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Consequently, such funds are held in reserve and are thus specifically set aside just for the capital works which Hong Kong needs. Because public money must be spent for the good of the community, such reserve funds will run down, once all these many works are completed.
There has also been some doubt on what the Council intends to do in the financial years following 1977-78. The Council hides nothing from the public because it has nothing to hide. When the Council was deliberating how much to reduce its rate percentage by, it was only proper that it should also tell the people, there and then, that if in subsequent years its expenditure rose beyond its revenue from the rate and all other sources, it must evidently find more money. It did so even at the risk of being unpopular. In fact, it is the Council's declared policy always to be open and honest and never to fool the people in any way. In the unlikely event that the Council runs out of funds, it could not rightly take any retrograde measure, say, to lower its standards of service or even to hold up its projects. In the midst of comparative affluence here, Hong Kong must go forward steadily to build up a city equal to any in our region, and must not falter in this target. So the Council said openly that it reserved its position in case it might have to ask for an increase in subsequent years. This was the right and honest thing to do. Clearly, this does not mean that it will definitely ask the community for more rate money. Even if it were to suggest a tentative figure now, which it will not do, it would naturally stand down if additional funds were not needed. In practice, no increase in the rate will be sought if the yield from each percentage point grows naturally with new property development on an extensive scale.
The Council's own record over the last four years is proof enough that it is very careful with public money and prudently spends on the community only what it gets. And, it asks for no more. Indeed, it started with 6% and carried on without any increase at all. And now, on its own initiative, it is cutting down its rate revenue substantially just to help the urban population in the only way the Council is capable of doing under the law.
It can only hope, for the sake of harmonious community relations, that any future revaluation of property for taxation purposes, will be gradual and judicious and will be seen to be strictly fair to the people, and with the intended basis of assessment well explained and open to public challenge before the exercise begins.
This is the Council's case.
(Mr. John MacKENZIE, Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG, Mrs. Grace HO, Mr. H. M. G. FORSGATE and Mr. Ambrose K. C. CHOI arrived at this point.)
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of January, 1977.
QUESTIONS
(1) MR. JOHN MacKenzie asked the following question (in English):
Has any destruction of Trees, or damage to Trees, resulted from the use of Council sites by the MTR construction units?
How many Council sites have been made available to the Mass Transit Authority, and on what terms? When is it expected that Chater Garden will be returned for Council development?
MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):
Mr. Chairman, no trees on Council sites on Hong Kong Island have been felled or damaged as a result of the construction of the MTR. However, 39 trees on Crown Land have been removed to make way for the construction of the Admiralty Station, and two trees on the old Cricket Club site at Chater Road were removed prior to the formal handing-over of the site to the Council to allow the MTR work to proceed.
In Kowloon, seven trees in Kowloon Park and twelve trees in the Wang Tau Hom Estate Playground No. 1 have been felled with the approval of the Council to make way for the MTR. In addition, seven trees in Kowloon Park and 308 trees in the Wang Tau Hom Estate Playground No. 1 have been transplanted.
Seventeen Council sites have been made available to the MTR. These either form the whole or parts of public pleasure grounds which have been handed over to the Corporation for use mainly as works areas during the construction of
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212
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Consequently, such funds are held in reserve and are thus specifically set aside just for the capital works which Hong Kong needs. Because public money must be spent for the good of the community, such reserve funds will run down, once all these many works are completed.
There has also been some doubt on what the Council intends to do in the financial years following 1977-78. The Council hides nothing from the public because it has nothing to hide. When the Council was deliberating how much to reduce its rate percentage by, it was only proper that it should also tell the people, there and then, that if in subsequent years its expenditure rose beyond its revenue from the rate and all other sources, it must evidently find more money. It did so even at the risk of being unpopular. In fact, it is the Council's declared policy always to be open and honest and never to fool the people in any way. In the unlikely event that the Council runs out of funds, it could not rightly take any retrograde measure, say, to lower its standards of service or even to hold up its projects. In the midst of comparative affluence here, Hong Kong must go forward steadily to build up a city equal to any in our region, and must not falter in this target. So the Council said openly that it reserved its position in case it might have to ask for an increase in subsequent years. This was the right and honest thing to do. Clearly, this does not mean that it will definitely ask the community for more rate money. Even if it were to suggest a tentative figure now, which it will not do, it would naturally stand down if additional funds were not needed. In practice, no in- crease in the rate will be sought if the yield from each percentage point grows naturally with new property development on an extensive scale.
The Council's own record over the last four years is proof enough that it is very careful with public money and prudently spends on the community only what it gets. And, it asks for no more. Indeed, it started with 6% and carried on without any increase at all. And now, on its own initiative, its is cutting down its rate revenue substantially just to help the urban population in the only way the Council is capable of doing under the law.
It can only hope, for the sake of harmonious community relations, that any future revaluation of property for taxation purposes, will be gradual and judicious and will be seen to be strictly fair to the people, and with the intended basis of assessment well explained and open to public challenge before the exercise begins.
This is the Council's case.
(Mr. John MacKENZIE, Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG, Mrs. Grace HO, Mr. H. M. G. FORSGATE and Mr. Ambrose K. C. CHOI arrived at this point.)
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of January, 1977.
QUESTIONS
(1) MR. JOHN MacKenzie asked the following question (in English):
Has any destruction of Trees, or damage to Trees, resulted from the use of Council sites by the MTR construction units?
How many Council sites have been made available to the Mass Transit Authority, and on what terms? When is it ex- pected that Chater Garden will be returned for Council development?
MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English) :·
Mr. Chairman, no trees on Council sites on Hong Kong Island have been felled or damaged as a result of the construc- tion of the MTR. However, 39 trees on Crown Land have been removed to make way for the construction of the Admiralty Station, and two trees on the old Cricket Club site at Chater Road were removed prior to the formal handing-over of the site to the Council to allow the MTR work to proceed.
In Kowloon, seven trees in Kowloon Park and twelve trees in the Wang Tau Hom Estate Playground No. 1 have been felled with the approval of the Council to make way for the MTR. In addition, seven trees in Kowloon Park and 308 trees in the Wang Tau Hom Estate Playground No. 1 have been transplanted.
Seventeen Council sites have been made available to the MTR. These either form the whole or parts of public pleasure grounds which have been handed over to the Corporation for use mainly as works areas during the construction of
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