1978 — Page 91

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Not only would this meet the full requirements of USD but it could provide ment and Council. It would also greatly relieve the existing congestion in additional leasing area of 100,000 sq. ft for purposes agreed between Govern Government premises and reduce the excessive rentals for commercial premises

now being borne by the rate-payer.

The General Administration Select Committee, through its Working Party on Office Accommodation, is maintaining pressure for an early decision from Government. Even if this is made today, it will be 4 years (ie 1983) before

this new building is completed.

We ask, again, that Government respond in positive

measure to our

proposal, or outline alternative plans for dealing with our longer-term

accommodation needs.

Council and Secretariat Organization

Another area with which my Select Committee is concerned is that of Council organization.

During 1978 we have conducted a Consultancy Review of the Council Secretariat in terms of present and future organization. The Consultants Report is now being finalized, and it would not be appropriate to comment on this until it has been considered further in Committee. However, I wish to express some personal views.

In previous years, I have referred to the growing burden of time and effor demanded from Councillors for Committee work and ancillary activities. In terms of volume, we are now dealing with a work-load of 4,000 Papers per annum-most of which are discussed in several Committees. With 13 Select Committees and 22 Sub-Committees, as well as the heavy pressures of other Council-related activities, this burden is becoming not so much onerous as unacceptable.

Sense and sensibility demand that there should be a reduction in Members' commitments. The practice of serving on 6 to 8 Select Committees and Sub-Committees is no longer practicable. Indeed, there is no organizational or operational need for 35 Committees and Sub-Committees. Not only do these create delays and problems of cross-communication, but attendance at meetings absorbs an excessive amount of the time and energy of Officials who would be better employed in the daily business of USD.

The Council has done wonders with very limited back-up resources in the past five years because of the extraordinary efforts and conscientiousness of a number of Members, and because of the total absorption and dedication of its Chairman over these years. However, as we move into the 80's, ! believe that styles must change and that, in the interests of improved efficiency :

(a) there should be a re-organization and strengthening in staff of the Council Secretariat, to give wider powers over the supervision and

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

monitoring of USD execution of Council policies, and to permit more definitive planning in areas of finance and public works;

(b) there should be re-structure of Select Committee and Sub-Committees to reflect directly to areas of USD operations and administration;

(c) a more

cabinet-style management should be developed for forward

planning and decision-making, drawing more on the new Senior Staff of the Council Secretariat and key Select Committee Chairman, with the DUS, as close advisors of the Chairman.

May I say, en passant, that my crystal ball of the Council in the 80's does not include the vision of a Council either elected by a miniscule proportion of the population, or of an Urban Hong Kong Council exercising any jurisdiction over the New Towns of the New Territories. The histrionics and negative antics of some of our elected colleagues, in their remarkable and a puerile exhibition last year, have effectively wiped out any hopes

of such advancement.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

Inevitably, I suppose, I must say something on the affairs of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society. Questions have been raised recently on various aspects of its activities. As you are aware the Council nominates 6 Members of the General Committee of the Society. It is perhaps not generally known that 4 of these, including myself as Chairman since 1976, are Urban Councillors and the others are drawn from a wider musical background.

At the outset, I will state that the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society is alive and well, and preparing for further significant advancement. Since 1976, the Orchestra has grown from 45 to near-70 professional musicians, and its budget from $2.4 million to $4.7 million (1978-79). Statistically, in the past 3 years the Orchestra has given at least 230 performances (including 50 school concerts) and nearly the same number of Radio Broadcasts. About 80.000 people a year currently attend live performances despite the limitations of concert-hall facilities, and many more enjoy the 'HK Phil.' on their radios. I mention these figures advisedly, because numbers appear to be of absorbing interest to the Council-particularly when audiences decline as in the middle of last year! I am sure that Council will applaud the more satisfactory audience attendances in recent months averaging 90% for 7 concerts in October, 86% for 7 concerts in November, and nearly 100% attendances at 9 performances in December!

As a further riposte, may I say that the technical advancement of the Orchestra in this period has been great, that its musical standard is now eminently higher than at any previous time and that 'its potential as a world-calibre Orchestra is tremendous'. In this final matter I quote the opinion of an eminent musicologist and internationally-renowned Conductor, of Chinese origin, who will shortly take up the position of Music Director.