1976 — Page 71

108

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Authority or for that matter the Housing Department, got to fear from public meetings? Even some of the Urban Councillors on the Authority themselves are not united in this demand for public meetings where questions have to be answered in public and public supplemen- taries that pry deep into the boundless depths of the Housing Depart- ment have to be answered in public. If it were so, the Housing Department would emerge a better able to cope with the present present problems that are largely caused by the younger generations growing up in over crowded conditions of these Public Housing estates. As an example of the unfairness of the rentals, you have only got to compare, for instance, Hing Wah Stage I whose rentals were fixed by the Urban Council at $20, $30 or $40 per month and rental in Hing Wah Stage II, which is fixed by the Housing Authority, in hundreds of dollars. The same accommodation, the same area, every- thing the same except the rentals. The Governor may speak of his aims for the Housing Authority in a 10 year programme, very good aims, but it is useless unless it is in accordance with the means of the public to pay the rentals. The Reform Club has always supported the proposal of home-ownership: it gives a sense of belonging to the citizens of Hong Kong. But naturally it can only be a small offshoot of the very much larger rented estates in Public Housing and I say again the Government must be prepared to subvent Public Housing, either directly by enabling the Housing Authority to charge a very much less rent, or indirectly through a very much expanded rental allowance, through the Social Welfare Department.

Expansion of jurisdiction, franchise and composition the Urban Council

I have talked about bringing Public Housing back within the jurisdiction of the Urban Council. I suggest that Social Welfare be also under this jurisdiction and that we have recognized elected representatives on the Government Town Planning, Transport and Education Boards. I think further consideration should be given to district councils with the Urban Council being a co-ordinating body in a two-tiered system of municipal government. I think that certain features of the Urban Council's work, such as the keeping of beaches, street sweeping, licensing of cafes, restaurants and hawkers should be under the Urban Council whether they are in the urban areas or in the New Territories. In other words the Urban Council should have a limited jurisdiction over municipal topics, rather than the Statutory limits to areas of urban Hong Kong. The Director of Urban Services' tasks in particular are unenviable and absurd and in fact, very wisely, he usually takes guidance from the Urban Council's decisions and applies them to the New Territories. The Urban Council

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Page 71 of 135

109

itself should not of course be called the Urban Council. 2 years ago it was agreed even by Senior Government officials to change the name to City Council, but UMELCO objected. The so-called government- appointed unofficials on the Executive Council and the Legislative Council objected, and so at the last moment it was refused, just as the creation of an ombudsman was refused even though it had got so far as having legislation drafted, because of the same objection.

Finally I consider that it is an insult to the citizens of Hong Kong that only so few should have the power to vote and these few are not really the people whose daily lives come under the Urban Council. There should be universal franchise, the only requirements being a few years' residence and 18 years of age and they should elect the majority of the Urban Council. There is no call for 50/50 to be maintained at Urban Council's level. I am not suggesting that the appointed representatives resign or anything like that, I am saying that the Urban Council should be expanded and expanded by the addition of elected members.

Mr. Chairman, with these words, I support your motion.

THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, We are fortunate to have in Hong Kong an Urban Council that is committed to the cultivation and promotion of the arts.

The focus of cultural activities, whether they be concerts, operas, music, drama, film or dance, is the City Hall. Hardly a night goes by without the Concert Hall and the Theatre being filled to capacity. In the tall block, the Museum of Art, the Library and the exhibition floors are in constant use.

The Urban Council annually participates in the Hong Kong Arts Festival, and has broken into new ground by sponsoring the Asian Arts Festival. An increasing number of local cultural groups, such as the Hong Kong Philharmonic, are receiving annual grants from the Council. Through the Council's Cultural Presentation Series, young people in particular are given the opportunity to attend at extremely reasonable prices the performances of local and visiting overseas artistes of the highest calibre.

I would very much like to see some of these cultural presentations, including performances by the Hong Kong Philharmonic, taking place at suitable intervals in Tsuen Wan which is already a large town in itself.