Page 121 or 13
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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
he does most heavily with street trading. Even when such returns are continue to subsidize some private economic activity beyond all reason as ridiculously low and hopelessly out of line with actual overheads, and projected increases only gradual and limited, there are cries of protest from those entrenched sectors subsidized by the public purse for years on end before the Council became responsible for its own finances and began belatedly to put the house in order.
The Financial Projection
The Golden Age is drawing fast to a close. Forebodings are not to be ignored. The prudent measures long contemplated might be applied without more ado. Playing politics with public finance when the options are pitifully few will land this Council in the red very soon. Anyway, no cut in vital expenditure should be made as it would deprive the people of a long-felt need in many services or a cherished benefit for a better life. Let secondary revenues be raised as doing so gradually would be to nobody's detriment. And, resort might be had also to other means of funding essential capital expenditure than out of current revenue.
The Membership Attitude
It must be crystal clear to all that the much publicised difference in approach in this Council is of a fundamental nature. Most members accept conscientiously that they are here to work constructively for community betterment in the areas assigned to the Council by law or tradition and to apply public resources judiciously for this purpose. They do just that, without fuss. Indeed, the result is to the decided advantage of the people whose roots are here or who truly call Hong Kong home, having no other. On the other hand, a few regard their position as a stepping stone to power and will have no rest until their personal role is enhanced. Meanwhile, they have little interest in the Council's proceedings.
The Will of the People
It has been suggested that the Council must be all elected to be representative of the people. Before the argument starts anywhere, all terms should be defined to ensure that there is reasonable agreement on what they mean. Far too often, dialectical catchwords are bandied about parrotlike without full understanding of their consequence to the local scene.
To assert that the will of the people can be determined by a selective rather than a universal franchise is simply begging the question. Local election experience gives it the lie too. If the territory is to have an elective government at all, then it cannot stop at this Council, neither do the unrealistic ambitions of those advocates pretend that it should. By that reasoning, election should be held for every post from top to bottom, without exception. Then, with one man, one vote, and every post to contest for, Hong Kong might have an elected though probably not a representative government. Should it also not be prescribed in the process that only the Hong Kong-born could be eligible to vote and hold office? Should all this come to pass, the will of the people would be well and truly expressed. It might be said that Hong Kong would then have the government it deserved. But would it fill the people's rice-bowl because they could not eat their elusive votes?
209
The Epilogue
There is team-work in the Council in reality. It is evident in the day-to-day operations. The constitutional points of contention are between the few and the Government. However much the Government might try to hide behind this Council on this particular issue, it is a fact of life here. It is their quarrel. It is therefore up to the Government to decide where the community's interest lies. In any case, these much vaunted claims are blown up out of all proportion to the little if any interest the subject excites among the genuine local people. There is plain indifference, to tell the truth. The noise that is made in the exercise has been likened to dogs barking in the night as the caravan goes past. It is such a waste of everybody's time in the busiest of all communities earnestly making a living in a difficult world.
It is said that this Council is in reality the only public body here with actual executive powers. Not all realize that this is so. It has the staff and the means to put its own decisions into effect without reference to any other authority. And it does so. Let it use its powers wisely for the benefit of the greatest number. Otherwise, the transformation from an advisory situation would have no meaning. Let the Council concentrate all the more on pragmatic measures to make the people happier and healthier and their life far more satisfying altogether. This is what the community expects. It is the true and only mandate.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-The motion has been proposed by me, seconded by the Vice-Chairman, and fully debated in this Council.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
MOTIONS
1. MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Public Swimming Pools (Amendment) By-laws 1980 be made under section 42 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
He said (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, I rise on the motion standing in my name:
Page ...
Page 121 or 13
208
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
he does most heavily with street trading. Even when such returns are continue to subsidize some private economic activity beyond all reason as ridiculously low and hopelessly out of line with actual overheads, and projected increases only gradual and limited, there are cries of protest from those entrenched sectors subsidized by the public purse for years on end before the Council became responsible for its own finances and began
belatedly to put the house in order.
The Financial Projection
The Golden Age is drawing fast to a close. Forebodings are not to be ignored. The prudent measures long contemplated might be applied without more ado. Playing politics with public finance when the options are pitifully few will land this Council in the red very soon. Anyway, no cut in vital expenditure should be made as it would deprive the people of a long-felt need in many services or a cherished benefit for a better life. Let secondary revenues be raised as doing so gradually would be to nobody's detriment. And, resort might be had also to other means of funding essential capital expenditure than out of current revenue.
The Membership Attitude
It must be crystal clear to all that the much publicised difference in approach in this Council is of a fundamental nature. Most members accept conscientiously that they are here to work constructively for community betterment in the areas assigned to the Council by law or tradition and to apply public resources judiciously for this purpose. They do just that, without fuss. Indeed, the result is to the decided advantage of the people whose roots are here or who truly call Hong Kong home, having no other. On the other hand, a few regard their position as a stepping stone to power and will have no rest until their personal role is enhanced. Meanwhile, they have little interest in the Council's proceedings.
The Will of the People
It has been suggested that the Council must be all elected to be representa- tive of the people. Before the argument starts anywhere, all terms should be defined to ensure that there is reasonable agreement on what they mean. Far too often, dialectical catchwords are bandied about parrotlike without full understanding of their consequence to the local scene.
To assert that the will of the people can be determined by a selective rather than a universal franchise is simply begging the question. Local election experience gives it the lie too. If the territory is to have an elective government at all, then it cannot stop at this Council, neither do the unrealistic ambitions of those advocates pretend that it should. By that reasoning, election should be held for every post from top to bottom, without exception. Then, with one man, one vote, and every post to contest for, Hong Kong might have an elected though probably not a representative government. Should it also not be prescribed in the process that only the Hong Kong-born could be eligible
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
209
to vote and hold office? Should all this come to pass, the will of the people would be well and truly expressed. It might be said that Hong Kong would then have the government it deserved. But would it fill the people's rice-bowl because they could not eat their elusive votes?
The Epilogue
There is team-work in the Council in reality. It is evident in the day-to-day operations. The constitutional points of contention are between the few and the Government. However much the Government might try to hide behind this Council on this particular issue, it is a fact of life here. It is their quarrel. It is therefore up to the Government to decide where the community's interest lies. In any case, these much vaunted claims are blown up out of all proportion to the little if any interest the subject excites among the genuine local people. There is plain indifference, to tell the truth. The noise that is made in the exercise has been likened to dogs barking in the night as the caravan goes past. It is such a waste of everybody's time in the busiest of all communities earnestly making a living in a difficult world.
It is said that this Council is in reality the only public body here with actual executive powers. Not all realize that this is so. It has the staff and the means to put its own decisions into effect without reference to any other authority. And it does so. Let it use its powers wisely for the benefit of the greatest number. Otherwise, the transformation from an advisory situation would have no meaning. Let the Council concentrate all the more on pragmatic measures to make the people happier and healthier and their life far more satisfying altogether. This is what the community expects. It is the true and only mandate.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-The motion has been proposed by me, seconded by the Vice-Chairman, and fully debated in this Council.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
MOTIONS
1. MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Public Swimming Pools (Amendment) By-laws 1980 be made under section 42 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
He said (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, I rise on the motion standing in my name:-
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