Page 97 of 146
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
151
150
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen. The meeting is now called to order. The debate on the Statement of Aims for 1982 which was adjourned from Tuesday's meeting will now resume. I call on the first speaker of today, Mr. SHUM Choi-sang.
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, with District Boards being formed one after another in the New Territories as well as the urban area, six out of the ten District Boards in the urban area have already been established.
The District Boards in the New Territories were set up first. Several months ago, registration of voters already started on a large scale. In the urban area, however, registration exercise has not yet commenced. Therefore, some urban residents are still not quite clear about the responsibilities and the structure of the District Boards.
Formal election to District Boards in the New Territories and urban area will take place in March and September this year respectively.
As the time for election is drawing near, the Government is actively taking steps to have all the ten District Boards organized in the urban area. To this end, the Government is trying very hard to enlighten the public on the work and election procedure of District Boards.
Many people may still have little idea about the responsibilities of District Boards and District Management Committees.
According to an official publication entitled 'A Guide to District Administration', the main responsibilities of District Boards comprising both unofficials and officials are to give advice on matters concerning their respective districts, including advice on the spending of any funds allocated for minor environmental improvements and for the promotion of community activities.
Membership of District Management Committees, however, comprises officers of various Government departments. They will be in a position to advise on and co-ordinate district affairs so that they can, upon returning to their offices, effect implementation and take the necessary action.
Obviously, District Boards mainly play an advisory role. Although they can make use of the funds allocated by the Government for minor projects or community activities, major projects or works, however, are still subject to control by Government departments.
Whether District Boards can carry out bigger projects in future will be decided by the availability of funds allocated annually by the Government. If more funds are voted, more work can be carried out. Then, responsibilities will be greater. It is, however, a matter to be further examined whether their duties and those of the Government departments will overlap.
Under the present circumstances, the District Boards cannot do much on their own initiative because of limited financial resources. However, District Board Members are rather influential as evidenced, for instance, by the recent construction of a new road at Wong Tai Sin.
It is stated in the White Paper on 'District Administration in Hong Kong' that the main responsibilities of the Urban Council are as follows:-
(a) Environmental public health;
(b) Recreation and Amenities; and
(c) Cultural Services.
The Urban Council is also responsible for the licensing matters in respect of liquor, funeral parlours and places of public entertainment, apart from taking on the management of markets and abattoirs, and control of hawkers.
What the Urban Council can undertake and discuss are confined to the activities and matters relating to the above I have just mentioned. Every year, Urban Councillors can take the opportunity of the Annual Conventional Debate to discuss matters outside the jurisdiction of the Council and this is the only chance available to them. In the District Boards, however, members are free to discuss any matters that may crop up at any time in their respective districts.
To-day, District Boards can undertake minor construction projects and cultural activities through the City District Offices, but the Urban Council is governed by legislation to look after cultural, recreational and sanitary facilities, both regional and territory-wide.
There are four District Boards on Hong Kong, six in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories, with each giving advice on matters concerning their respective districts. The Urban Council exercises its power under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance but the New Territories does not fall within its jurisdiction.
A District Board is an organization where local residents can voice their opinions. Its smooth-running, however, requires the full support of the District Management Committee and the Government departments. Topics for discussion at District Board meetings may cover practically anything in its own district.
The Urban Council is a policy-making body while the Urban Services Department is its executive arm.
The Director of Urban Services is the principal executive officer of the Urban Council, who is responsible not only for the implementation of policies on
Page 97 of 146
Page 97 of 146
Page 97 of 146
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
151
150
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen. The meeting is now called to order. The debate on the Statement of Aims for 1982 which was adjourned from Tuesday's meeting will now resume. I call on the first speaker of today, Mr. SHUM Choi-sang.
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, with District Boards being formed one after another in the New Territories as well as the urban area, six out of the ten District Boards in the urban area have already been established.
The District Boards in the New Territories were set up first. Several months ago, registration of voters already started on a large scale. In the urban area, however, registration exercise has not yet commenced. Therefore, some urban residents are still not quite clear about the responsibilities and the structure of the District Boards.
Formal election to District Boards in the New Territories and urban area will take place in March and September this year respectively.
As the time for election is drawing near, the Government is actively taking steps to have all the ten District Boards organized in the urban area. To this end, the Government is trying very hard to enlighten the public on the work and election procedure of District Boards.
Many people may still have little idea about the responsibilities of District Boards and District Management Committees.
According to an official publication entitled 'A Guide to District Admini- stration', the main responsibilities of District Boards comprising both unofficials and officials are to give advice on matters concerning their respective districts, including advice on the spending of any funds allocated for minor environmental improvements and for the promotion of community activities.
Membership of District Management Committees, however, comprises officers of various Government departments. They will be in a position to advise on and co-ordinate district affairs so that they can, upon returning to their offices, effect implementation and take the necessary action.
Obviously, District Boards mainly play an advisory role. Although they can. make use of the funds allocated by the Government for minor projects or community activities, major projects or works, however, are still subject to control by Government departments.
Whether District Boards can carry out bigger projects in future will be decided by the availability of funds allocated annually by the Government. If more funds are voted, more work can be carried out. Then, responsibilities will
be greater. It is, however, a matter to be further examined whether their duties and those of the Government departments will overlap.
Under the present circumstances, the District Boards cannot do much on their own initiative because of limited financial resources. However, District Board Members are rather influential as evidenced, for instance, by the recent construction of a new road at Wong Tai Sin.
It is stated in the White Paper on 'District Administration in Hong Kong' that the main responsibilities of the Urban Council are as follows:-
(a) Environmental public health;
(b) Recreation and Amenities; and
(c) Cultural Services.
The Urban Council is also responsible for the licensing matters in respect of liquor, funeral parlours and places of public entertainment, apart from taking on the management of markets and abattoirs, and control of hawkers.
What the Urban Council can undertake and discuss are confined to the activities and matters relating to the above I have just mentioned. Every year, Urban Councillors can take the opportunity of the Annual Conventional Debate to discuss matters outside the jurisdiction of the Council and this is the only chance available to them. In the District Boards, however, members are free to discuss any matters that may crop up at any time in their respective districts.
To-day, District Boards can undertake minor construction projects and cultural activities through the City District Offices, but the Urban Council is governed by legislation to look after cultural, recreational and sanitary facilities, both regional and territory-wide.
There are four District Boards on Hong Kong, six in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories, with each giving advice on matters concerning their respective districts. The Urban Council exercises its power under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance but the New Territories does not fall within its jurisdiction.
A District Board is an organization where local residents can voice their opinions. Its smooth-running, however, requires the full support of the District Management Committee and the Government departments. Topics for discussion at District Board meetings may cover practically anything in its own district.
The Urban Council is a policy-making body while the Urban Services Department is its executive arm.
The Director of Urban Services is the principal executive officer of the Urban Council, who is responsible not only for the implementation of policies on
Page 97 of 14
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