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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
I have enjoyed every day of my five years as CUC. In my first year of office, Urbco's budget for the 1981 year was $919.8 million, with capital works standing at $145.8 million. For this year, commencing April 1, 1986, Council's budget will be $2,059.6 million, with an estimated surplus of $26 million, and capital works standing at $302.9 million. This will be the first time in Council's history that our budget will exceed $2,000 million.
The increase in the annual budget and capital work figures between 1981 and 1986 represents an increase of 124% and 108% respectively.
We can furthermore look forward to the completion by the next 3-4 years of the Cultural Centre in Tsimshatsui, the Museum of Science and Technology and also the development of the Kowloon Barracks area with the help of the Jockey Club. We have also absorbed much of the responsibilities of the former Recreation and Culture Department since last year.
I shall very much miss my tenure as CUC, but nevertheless I shall have the opportunity to remain in this Council for another few years and to give my support as a back-bencher to whoever is elected as my successor in just a few weeks from now.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, thank you very much for the kind words that you have said about me. Just before attending the open Council meeting, I have received from you a second scroll with the names of all the members that I have ever served with. I hope in time to be honoured by receiving a third. (laughter) I congratulate you on remaining in the Urban Council in the role of an ordinary Councillor not as Chairman. I think it is essential that there is not a feeling that having been Chairman, one resigns entirely, one does not resign entirely, one serves the public as best as one can in whatever capacity is open to us. Finally, I must apologize to my other Urban Councillors and yourself, Mr. Chairman, I have to leave early this afternoon because I am afraid my court case is not finished so I have got an adjournment till 3.30 p.m. (applause)
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, thank you very much for your kind words. Having to leave an organization on which I have served for 19 years makes me rather sad, but there are a lot of wise people in Hong Kong and I am sure they will take up the work I have left behind. I do not have to read piles and piles of papers every day and I do not have to get up very early and to fight for transport with school students and my days from now on will be easier and I feel very relieved. What is regrettable is that for many years the elected members said that they would like to have the terms of reference of the Urban Council enlarged so that we can really become a city council. But what we see today is rather disappointing, our terms of reference have not been enlarged but rather have been reduced. We lost to the sweet words of the Government, such things as public housing, the management of the carparks and for others, we were afraid of trouble and we want to save money and, therefore, we hand back those responsibilities to the Government such as the Western Market, the Vegetable Wholesale Market and the responsibilities in respect of dangerous signboards. Although our work is only equivalent to the city council under the Greater London Council, we only look after cultural and recreational affairs and cleansing work, etc. But even so, under the encouragement of the Hong Kong Government in various public forums, there are people discussing the functions of our cultural and recreational activities and whether these powers should be handed to others. Recently many people have said whether the Urban Council should continue to exist and I feel very pessimistic about our future. Before 1 April 1973, there were six appointed members and they are the then Director of Public Works, Director of Urban Services, Director of Social Welfare, Secretary for Home Affairs, Deputy Director of Medical and Health and Commissioner for Resettlement. At that time, we could discuss matters relating to the work of these six departments and we could also discuss other business as well. But when the officials left in 1973, we agreed to a motion which proved to be a not very wise one, i.e. we restrict what could be discussed during open meetings, therefore, we could not discuss matters not within our terms of reference, therefore, nowadays we deal solely with recreational, cultural, environmental and cleansing matters. Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a very sincere pledge to members of this Council during the next terms of office, could you please re-consider the fact that Mrs. Tu and I have urged time and again that during open meetings, we could discuss matters of importance to the public and that we would have the chance to speak on matters of public concern. It is not a difficult decision to make and if we have the power to restrain ourselves and certainly we would do away with that restraint also. If this suggestion was adopted, I am sure that we would certainly improve the image of the Urban Council in the eyes of the public. Thank you. (applause)
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THE HONOURABLE Maria W. C. TAM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, actually I have not prepared myself to speak, but what is most important is to say that although today I am leaving the Urban Council, all I have learned about public affairs and how to deal with people etc. is from this Council. What is the most important is that all my colleagues here today and those that I get in touch with in social matters or other areas of social services still maintain contact with them and I work with them differently in the other areas in future. I would like to say with all sincerity that people in Hong Kong appreciated what the Urban Council is doing for them and I hope that the Urban Council will in future be more and more appreciated by the public and I hope that those that I have come to know in this Council will in future guide me and advise me in other areas of work. (applause)
MR. AUGUSTINE S. K. CHUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, what you have said about me, I would like to thank you very much. You said that for personal reasons, I have decided not to stand for re-election, this does not mean that if I could spare some time in the future, I would not devote time to serve the public.
