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double-quick time. For, the value of all approved capital projects is $424 million at present prices. There are other contributory causes, besides. As many functions and activities expand, heavier financial commitments follow quickly in the wake. By contrast, there is reluctance to put up fees and charges to help defray them, and also slowness to grasp the benefit to the community of cross-subsidisation in public financing, while rates are applied chiefly to the payment of staff salaries and allowances.
Hence, it would be prudent to bring up to scratch the financial projection done early in the Council's separate existence. Then, after forecasting expenditure in practical terms, a close study would have to be made of all existing revenue sources to determine whether the predictable yield will cover anticipated financial commitments. As it is not likely to do so, new means will have to be devised. All in all, there is the need for a fresh approach. It seems imperative for a viable financial policy to be drawn up to meet boldly the strong challenge of the new times ahead. Otherwise, the Council may well flounder. Surely, a stitch in time saves nine.
I so move.
DR. THE HON. HENRY H. L. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the motion.
THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the motion on the Estimates and list of works proposed for the next financial year.
Last year, we budgeted for an estimated deficit but we will now be ending our current financial year with a surplus of $3 million, and perhaps much more.
Again for next year we are budgeting for a deficit this time, to the order of $67.7 million. It will be interesting to watch the progress of this deficit budget.
The Museums Select Committee is of course pleased that the Council is embarking on a strong programme of acquisitions to fill the new Museum of Art which will be built in the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Complex by 1982. Such acquisitions become more valuable in the course of time and are a worthwhile investment by the Urban Council on behalf of the community. I am therefore happy to see that the Museum Acquisitions Vote under Sub-head 113 has been increased from $600,000 last year to $3.8 million for next year.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
159
Members will also note that the Urban Council is going ahead with plans to establish a temporary science museum pending the building by Government of a permanent science museum, and that a sum of $1.6 million has been included under Sub-head 115 for this purpose. I am sure that the Science Museum Sub-Committee, under the able chairmanship of Mr. Lawrence FUNG, will be actively pursuing this very desirable community project with all speed.
It can therefore be seen that the Urban Council is doing everything it can to stimulate more interest and knowledge of the local history and cultural heritage of our community.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Finance Select Committee, can I say simply that the individual items in this budget have been already carefully considered by every relevant select committee, and the whole of the estimates have been considered by my own Select Committee. They have also been discussed by the Standing Committee of the Whole Council so that these estimates of revenue and expenditure for 1978-79 have been truly very carefully scrutinised. I am therefore happy now to support the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
(2) DR. THE HON. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion (in English):
"RESOLVED that the Hawker (Amendment) (No. 3) By-laws 1977 be made under section 83A of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
He said:
Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee I rise on the motion standing on my name:
"THAT the Hawker (Amendment) (No. 3) By-laws 1977 be made under section 83A of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
This amendment is proposed to strengthen the legal provisions for mandatory confiscation of unlicensed hawkers' equipment and commodities under section 86A(1) of the Ordinance. Unlicensed hawkers are normally prosecuted under by-law 5(1) of the Hawkers By-laws for hawking without a licence, which is a designated offence invoking the mandatory confiscation provisions. This offence could also be charged
Page 98 of 174
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double-quick time. For, the value of all approved capital projects is $424 million at present prices. There are other contributory causes, besides. As many functions and activities expand, heavier financial commitments follow quickly in the wake. By contrast, there is reluct- ance to put up fees and charges to help defray them, and also slowness to grasp the benefit to the community of cross-subsidisation in public financing, while rates are applied chiefly to the payment of staff salaries and allowances.
Hence, it would be prudent to bring up to scratch the financial projection done early in the Council's separate existence. Then, after forecasting expenditure in practical terms, a close study would have to be made of all existing revenue sources to determine whether the predictable yield will cover anticipated financial commitments. As it is not likely to do so, new means will have to be devised. All in all, there is the need for a fresh approach. It seems imperative for a viable financial policy to be drawn up to meet boldly the strong challenge of the new times ahead. Otherwise, the Council may well flounder. Surely, a stitch in time saves nine.
I so move.
DR. THE HON. HENRY H. L. Hu (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the motion.
THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English): -Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the motion on the Estimates and list of works proposed for the next financial year.
Last year, we budgeted for an estimated deficit but we will now be ending our current financial year with a surplus of $3 million, and perhaps much more.
Again for next year we are budgeting for a deficit this time, to the order of $67.7 million. It will be interesting to watch the progress of this deficit budget.
The Museums Select Committee is of course pleased that the Council is embarking on a strong programme of acquisitions to fill the new Museum of Art which will be built in the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Complex by 1982. Such acquisitions become more valuable in the course of time and are a worthwhile investment by the Urban Council on behalf of the community. I am therefore happy to see that the Museum Acquisitions Vote under Sub-head 113 has been increased from $600,000 last year to $3.8 million for next year.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
159
Members will also note that the Urban Council is going ahead with plans to establish a temporary science museum pending the build- ing by Government of a permanent science museum, and that a sum of $1.6 million has been included under Sub-head 115 for this purpose. I am sure that the Science Museum Sub-Committee, under the able chairmanship of Mr. Lawrence FUNG, will be actively pursuing this very desirable community project with all speed.
It can therefore be seen that the Urban Council is doing everything it can to stimulate more interest and knowledge of the local history and cultural heritage of our community.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Finance Select Committee, can I say simply that the individual items in this budget have been already carefully considered by every relevant select committee, and the whole of the estimates have been considered by my own Select Committee. They have also been dis- cussed by the Standing Committee of the Whole Council so that these estimates of revenue and expenditure for 1978-79 have been truly very carefully scrutinised. I am therefore happy now to support the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
(2) DR. THE HON. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion (in English):
"RESOLVED that the Hawker (Amendment) (No. 3) By-laws 1977 be made under section 83A of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
He said:
Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee I rise on the motion standing on my name:
"THAT the Hawker (Amendment) (No. 3) By-laws 1977 be made under section 83A of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
This amendment is proposed to strengthen the legal provisions for mandatory confiscation of unlicensed hawkers' equipment and com- modities under section 86A(1) of the Ordinance. Unlicensed hawkers are normally prosecuted under by-law 5(1) of the Hawkers By-laws for hawking without a licence, which is a designated offence invoking the mandatory confiscation provisions. This offence could also be charged
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