316
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
It appears that the establishment of regional councils is now a foregone conclusion.
Ever since the proposal of the scheme by the Chief Secretary, the heads of the City and N.T. Administration and the Home Affairs Branch etc. are kept busy 'briefing the public and various concerns. They are not only selling the scheme but in fact hastening its implementation.
Hong Kong being still administered under a colonial system, once a government decision is made, it will be difficult for the people to object to it. This is only too obvious judging from the governor's weekend invitation of the N.T. representatives to a discussion on the details of the regional council scheme.
Seeing on TV the well dressed (in Western style) gentlemen emerging from Mercedes Benz and BMW limousines, and thinking that they are there fighting for the traditional interests of and participation in administration by the N.T. villagers, I really have nothing to say.
What sort of a Hong Kong will the British leave behind for the Hong Kong people to govern themselves?
The Sino-British negotiation are still going on, but as the present trend the outcome is already certain. The British will no doubt hand back Hong Kong to China in 13 years, and the territory will then be governed by the Hong Kong people themselves.
It is indeed a great challenge and an arduous task for the people of Hong Kong to govern a society long under colonial capitalistic rule. If the British have any sense of moral responsibility towards Hong Kong, they should immediately expand the U.C. into a territory-wide municipal council with a gradual increase of elected members and transfer to the council step by step other administration powers beyond those of hygiene and entertainment, so that when they leave Hong Kong, they will then leave behind a united, rather than divided, government of sound organization.
Colonialists tend to split the people so as to divide and rule. As a result, when they leave the territory, the local people would fight one another for various causes. Examples of such cases are abound in history.
Unfortunately, the Hong Kong people who are never undivided before are now split up into two groups - the city folks and the New Territories residents-- after the Chief Secretary announces the proposed scheme of setting up the regional councils. One Legco member from the New Territories has even stated that the issue is purely a struggle for power between the Urban Council and the Heung Yee Kuk. Recently, residents of the outlying islands too are asking for the establishment of a third regional council.
Another point that makes me more disappointed is the proposal to simply increase the elected element on the District Boards which up to now only play a consultative role. Even if the District Boards may gain some power in the future, they will be restricted to just some urban services. The Government has no plan to train people for administrative work at the Central Government level. It could, for example, increase the number of elected member in the Urban Council or keep one-third of the membership of the Legislative Council open for election in the first instance. Time passes very quickly, and thirteen years will be gone like a breeze. Is it the Government's intention that when the time comes, the Hong Kong people have to invite the British back to administer Hong Kong? Or they are well pleased to see Hong Kong in a mess, watching in Britain thousands of miles away?
Finally, I would like to appeal to all the Hong Kong people to consider their own future with a level-head. Those who think only for themselves and agree to anything the Government says will leave Hong Kong before 1997, but over five million Hong Kong people, including 2,400,000 Hong Kong British Passport holders, will still remain in the territory as they are not allowed to work or live in Britain. So we should think harder of our own future.
We must unite together to maintain the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Let no wedges be driven between us.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English):—Sir, I was born and brought up in the New Territories, Cheung Chau to be precise. The well-being of the N.T. people is close to my heart. The fact that the N.T. people will have their say in any council with authority must be welcomed.
Working with N.T. Leaders for many years in various circles enables me to say that their unwillingness to let this Council extend its jurisdiction into their territories should be accepted with great understanding.
I am advocating for 'Let the N.T. people run their Urban Services in the New Territories as we are running our Urban Services in the urban area.’
As a tax payer and a rate-payer, I do have a right to ask whoever decides to spend my money to spend it in a frugal manner.
One of our colleagues was reported as saying that an additional Regional Council will cost at least 40 million dollars more. I do not know whether this figure is accurate. Assuming it is roughly right, do I, together with other taxpayers and ratepayers have the right to say 'Do not spend this 40 million dollars unless it is absolutely necessary, or unless there is no way to save it'?
