352
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Urban Council may consider setting up some sub-committees in the District Boards, such as district street traders sub-committee so that the district Boards and the Urban Council may jointly handle and solve the problems of street traders in the districts. For instance, the District Boards may be given the responsibility to set up temporary hawker bazaars, issue temporary hawker licences and manage the temporary hawkers etc. in their districts.
With regard to cultural and recreational activities, the Urban Council consider taking over all the centralized activities while district activities may be entrusted to the District Boards and the Recreation and Culture Department which will come under the Urban Council on 1 April 1985. Funds will be allocated to the District Boards by the Urban Council for these district activities. Furthermore, the District Boards should be given priority in the use of the facilities of the Urban Council in the districts free of charge when organizing district activities. At the same time, the Urban Council may consider empowering the District Boards to manage the district-oriented cultural centres and recreational grounds.
If all these are carried out, I am sure the relationship between the Urban Council and the District Boards will be much improved.
Of course, the Urban Council must consider carefully matters concerning the allocation of funds and the management of its facilities. It may even be necessary to amend some of the ordinances or by-laws.
It is said that in 1986, government will increase elected seats in the Urban Council from the present 15 to 30 so that the ratio of elected and appointed members will be 2 to 1. It is believed that this change will help strengthen communication and co-operation between the Urban Council and the District Boards.
Management of market complexes
(1) At the end of December 1984, the number of vacant market stalls was 803. Why is it that there are so many unlicensed hawkers in the streets and no one thinks of renting a stall in the market? How can we improve the situation? Is it because the rent is too high? Is it reasonable that we would rather let these stalls lie vacant in the markets than lower the rent?
(2) The market stalls are too small and there is not enough room for the goods. A review of the situation should be made before preparing plans for future market complexes.
(3) To increase the rent by 100 per cent or 150 per cent every three years is too much. The Urban Council relies too much on the assessment by the Rating and Valuation Department which usually works with no regard to the reality. The rent assessed is too high and is not what the hawkers can afford. In the building and management of market complexes, the Council should not only think in terms of money but also bear in mind that these are services to the public; it should provide services to them in return for the rates that they pay.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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The Council should decide carefully on the locations of markets which should be convenient to the public.
Matters such as drainage, cleanliness, ventilation and security in the markets should not be overlooked as they will directly affect the market users.
Control over private clubs
Hong Kong being a free city, its people have for a long time been able to enjoy personal freedom and private life. There are private clubs which are exempt from applying for licences in respect of the facilities, such as bathrooms, snooker rooms, swimming pools, bars and canteens, for use by their members.
Some consider it unfair that private clubs should be able to enjoy exemption while facilities for the public must be licensed and subject to control. Some businessmen make use of the loophole in the laws to run private clubs to make profits. For the sake of fairness, government should impose similar control over the private clubs.
I am of the opinion that the government department concerned should start supervising the running of private clubs to ensure that they are truly private. While there are people who break the laws, those law-abiding should not be deprived of their rights.
Unless something very serious has happened or the situation has become uncontrollable, the Council should not enforce control over or interfere with private clubs where people are entitled to their privacy. The principle of not interfering with private life and personal freedoms should be respected now and in the future.
Mr. Chairman, with these words, I support the motion.
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese):—
Development of the System of Government in Hong Kong Observations on the development of the Urban Council
After the establishment of the Regional Council in Hong Kong, the municipal services of the whole territory will be handled by 2 different councils. In view of the fact that urban areas and the New Territories are becoming alike, I propose that the 2 councils should co-ordinate with each other in their work and the formulation of policies. With good co-ordination, they will be able to avoid conflicts which will give rise to frustrations as a result of the differences in their policies.
To ensure that there will not be duplication of work by the 2 councils, the future Secretary for Municipal Services should act as a link and there must be some system to safeguard against any waste of resources on account of duplication.
