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of course they leave out Timbuctoo and others (please state which). Of course, entitle me to come back and nowhere else. Are you applying for a passport? My answer is 'No'. The third question is: Do you have the right of permanent residence in any country other than Hong Kong? My answer is 'No'. If yes, state the country. I have no answer for that. If no, are you in the process of applying? My answer is 'No'. If so, which country? So I don't have to answer. If you are not in the process of applying, do you intend to do so before 1997? My answer is 'No'. Do you plan to emigrate personally before 1997? My answer is 'No'. Do you plan to send your spouse/children to reside abroad permanently before 1997? My answer is 'No'. Have you already sent your spouse/children to reside abroad permanently? My answer is 'No' and they forget to ask one question, if it did ask, I have no intention to send them out even temporarily. The last question is: If you are not doing any of the above, is it due to (a) lack of financial means? The answer is 'No'. (b) ineligibility? The answer is also 'No'. And of course, the others I do not have to answer.
To sum up, I have no intention of migrating nor have I sent any of my children abroad. I have absolute confidence in the future of Hong Kong. I have repeated this many times in many occasions, I may as well repeat it once again, here and now.
In the course of the past months, I have exchanged views with many friends on the subject, the majority of them shared my confidence, but it is fair to say that some of their spouses may feel differently. It is appropriate to mention here that I do not have this problem in my family, all adult members of my family are equally confident in the future of Hong Kong.
I am confident that if we all put in some effort, we can maintain, or even enhance, our stability and prosperity. We have to keep our eyes open to see more, not just by listening to what others have said. If we decided to hear stories, at least try to hear both sides of the story, then form your own considered judgement, not before then.
Some of us have been discussing a certain sightseeing visit which has attracted much publicity. Maybe it is a good thing that it has been postponed. It proves that the public are very much concerned with what we are doing and what we are going to do. If what we do can prove to the people that we do have confidence in the future of Hong Kong, I believe we have done our duty.
In my opinion, at this time of our history, this Council has a much more important role to play than that set out in the Law. People look for more, and demand for more from us, both as a Council and a responsible group of Council Members. It is therefore more necessary than before that we should be more united and more dedicated to our task, which is by no means easy.
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It is most comforting to note that we have 9 new Members who have joined our rank to share the responsibilities, their eagerness and dedication is most stimulating. We have more informal consultation than ever before, all this makes our lives in and out of the Council much more pleasant than ever before.
This change has highlighted one situation which has to be improved, the Schedule of accommodation of this Council Building. When this building was designed, only two small rooms were provided on the first floor for 22 Councillors to use, each Councillor can use it for one hour unless no one else is in the queue. I mentioned 22 Councillors only because the Chairman and Vice-Chairman have their very sizeable rooms one floor up.
Whether these two sizeable rooms will still be required for their designated purposes is not important, but with the increase of the population of Council Members by more than 25%, 28 Members queueing up for the use of two small rooms is too much. Something has to be done about it.
Sir, I support the motion before the Council.
APPENDIX I
Are you: (a) local (b) expatriate 1. Yes No Yes No If yes, which of the following passport(s) do you hold? 2. (a) Are you in possession of: (i) a passport or (ii) passports British (Hong Kong) Hong Kong Certificate of Identity British (U.K.) U.S.A. Canada Australia Singapore Portugal Dominican Republic Others (please state which) (b) Are you applying for a passport? 3. (a) Do you have the right of permanent residence in any country other than Hong Kong? Yes No √ (b) If yes, state the country (c) If no, are you in the process of applying? Yes No √ (d) If so, which country? (e) If you are not in the process of applying, do you intend to do so before 1997? Yes No √Page 113 of 194
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of course they leave out Timbuctoo and others (please state which). Of course,
entitle me to come back and nowhere else. Are you applying for a passport? My I have only one answer. I only have a British (Hong Kong) passport which
answer is 'No'. The third question is: Do you have the right of permanent residence in any country other than Hong Kong? My answer is 'No'. If yes, state the country. I have no answer for that. If no, are you in the process of applying? My answer is 'No'. If so, which country? So I don't have to answer. If you are not in the process of applying, do you intend to do so before 1997? My answer is 'No'. Do you plan to emigrate personally before 1997? My answer is "No". Do you plan to send your spouse/children to reside abroad permanently before 1997? My answer is 'No'. Have you already sent your spouse/children to reside abroad permanently? My answer is 'No' and they forget to ask one question, if it did ask, I have no intention to send them out even
temporarily. The last question is: If you are not doing any of the above, is it due to (a) lack of financial means? The answer is 'No'. (b) ineligibility? The answer is also 'No. And of course, the others I do not have to answer.
To sum up, I have no intention of migrating nor have I sent any
of
my children aborad. I have absolute confidence in the future of Hong Kong. I have repeated this many times in many occasions, I may as well repeat it once again. here and now.
In the course of the past months, I have exchanged views with many friends on the subject, the majority of them shared my confidence, but it is fair to say that some of their spouses may feel differently. It is appropriate to mention here that I do not have this problem in my family, all adult members of my family are equally confident in the future of Hong Kong.
I am confident that if we all put in some effort, we can maintain, or even enhance, our stability and prosperity. We have to keep our eyes open to see more, not just by listening to what other have said. If we decided to hear stories. at least try to hear both sides of the story, then form your own considered judgement, not before then.
Some of us have been discussing a certain sightseeing visit which has attracted much publicity. Maybe it is a good thing that it has been postponed. It proves that the public are very much concerned with what we are doing and what we are going to do. If what we do can prove to the people that we do have confidence in the future of Hong Kong, I believe we have done our duty.
In my opinion, at this time of our history, this Council has a much more important role to play than that set out in the Law. People look for more, and demand for more from us, both as a Council and a responsible group of Council Members. it is therefore more necessary than before that we should be more united and more dedicated to our task, which is by no means easy.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 113 of 194
193
It is most comforting to note that we have 9 new Members who have joined
stimulating. We have more informal consultation than ever before, all this our rank to share the responsibilities, their eagerness and dedication is most
informal consultation makes our lives in and out of the Council much more pleasant than ever before.
This change has highlighted one situation which has to be improved, the Schedule of accommodation of this Council Building. When this building was designed, only two small rooms were provided on the first floor for 22 Councillors to use, each Councillor can use it for one hour unless no one else is in the queue. I mentioned 22 Councillors only because the Chairman and Vice- Chairman have their very sizeable rooms one floor up.
Whether these two sizcable rooms will still be required for their designated is not important, but with the increase of the population of Council purposes Members by more than 25%, 28 Members queueing up for the use of two small rooms is too much. Something has to be done about it.
Sir, I support the motion before the Council.
APPENDIX I
Are you: (a) local
(b) expatriate
1.
Yes
Yes No
Yes
No
If yes, which of the following passport(s) do
2. (a) Are you in possession of: (i) a passport
or (ii) passports
you hold?
British (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong Certificate of Identity British (U.K.)
U.S.A.
Canada
Australia
Singapore
Portugal
Dominican Republic
Others (please state which)
(b) Are you applying for a passport?
3. (a) Do you have the right of permanent residence in any country other than Hong Kong? (b) If yes, state the country
(c) If no, are you in the process of applying?
Yes
Yes
No√
No √
No
(d) If so, which country?
(e) If you are not in the process of applying, do
you intend to do so before 1997?
Yes
No v
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