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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meetings held on 20 & 22 January 1981 were confirmed.
## STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-The White Paper on District Administration is a declaration of intent with potential repercussions on a broad base. It is more far-reaching than would seem to be the case at first sight.
It raises many practical questions but it implies political ones too. Its full significance may have been overlooked by some in discussion at various stages, but surely not by those who put the paper together in its final form. Perhaps the hectic pace of the working day here leaves little time to think through the prospective situation. Anyway, this should range over the whole perspective of Hong Kong in the remaining years of the century if the exercise is to serve any purpose.
There is no clear perception on a wide front of a new style of existence in common and all that it will mean for the people in the years just ahead, which the peculiar geopolitical circumstances here and events elsewhere out of local control are shaping, slowly but surely. Be that as it may, the social order needs to be realigned in quick time to suit the approaching conditions. Nothing else could be more compelling at this point in the transformation of Hong Kong. It is now a city-state in transition.
Traditional concepts of political institutions would seem irrelevant in this context. Moreover, they are even now retrogressive elsewhere. And, they stand threadbare in the light of the critical dimensions created meanwhile by the massive shift to resource-based economic power. Therefore, to talk blandly in the old idiom in a stubborn effort to retain outmoded local political institutions is out of time with a vigorous society always on the move to survive in a harsh world. There is a clear need of a bold change: perhaps to a form of collegial responsibility to define and promote the collective interest in the changing socio-economic environment with political connotations of another colour. It should be put to work in earnest for the public good in order that it may be shown in practice to be the best system in the circumstances.
Hong Kong has to think in new terms in response to changing values and attitudes. The territory should not be treated apart from its geographical realities nor should its political institutions be kept in separate compartments. A searching appraisal of the emergent situation seems imperative, if this society is to chart a new course with confidence to live and prosper harmoniously. Its advantages can be put to good use only if the decision is taken at once to integrate them in a novel social, economic and cultural system made to order for a community without the possibilities of all-out advancement in the political dimension. Is the White Paper aiming in this direction?
And where does the Council stand in the new equation to devolve local authority? It will soon live in a different world without doubt. Also, whether it is generally realized or not, it will compete against itself soon enough.
Perhaps members might wish to turn their thoughts seriously to their place in the dawning age: not their own present cosy positions but their combined situation in the potentially diffused but strongly competitive power-structure of local administration. What are the alternatives in store for this Council?
But, well above the fray of irreversible administrative devolution with multiple objectives, there is the enthralling futuristic exercise of transcending relevance with which members might also concern themselves in an intellectually stimulating way. The time left to do so is short. It is fast running out in fact.
## PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of January 1981.
## RESUMPTION OF ANNUAL CONVENTIONAL DEBATE
Resumption of debate on the following motion moved by the Chairman, Urban Council, at the meeting of the Council held on 20 January 1981:-
"THAT this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1981."
CHAIRMAN (in English):-All members having spoken, I, as proposer, will now exercise my right of reply under Standing Order 21 Section 17.
The annual conventional debate is now coming to an end. All the substantive parts involving other responsibilities have been taken up departmentally with the particular authorities concerned as is the custom, while those points of direct relevance to the Council are being acted on, where warranted of course.
It will be of advantage too to examine afresh the aim and purpose of this convention in order to determine, among other things, whether its present form still suits this Council's new objectives and also to find out how the exercise may be modified in the service of the community at large when the
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meetings held on 20 & 22 January 1981 were confirmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-The White Paper on District Administration is a declaration of intent with potential repercussions on a broad base. It is more far-reaching than would seem to be the case at first sight.
It raises many practical questions but it implies political ones too. Its full significance may have been overlooked by some in discussion at various stages, but surely not by those who put the paper together in its final form. Perhaps the hectic pace of the working day here leaves little time to think through the prospective situation. Anyway, this should range over the whole perspective of Hong Kong in the remaining years of the century if the exercise is to serve any purpose.
There is no clear perception on a wide front of a new style of existence in common and all that it will mean for the people in the years just ahead, which the peculiar geopolitical circumstances here and events elsewhere out of local control are shaping, slowly but surely. Be that as it may, the social order needs to be realigned in quick time to suit the approaching conditions. Nothing else could be more compelling at this point in the transformation of Hong Kong. It is now a city-state in transition.
Traditional concepts of political institutions would seem irrelevant in this context. Moreover, they are even now retrogressive elsewhere. And, they stand threadbare in the light of the critical dimensions created meanwhile by the massive shift to resource-based economic power. Therefore, to talk blandly in the old idiom in a stubborn effort to retain outmoded local political institu- tions is out of time with a vigorous society always on the move to survive in a harsh world. There is a clear need of a bold change: perhaps to a form of collegial responsibility to define and promote the collective interest in the changing socio-economic environment with political connotations of another colour. It should be put to work in earnest for the public good in order that it may be shown in practice to be the best system in the circumstances.
Hong Kong has to think in new terms in response to changing values and attitudes. The territory should not be treated apart from its geographical realities nor should its political institutions be kept in separate compartments. A searching appraisal of the emergent situation seems imperative, if this
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
187
society is to chart a new course with confidence to live and prosper harmoni- ously. Its advantages can be put to good use only if the decision is taken at once to integrate them in a novel social, economic and cultural system made to order for a community without the possibilities of all-out advancement in the political dimension. Is the White Paper aiming in this direction?
And where does the Council stand in the new equation to devolve local authority? It will soon live in a different world without doubt. Also, whether it is generally realized or not, it will compete against itself soon enough.
Perhaps members might wish to turn their thoughts seriously to their place in the dawning age: not their own present cosy positions but their combined situation in the potentially diffused but strongly competitive power-structure of local administration. What are the alternatives in store for this Council?
But, well above the fray of irreversible administrative devolution with multiple objectives, there is the enthralling futuristic exercise of transcending relevance with which members might also concern themselves in an intellec- tually stimulating way. The time left to do so is short. It is fast running out in fact.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and
Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of January 1981.
RESUMPTION OF ANNUAL CONVENTIONAL DEBATE
Resumption of debate on the following motion moved by the Chairman, Urban Council, at the meeting of the Council held on 20 January 1981:-
"THAT this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1981."
CHAIRMAN (in English):-All members having spoken, I, as proposer, will now exercise my right of reply under Standing Order 21 Section 17.
The annual conventional debate is now coming to an end. All the sub- stantive parts involving other responsibilities have been taken up depart- mentally with the particular authorities concerned as is the custom, while those points of direct relevance to the Council are being acted on, where warranted of course.
It will be of advantage too to examine afresh the aim and purpose of this convention in order to determine, among other things, whether its present form still suits this Council's new objectives and also to find out how the exercise may be modified in the service of the community at large when the
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