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over
MR. JOSEPH CHAN (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
Mr. Chairman, with the commencement of the Sino-British negotiations the future of Hong Kong after 1997, the people here are well aware that the political situation in Hong Kong is going to change as history evolves. They are praying for a better life with greater democracy and freedom, prosperity and stability in the territory. But whether we ourselves and our descendants can enjoy a better life depends on the friendship between Britain and China and it relies on the co-operation between the two countries. Since the U.K. will not allow Hong Kong people to emigrate into it, it should take up the responsibility and it should face the reality and work for the maintenance of prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and the U.K. Government should work towards the goal of maintaining the confidence of investors in Hong Kong and I think the Urban Council should also make changes accordingly.
The Urban Council has a record of service spanning a hundred years. Much credit must go to our forerunners. However, according to the White Paper on 'District Administration in Hong Kong', the jurisdiction of the Urban Council is confined to the urban areas and its main functions, to the following three categories:
(a) Environmental public health;
(b) Recreation and amenities; and
(c) Provision of cultural services.
Should the Urban Council remain as it is without further development, its usefulness will gradually lapse in the face of the ever greater current of the times for a more open, localized and democratic administration. It will no longer be able to work for the well-being of the people.
I feel that the Urban Council should undertake the following urgently: (a) Extension of services to the New Territories
The Urban Council should maintain close contact and co-operation with all the 18 District Boards in the whole of Hong Kong so as to gain broader representation and greater unity as well as unanimity. When this is achieved, the Urban Council could then be truly called 'the Urban Council of Hong Kong',
(b) Expansion of terms of reference
Although there is some sort of contact between the Urban Council and the district boards, the district boards perform different functions. District matters affecting the life of the people are being raised in the district boards. But in the Urban Council, it is quite different. The functions of the Council are confined to three categories only which I think is indeed too limited. So I think we should expand our terms of reference. Urban services should include all aspects affecting the life of the people, such as education, housing, social welfare and transport etc.
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Of these, education, on which the life and death of a nation and the rise and fall of a society depend, is of special importance. The problem-ridden education system in Hong Kong has been much criticized for the lack of guiding ideals. However, education does take time. To meet Hong Kong's needs in the future, a new, independent and democratic education policy should be drawn up and its implementation supervised by the Urban Council consisting of elected representatives for the benefit of the new generations as stated by the Governor in his address marking the opening of the 1983-84 session of the Legislative Council: ‘. . . to ensure that it will continue to meet the aspirations of the community and that it remains geared to the future needs of Hong Kong.'
As for transport, road congestion, E.R.P., especially recently the Transport Department announced the increase rate to taxi licence and fees, under the inflation influence, it is difficult for the public to support their living. It is regrettable that the Government has not widely consulted the views of the Hong Kong people beforehand. As for housing, we have the ineffective housing policy and there are lots of problems concerning the application for housing and its units. If all these problems can be put under the control and management of the Urban Council (which have elected representatives), I think it will be more effective in meeting the requirements of the Hong Kong people.
(c) Step by step democratization
Mr. D. AKERS-JONES, Secretary for District Administration, once said Hong Kong Government was becoming more and more open and going ahead with the localization scheme. The Urban Council should also move in the same direction and take appropriate steps to achieve democratization and localization. The number of Elected Members should be increased by stages, and appointed members reduced accordingly. In due course, the Urban Council should comprise only Elected Members to make it truly ‘the Urban Council of Hong Kong' representing and striving for the welfare of all Hong Kong residents.
(d) Promotion of education services
At present, the Urban Council is making impressive achievements in the provision of international and regional entertainment and recreational activities. However, it is not doing as much in fields of education and training. The Council should strengthen links and co-operation with the relevant departments, and make the best of its facilities and expertise to offer all kinds of training courses for the young people in their leisure hours after school or work. On the other hand, it should also see to the training of athletes and the promotion of cultural services.