Page 196 of 233
"
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352
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Urban Council may consider setting up some sub-committees in the District Boards, such as district street traders sub-committee so that the district Boards and the Urban Council may jointly handle and solve the problems of street traders in the districts. For instance, the District Boards may be given the responsibility to set up temporary hawker bazaars, issue temporary hawker
licenced and manage the temporary hawkers etc. in their districts.
may
With regard to cultural and recreational activities, the Urban Council consider taking over all the centralized activities while district activities may be entrusted to the District Boards and the Recreation and Culture Department which will come under the Urban Council on 1 April 1985. Funds will be allocated to the District Boards by the Urban Council for these district activities. Furthermore, the District Boards should be given priority in the use of the facilities of the Urban Council in the districts free of charge when organizing district activities. At the same time, the Urban Council may consider empowering the District Boards to manage the district-oriented cultural centres and recreational grounds.
If all these are carried out, I am sure the relationship between the Urban Council and the District Boards will be much improved.
Of course, the Urban Council must consider carefully matters concerning the allocation of funds and the management of its facilities. It may even be necessary to amend some of the ordinances or by-laws.
It is said that in 1986, government will increase elected seats in the Urban Council from the present 15 to 30 so that the ratio of elected and appointed members will be 2 to 1. It is believe that this change will help strengthen communication and co-operation between the Urban Council and the District Boards.
Management of market complexes
(1) At the end of December 1984, the number of vacant market stalls was 803. Why is it that there are so many unlicensed hawkers in the streets and no one thinks of renting a stall in the market? How can we improve the situation? Is it because the rent is too high? Is it reasonable that we would rather let these stalls lie vacant in the markets than lower the rent? (2) The market stalls are too small and there is not enough room for the goods. A review of the situation should be made before preparing plans for future market complexes.
(3) To increase the rent by 100 per cent or 150 per cent every three years is too much. The Urban Council relies too much on the assessment by the Rating and Valuation Department which usually works with no regard to the reality. The rent assessed is too high and is not what the hawkers can afford. In the building and management of market complexes, the Council should not only think in terms of money but also bear in mind that these are services to the public; it should provide services to them in return for the rates that they pay.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 196 of 233
353
The Council should decide carefully on the locations of markets which should be convenient to the public.
Matters such as drainage, cleanliness, ventilation and security in the markets should not be overlooked as thy will directly affect the market users.
Control over private clubs
Hong Kong being a free city, its people have for a long time been able to enjoy personal freedom and private life. There are private clubs which are exempt from applying for licences in respect of the facilities, such as bathrooms, snooker rooms, swimming pools, bars and canteens, for use by their members.
Some consider it unfair that private clubs should be able to enjoy exemption while facilities for the public must be licensed and subject to control. Some businessmen make use of the loophole in the laws to run private clubs to make profits. For the sake of fairness, government should impose similar control over
the private clubs.
I am of the opinion that the government department concerned should start supervising the running of private clubs to ensure that they are truly private. While there are people sho break the laws, those law-abiding should not be deprived of their rights.
Unless something very serious has happened or the situation has become uncontrollable, the Council should not enforce control over or interfere with private clubs where people are entitled to their privacy. The principle of not interfering with private life and personal freedoms should be respected now and in the future.
Mr. Chairman, with these words, I support the motion.
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese):—
Development of the System of Government in Hong Kong Observations on the development of the Urban Council
After the establishment of the Regional Council in Hong Kong, the municipal services of the whole territory will be handled by 2 different councils. In view of the fact that urban areas and the New Territories are becoming alike, I propose that the 2 concils should co-ordinate with each other in their work and the formulation of policies. With good co-ordination, they will be able to avoid conflicts which will give rise to frustrations as a result of the differences in their policies.
To ensure that there will not be duplication of work by the 2 councils, the future Secretary for Municipal Services should act as a link and there must be some system to safeguard against any waste of resources on account of duplication.
Page 196 of 233
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