ensure that future projects planned are what the public wants.

And I enter

a plea here to my colleagues to contribute their utmost in advising the Planning Unit and the Works Planning Select Committee on what other facilities the people of Hong Kong want.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, I am sure that my friend, P. K. NG, who is unavoidably absent, would join me in thanking our colleagues in the Works Planning Select Committee for their diligence and hard work and commend the Departmental Planning Unit for the alacrity with which they have responded to the challenge of greatly accelerated effort.

I would also like to extend my appreciation to the Public Works Department, in particular the Architectural Office and the Crown Lands and Surveys Office, for their co-operation and intelligent appreciation of the Council's requirement and I am sure you will join with me in expressing the Council's confidence in the services which the P.W.D. is providing to the Council. I hope the P.W.D. would also be able to expand its resources to cope with this Council's ambitious work pro- gramme to be achieved in the years to come.

Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion before Council.

MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, as a Councillor, I find myself in an extremely embarrassing position this year, as there has been an overall charge increase in public utilities and all the people are putting the blame on the Councillors for not doing their best to oppose the increase. There is no denying the fact that the burden falling on the public is heavier than before. Since the Council gained its financial autonomy, we have expanded our services to the public and as a result incurred a huge expenditure. The budget of the Government is based on revenue and expenditure and so I hope that when our finance is put on a sound footing, we should consider increasing the cost of living allowance for our staff.

From my past five years' observation, I have got the impression that the Urban Council only deals with such trivial matters as enter- tainment and recreation and does not embark on far-sighted ambitious programmes. It has never strived to seek more power in order to

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provide a better service to the public. It always fails to recognize the broader meaning of urban service work. This can be seen in its efforts, for examples, to improve the appearance of the city and to provide more entertainment and recreational facilities. The scope of urban service work covers a very wide area and the Council should take the initiative to keep the ball rolling. Though we may encounter many difficulties in the course of our work, we should know that the burden falling on our shoulder is very heavy and we should try our very best to do it well and achieve our aims. In so doing, we may demonstrate the ability of the Council. Years ago, I suggested the construction of a magnificent municipal building at the present site of the Connaught Road Central Fire Station, near the Central Market which is at the very heart of Hong Kong island. However, my suggestion was not seriously looked upon. Recently, I heard that the Hong Kong Government intended to handle the matter in a commercial way. The fire station site will be sold by public auction. I deeply regret that the Government has decided so to do, and I am sure Mr. Chairman who is well-known for his far-sighted- ness and good judgement would share my feeling. Besides, the Govern- ment is now paying out very large amounts for the renting of private premises as offices. If the Government makes full use of its available land to build its own offices, it will solve the problem once and for all. It is really hard to understand why the Government chooses not to adopt this policy.

Like the Municipal Council of England, our Urban Council should have a jurisdiction covering all matters concerning the people and should take up the duties of a local government. In my view, home affairs, education, town planning and local taxation should all come under our jurisdiction. Although the Government is still not willing to allow us to have a free hand, we should nevertheless make preparations for the setting up of a shadow cabinet and for the establishment of a local government. Various ministries for home affairs, economic, education, public works, public utilities and transport should also be formed. These ministries should draw up their respective plans and forward them to the Government for its reference with a view to improving urban administration in the interest of the public. May be I am not so learned, but I am sure that my fellow contributions and gain achieve- ments in this respect.

The Council's efforts in cleaning Hong Kong have achieved some degree of success. On this point, I would like to point out that a large amount of garbage, refuse and used cans are discarded daily by the people and a huge amount of waste paper is produced by offices and schools in particular. Recently, the United States has carried out

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