1983 — Page 104

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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN

CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.

## MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 1983 were confirmed.

## 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 December 1983.

## MOTIONS

1. MRS. ELSIE ELLIOTT, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-

'RESOLVED that the Public Health and Urban Services (Designation of Libraries) Order 1984 be made under section 105K of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'

She said (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:-

"THAT the Public Health and Urban Services (Designation of Libraries) Order 1984 be made under section 105K of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.

The purpose of the Order is to designate Units No. 51-55 and 78–82, G/F Block 30, Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate, Kowloon; Room E, 13/F., Hong Kong Arts Centre, Harbour Road, Hong Kong; and 5/F., and 6/F., To Kwa Wan Market and Government Offices, Kowloon, as libraries and to amend the Third Schedule to the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.

I beg to move.

MRS. GRACE HO, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I beg to second.

The question was put.

The motion was carried unanimously.

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2. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, moved the following motion:

THAT this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1984.'

He said (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the first day of the Annual Convention Debate and the motion we debate is that this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1984.

The Statement of Aims for 1984 has been through all the Select Committees and is now to be debated for adoption.

I shall leave it to Members to express their views as they see fit on those parts of the Statement of Aims in which they are interested.

During this Annual Convention Debate, it is also customary for Members to speak on matters outside the scope of the Council. No doubt, Members will fully avail themselves of the opportunity to do so.

On a general note, it has been for many years the Council's conscious aim to build up through its various subsidies and programmes a strong sense of community spirit and involvement, and a sense of belonging and of commitment to Hong Kong. With the setting up of the ten urban District Boards and close cooperation which we have with the Boards, the Council is even more firmly committed to this aim. This is all the more necessary by reason of the Sino-British negotiations on the future of Hong Kong.

### Sino-British Negotiations on Hong Kong's Future

The next round of talks on Hong Kong's future will take place in Peking on January 25-26.

Although I have no knowledge of the details of the discussions, I wish, however, to express my personal assessment of the feelings and aspirations of the majority of Hong Kong 5.5 million citizens.

First of all, British colonialism no matter how benevolent and efficient it is, should in due course be replaced by self-administration by Hong Kong people. It would appear that this view is well accepted by Britain.

Secondly, China's current leadership is sincere in its desire to give Hong Kong people self-administration and to allow the present systems to continue for 50 years after 1997. The details on the draft Hong Kong mini-constitution will have to be carefully studied by Hong Kong community leaders.

Thirdly, Britain has a binding political obligation and responsibility to the 3 million Hong Kong people who by 1997 will still have claim to British Nationality. Britain can under no circumstances abrogate her political responsibility to these 3 million people after 1997. It is essential that the British links in Hong Kong after 1997 should be of such a nature that most of these

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