(e) Bringing overlapped functions under the Council
At present, some government departments are also exerting much effort in pursuits and activities similar to those of the Urban Council. While
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236
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
over
MR. JOSEPH CHAN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
Mr. Chairman, with the commencement of the Sino-British negotiations the future of Hong Kong after 1997, the people here are well aware that the political situation in Hong Kong is going to change as history evolves. They are praying for a better life with greater democracy and freedom, prosperity and stability in the territory. But whether we ourselves and our descendants can enjoy a better life depends on the friendship between Britain and China and it relys on the co-operation between the two countries. Since U.K. will not allow Hong Kong people to emigrate into it, it should take up the responsibility and it should face the reality and work for the maintenance of prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and the U.K. Government should work towards the goal of maintaining the confidence of investors in Hong Kong and I think the Urban Council should also make changes accordingly.
The Urban Council has a record of service spanning a hundred years. Much credit must go to our forerunners. However, according to the White Paper on 'District Administration in Hong Kong', the jurisdiction of the Urban Council is confined to the urban areas and its main functions, to the following three categories:
(a) Environmental public health;
(b) Recreation and amenities; and
(c) Provision of cultural services.
Should the Urban Council remain as it is without further development, its usefulness will gradually lapse in the face of the ever greater current of the times for a more open, localized and democratic administration. It will no longer be able to work for the well-being of the people.
I feel that the Urban Council should undertake the following urgently: (a) Extension of services to the New Territories
The Urban Council should maintain close contact and co-operation with all the 18 District Boards in the whole of Hong Kong so as to gain broader representation and greater unity as well as unanimity. When this is achieved, the Urban Council could then be truly called 'the Urban Council of Hong Kong',
(b) Expansion of terms of reference
Although there is some sort of contact between the Urban Council and the district boards, the district boards perform different functions. District matters affecting the life of the people are being raised in the district boards. But in the Urban Council, it is quite different. The functions of the Council are confined to three categories only which I think is indeed too limited. So I think we should expand our terms of reference. Urban services should include all aspects affecting the life of the people, such as education, housing, social welfare and transport etc.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 135 of 194
237
Of these, education, on which the life and death of a nation and the rise and fall of a society depend, is of special importance. The problem- ridden education system in Hong Kong has been much criticized for the lack of guiding ideals. However, education does take time. To meet Hong Kong's needs in the future, a new, independent and democratic education policy should be drawn up and its implementation supervised by the Urban Council consisting of elected representatives for the benefit of the new generations as stated by the Governor in his address marking the opening of the 1983-84 session of the Legislative Council: ‘. . . to ensure that it will continue to meet the aspirations of the community and that it remains geared to the future needs of Hong Kong.'
As for transport, road congestion, E.R.P., especially recently the Transport Department announced the increase rate to taxi licence and fees, under the inflation influence, it is difficult for the public to support their living. It is regret that the Government has not widely consulted the views of the Hong Kong people beforehand. As for housing, we have the ineffective housing policy and there are lot of problems concerning the application for housing and its units. If all these problems can be put under the control and management of the Urban Council (which have elected representatives), I think it will be more effective in meeting the requirements of the Hong Kong people.
(c) Step by step democratization
Mr. D. AKERS-JONES, Secretary for District Administration, once said Hong Kong Government was becoming more and more open and going ahead with the localization scheme. The Urban Council should also move in the same direction and take appropriate steps to achieve democratization and localization. The number of Elected Members should be increased by stages, and appointed members reduced accordingly. In due course, the Urban Council should comprise only Elected Members to make it truly ‘the Urban Council of Hong Kong' representing and striving for the welfare of all Hong Kong residents. (d) Promotion of education services
At present, the Urban Council is making impressive achievements in the provision of international and regional entertainment and recreational activities. However, it is not doing as much in fields of education and training. The Council should strengthen links and co-operation with the relevant departments, and make the best of its facilities and expertize to offer all kinds of training courses for the young people in their leisure hours after school or work. On the other hand, it should also see to the training of athletes and the promotion of cultural services.
(e) Bringing overlapped functions under the Council
At present, some government departments are also exerting much efforts in pursuits and activities similar to those of the Urban Council. While
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Page 136 of 194
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