Page 67 of 135
100
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and gentlemen, it is just 2.30 p.m. and we will proceed with today's meeting which is the Annual Conventional Debate.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 9th November, 1976 were confirmed.
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 November, 1976.
MOTION
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved the following motion (in English):-
Appendix I "THAT this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1977.”
He said: For many years, the Council did not have the means but only the will to do more for the betterment of living conditions here in matters under the Council's responsibility. It depended on Government policy and finances. It had to compete against other claims on public resources. All the same, it pressed strongly for community development and stood for social progress.
But the situation changed in 1973. The Council was then given by law separate administrative responsibility and direct control over its own revenue and expenditure. Thus, when it makes its decisions, it has now the means to put them into effect. To do so properly, nevertheless, it is first necessary to define objectives and set priorities, and then determine the amount of human and financial resources to be applied for the attainment of each goal. Hence, the importance of the Council's Statement of Aims.
A good foundation is thus being laid. The pattern of operation in the future is also emerging. Simply stated, the basic aim is to give far better service to the people in every way within the Council's power. There is still very much more to do, of course. Not only to catch up with a heavy backlog of works and to start new schemes, but also because the Council has still to re-organize completely its working arrangements to accord with the prevailing circumstances. This process of shaping the way the Urban Services Department functions to suit the Council's requirements is a long one. It is not always easy to achieve. For, old working habits die hard and entrenched procedures are difficult to modify. It will probably be advisable to engage independent consultancy services to probe into our structure and operations so as to help improve them. Whatever may be done, there is still the overriding need to cope expeditiously with the growing demand for better community services. Truly, the pace of change is accelerating in Hong Kong, and the Council has a leading role to play in guiding community progress.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
101
achieve. For, old working habits die hard and entrenched procedures are difficult to modify. It will probably be advisable to engage independent consultancy services to probe into our structure and operations so as to help improve them. Whatever may be done, there is still the overriding need to cope expeditiously with the growing demand for better community services. Truly, the pace of change is accelerating in Hong Kong, and the Council has a leading role to play in guiding community progress.
Side by side with the progressive overhaul of the departmental machinery, a careful exercise is being carried out on the Council's finances. The purpose is to secure our revenue base and to anchor it firmly, while examining expenditure at the same time. Far too dependent on the rate, the Council has tried also to assess its secondary sources of revenue in relation to costs of service in each case. Any consequential adjustment which should be made ought necessarily to be a gradual one so as not to disrupt established activities or upset existing means of livelihood. But there are imbalances to correct because the community as a whole should not be expected to subvent sectional profit-making interests. In other words, if the Council could stop it, there should be no private gain at public expense unless clearly for a deserving community purpose.
When we adopted the next financial year's budget last month, certain aspects were brought out for your consideration. Indeed, some searching questions were asked; I trust you have studied their import. It is my hope that in this Annual Debate you will find the answers in order that we may together chart this Council's future course of action.
It seems that we will soon be in the midst of plenty. It is likely to be only a temporary advantage; the high cost of our labour-intensive operations will soon score against us, and so the Council will be back to deuce before long. Yet, how to put all our new-found resources to good purpose is the challenge. Or else, let me say it again, it would be fair and proper of us to give some back in cash by cutting our rate percentage on a wholesale basis, or perhaps enter into a selective arrangement to remit rates in part, if we are agreed that we cannot do much more in kind for the good of the mass of our people. But, this would be to concede defeat, no less.
The spotlight has been turned on our rate revenue, presumably to divert public complaint away from the Government's steep re-assessment of rateable values in which we had no say at all. Let us then stand back and size up the financial position according to the people's needs and determine also the Council's ability to provide for them adequately. As ever, it is just not enough for us to recognize a
Page 67 of 135
Page 67 of 135
100
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and gentlemen, it is just 2.30 p.m. and we will proceed with today's meeting which is the Annual Con- ventional Debate.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 9th November, 1976 were confirmed.
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 November, 1976.
MOTION
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved the following motion (in English):-
Appendix I "THAT this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1977.”
He said: For many years, the Council did not have the means but only the will to do more for the betterment of living conditions here in matters under the Council's responsibility. It depended on Government policy and finances. It had to compete against other claims on public resources. All the same, it pressed strongly for community development and stood for social progress.
But the situation changed in 1973. The Council was then given by law separate administrative responsibility and direct control over its own revenue and expenditure. Thus, when it makes its decisions, it has now the means to put them into effect. To do so properly, nevertheless, it is first necessary to define objectives and set priorities, and then determine the amount of human and financial resources to be applied for the attainment of each goal. Hence, the importance of the Council's Statement of Aims.
A good foundation is thus being laid. The pattern of operation in the future is also emerging. Simply stated, the basic aim is to give far better service to the people in every way within the Council's power. There is still very much more to do, of course. Not only to catch up with a heavy backlog of works and to start new schemes, but also because the Council has still to re-organize completely its working arrangements to accord with the prevailing circumstances. This process of shaping the way the Urban Services Department functions to suit the Council's requirements is a long one. It is not always easy to
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
101
achieve. For, old working habits die hard and entrenched procedures are difficult to modify. It will probably be advisable to engage inde- pendent consultancy services to probe into our structure and operations so as to help improve them. Whatever may be done, there is still the overriding need to cope expeditiously with the growing demand for better community services. Truly, the pace of change is accelerating in Hong Kong, and the Council has a leading role to play in guiding community progress.
Side by side with the progressive overhaul of the departmental machinery, a careful exercise is being carried out on the Council's finances. The purpose is to secure our revenue base and to anchor it firmly, while examining expenditure at the same time. Far too de- pendent on the rate, the Council has tried also to assess its secondary sources of revenue in relation to costs of service in each case. Any consequential adjustment which should be made ought necessarily to be a gradual one so as not to disrupt established activities or upcet existing means of livelihood. But there are imbalances to correct because the community as a whole should not be expected to subvent sectional profit-making interests. In other words, if the Council could stop it, there should be no private gain at public expense unless clearly for a deserving community purpose.
When we adopted the next financial year's budget last month, certain aspects were brought out for your consideration. Indeed, some searching questions were asked; I trust you have studied their import. It is my hope that in this Annual Debate you will find the answers in order that we may together chart this Council's future course of action.
It seems that we will soon be in the midst of plenty. It is likely to be only a temporary advantage; the high cost of our labour-intensive operations will soon score against us, and so the Council will be back to deuce before long. Yet, how to put all our new-found resources to good purpose is the challenge. Or else, let me say it again, it would be fair and proper of us to give some back in cash by cutting our rate percentage on a wholesale basis, or perhaps enter into a selective arrangement to remit rates in part, if we are agreed that we cannot do much more in kind for the good of the mass of our people. But, this would be to concede defeat, no less.
The spotlight has been turned on our rate revenue, presumably to divert public complaint away from the Government's steep re- assessment of rateable values in which we had no say at all. Let us then stand back and size up the financial position according to the people's needs and determine also the Council's ability to provide for them adequately. As ever, it is just not enough for us to recognize a
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