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, with regard to the controversy over the proposed establishment of 2 Regional Councils (South Regional Council and North Regional Council) in Hong Kong, I wish to offer the following opinion:
Page 176 of 194
317
316
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
It appears that the establishment of regional councils is now a conclusion.
foregone
Ever since the proposal of the scheme by the Chief Secretary, the heads of the City and N.T. Administration and the Home Affairs Branch etc. are kept busy 'briefing the public and various concerns. They are not only selling the scheme but in fact hastening its implementation.
Hong Kong being still administered under a colonial system, once a government decision is made, it will be difficult for the people to object to it. This is only too obvious judging from the governor's weekend invitation of the N.T. representatives to a discussion on the details of the regional council
scheme.
Seeing on TV the well dressed (in Western style) gentlemen emerging from Mercedes Benz and BMW limousines, and thinking that they are there fighting for the traditional interests of and participation in administration by the N.T. villagers, I really have nothing to say.
What sort of a Hong Kong will the British leave behind for the Hong Kong people to govern themselves?
goes.
The Sino-British negotiation are still going on, but as the present trend the outcome is already certain. The British will no doubt hand back Hong Kong to China in 13 years, and the territory will then be governed by the Hong Kong people themselves.
It is indeed a great challenge and an arduous task for the people of Hong Kong to govern a society long under colonial capitalistic rule. If the British have any sense of moral responsibility towards Hong Kong, they should immediately expand the U.C. into a territory-wide municipal council with a gradual increase of elected members and transfer to the council step by step other administration powers beyond those of hygiene and entertainment, so that when they leave Hong Kong, they will then leave behind a united, rather than divided. government of sound organization.
Colonialists tend to split the people so as to divide and rule. As a result, when they leave the territory, the local people would fight one another for various causes. Examples of such cases are abound in history.
Unfortunately, the Hong Kong people who are never undivided before are now split up into two groups the city folks and the New Territories residents-- after the Chief Secretary announces the proposed scheme of setting up the regional councils. One Legco member from the New Territories has even stated that the issue is purely a struggle for power between the Urban Council and the Heung Yee Kuk. Recently, residents of the outlying islands too are asking for the establishment of a third regional council.
Another point that makes me more disappointed is the proposal to simply increase the elected element on the District Boards which up to now only play
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 176 of 194
317
consultative role. Even if the District Boards may gain some power in the future, they will be restricted to just some urban services. The Government has level. It could, for example, increase the number of elected member in the Urban no plan to train people for administrative work at the Central Government Council or keep one-third of the membership of the Legislative Council open for election in the first instance. Time passes very quickly, and thirteen years will be gone like a breeze. Is it the Government's intention that when the time comes, the Hong Kong people have to invite the British back to administer Hong Kong? Or they are well pleased to see Hong Kong in a mess, watching in Britain thousands of miles away?
Finally, I would like to appeal to all the Hong Kong people to consider their wn future with a level-head. Those who think only for themselves and agree to anything the Government says will leave Hong Kong before 1997, but over five million Hong Kong people, including 2 400 000 Hong Kong British Passport holders, will still remain in the territory as they are not allowed to work or live in Britain. So we should think harder of our own future.
We must unite together to maintain the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Let no wedges be driven between us.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
MR. PETER C. K. Chan (in English):—Sir, I was born and brought up in the New Territories, Cheung Chau to precise. The well being of the N.T. people is close to my heart. The fact that the N.T. people will have their say in any council with authority must be welcomed.
Working with N.T. Leaders for many years in various circles enables me to say that their unwillingness to let this Council extend its jurisdiction into their territories should be accepted with great understanding.
I am advocating for 'Let the N.T. people run their Urban Services in the New Territories as we are running our Urban Services in the urban area.’
As a tax payer and a rate-payer, I do have a right to ask whoever decide to spend my money to spend it in a frugal manner.
One of our colleague was reported as saying that an additional Regional Council will cost at least 40 million dollars more. I do not know whether this figure is accurate. Assuming it is roughly right, do I, together with other taxpayers and ratepayers have the right to say 'Do not spend this 40 million dollars unless it is absolutely necessary, or unless there is no way to save it'?
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, with regard to the controversy over the proposed establishment of 2 Regional Councils (South Regional Council and North Regional Council) in Hong Kong, I wish to offer the following opinion:
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.