Page 21 of 154
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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Ladies and gentlemen, it is just 4 o'clock. I would now like to call this meeting to order and proceed with the business on the Agenda.
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 8th April, 1975 were confirmed.
## STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-In the past two years, the Council has taken a most practical approach in committing funds cautiously and to good purpose.
The need to exercise even greater caution in entering into new commitments or expanding existing ones has intensified. All select committees should now, even more than ever before, examine the financial aspects of all proposals thoroughly, both as to recurrent expenditure and the initial outlay of funds.
(Mr. B. A. BERNACCHI arrived at this point.)
It would be easy and popular to give way to suggestions for more activities and new ventures, but public respect must be earned, as we are doing, and it can only come from an objective appraisal of each and every proposal before reaching a decision on the merits of the case. For this reason, I have urged our select committees repeatedly to go carefully into every proposal; I have likewise asked the department to control all disbursements closely. It is not enough for either a select committee or the department to say that there is money in a particular vote to justify spending it. True, disbursements must be in line with the purpose for which the money was voted in the first instance; even so, all concerned must be satisfied that any expenditure is essential and realistic, and it should also not be more than what private enterprise would pay for the same article or the same service.
(Miss Cecilia L. Y. YEUNG arrived at this point.)
Indeed, as the Council is handling public money, all involved must be even more scrupulous to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that each dollar spent is for a worthwhile cause and gets a fair return of benefit to the people.
11
When we deal with our own money, we are free, within reason and the limitations of our own personal responsibilities, to do as we please; but, where public funds are concerned, we are not. On the contrary, we have the obligation to make sure that we are discharging our public duty properly by using such money judiciously and to the best advantage of the community.
The Council has now reached a point when we anticipate spending in any one year more than the revenue we get. If we are to keep up with public expectation for more and better service, we should look closely at any project and see how it fits into what we ourselves wish to do in the discharge of our total responsibility. For this reason, I urge that more time be given in our select committee meetings to the study of policy and the examination of our programmes in all their implications rather than to deal at length with minor matters best left for departmental action.
Because of Hong Kong's present difficulties, it is prudent to review our circumstances in all seriousness and to plot a sound course in the tough years right ahead. The prospect is not altogether reassuring. All the more reason, then, for us to take a firm grip on our policies and programmes, and not let our enthusiasm run away with us. In addition, in the present period of financial restraint, the Government appears to want its pound of flesh. We are thus compelled to study closely our financial arrangements with them. Otherwise, the Council might be compromising its future inadvertently. Moreover, we must also guard against the backwash of such a policy; so, we should not act too eagerly to underwrite expenditure not of our direct responsibility, but that of departments other than the Urban Services Department. Those who know these matters well also know that I am not crying wolf.
In sum, I am asking the Council today to look deep into our immediate prospects and to determine jointly in Standing Committee and severally in our select committees what we wish to do and how we may be able to achieve our aims in a fair and practical way. It would not be wise to make heavy weather of petty matters for we need the time and the will to consider the basic issues. Without doing so, we would not do as well and perhaps not even all we want and know we could achieve by concentration of effort and single-mindedness of purpose. Above all, we must be masters of our own house.
Page 21 of 154
Page 21 of 154
10
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Ladies and gentlemen, it is just 4 o'clock. I would now like to call this meeting to order and proceed with the business on the Agenda.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 8th April, 1975 were con- firmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-In the past two years, the Council has taken a most practical approach in committing funds cautiously and to good purpose.
The need to exercise even greater caution in entering into new commitments or expanding existing ones has intensified. All select committees should now, even more than ever before, examine the financial aspects of all proposals thoroughly, both as to recurrent expenditure and the initial outlay of funds.
(Mr. B. A. BERNACCHI arrived at this point.)
It would be easy and popular to give way to suggestions for more activities and new ventures, but public respect must be earned, as we are doing, and it can only come from an objective appraisal of each and every proposal before reaching a decision on the merits of the case. For this reason, I have urged our select committees repeatedly to go carefully into every proposal; I have likewise asked the depart- ment to control all disbursements closely. It is not enough for either a select committee or the department to say that there is money in a particular vote to justify spending it. True, disbursements must be in line with the purpose for which the money was voted in the first in- stance; even so, all concerned must be satisfied that any expenditure is essential and realistic, and it should also not be more than what private enterprise would pay for the same article or the same service.
(Miss Cecilia L. Y. YEUNG arrived at this point.)
Indeed, as the Council is handling public money, all involved must be even more scrupulous to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that each
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
11
dollar spent is for a worthwhile cause and gets a fair return of benefit to the people.
When we deal with our own money, we are free, within reason and the limitations of our own personal responsibilities, to do as we please; but, where public funds are concerned, we are not. On the contrary, we have the obligation to make sure that we are discharging our public duty properly by using such money judiciously and to the best advantage of the community.
The Council has now reached a point when we anticipate spending in any one year more than the revenue we get. If we are to keep up with public expectation for more and better service, we should look closely at any project and see how it fits into what we ourselves wish to do in the discharge of our total responsibility. For this reason, I urge that more time be given in our select committee meetings to the study of policy and the examination of our programmes in all their implications rather than to deal at length with minor matters best left for departmental action.
Because of Hong Kong's present difficulties, it is prudent to review our circumstances in all seriousness and to plot a sound course in the tough years right ahead. The prospect is not altogether reassuring. All the more reason, then, for us to take a firm grip on our policies and programmes, and not let our enthusiasm run away with us. In addition, in the present period of financial restraint, the Government appears to want its pound of flesh. We are thus compelled to study closely our financial arrangements with them. Otherwise, the Council might be compromising its future inadvertently. Moreover, we must also guard against the backwash of such a policy; so, we should not act too eagerly to underwrite expenditure not of our direct responsi- bility, but that of departments other than the Urban Services Depart- Those who know these matters well also know that I am not crying wolf.
ment.
In sum, I am asking the Council today to look deep into our immediate prospects and to determine jointly in Standing Committee and severally in our select committees what we wish to do and how we may be able to achieve our aims in a fair and practical way. It would not be wise to make heavy weather of petty matters for we need the time and the will to consider the basic issues. Without doing so, we would not do as well and perhaps not even all we want and know we could achieve by concentration of effort and single-mindedness of purpose. Above all, we must be masters of our own house.
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