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248
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
I have enjoyed every day of my five years as CUC. In my first year of office, Urbco's budget for the 1981 year was $919.8 million, with capital works standing at $145.8 million. For this year, commencing April 1, 1986, Council's budget will be $2,059.6 million, with an estimated surplus of $26 million, and capital works standing at $302.9 million. This will be the first time in Council's history that our budget will exceed $2,000 million.
The increase in the annual budget and capital work figures between 1981 and 1986 represents an increase of 124% and 108% respectively.
We can furthermore look forward to the completion by the next 3-4 years of the Cultural Centre in Tsimshatsui, the Museum of Science and Technology and also the development of the Kowloon Barracks area with the help of the Jockey Club. We have also absorbed much of the responsibilities of the former Recrea- tion and Culture Department since last year.
I shall very much miss my tenure as CUC, but nevertheless I shall have the opportunity to remain in this Council for another few years and to give my support as a back-bencher to whoever is elected as my successor in just a few weeks from now.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, thank you very much for the kind words that you have said about me. Just before attending the open Council meeting, I have received from you a second scroll with the names of all the members that I have ever served with. I hope in time to be honoured by receiving a third. (laughter) I congratulate you on remaining in the Urban Council in the role of an ordinary Councillor not as Chairman. I think it is essential that there is not a feeling that having been Chairman, one resigns entirely, one does not resign entirely, one serves the public as best as one can in whatever capacity is open to us. Finally, I must apologize to my other Urban Councillors and yourself, Mr. Chairman, I have to leave early this afternoon because I am afraid my court case is not finished so I have got an adjournment till 3.30 p.m. (applause)
DR. DENNY. M. H. HUANG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, thank you very much for your kind words. Having to leave an organization on which I have served for 19 years makes me rather sad, but there are a lot of wise people in Hong Kong and I am sure they will take up the work I have left behind. I do not have to read piles and piles of papers everyday and I do not have to get up very early and to fight for transport with school students and my days from now on will be easier and I feel very relieved. What is regrettable is that for many years the elected members said that they would like to have the terms of reference of the Urban Council enlarged so that we can really become a city council. But what we see today is rather disappointing, our terms of reference have not been enlarged but rather have been reduced. We lost to the sweet words of the Government, such things as public housing, the management of the carparks and for others, we were afraid of trouble and we want to save money and,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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249
therefore, we hand back those responsibilities to the Government such as the Western Market, the Vegetable Wholesale Market and the responsibilities in respect of dangerous signboards. Although our work is only equivalent to the city council under the Greater London Council, we only look after cultural and recreational affairs and cleansing work, etc. But even so, under the encourage- ment of the Hong Kong Government in various public forum, there are people discussing the functions of our cultural and recreational activities and whether these powers should be handed to others. Recently many people have said whether the Urban Council should continue to exist and I feel very pessimistic about our future. Before 1 April 1973, there were six appointed members and they are the then Director of Public Works, Director of Urban Services, Director of Social Welfare, Secretary for Home Affairs, Deputy Director of Medical and Health and Commissioner for Resettlement. At that time, we could discuss matters relating to the work of these six departments and we could also discuss other business as well. But when the officials left in 1973, we agreed to a motion which proved to be a not very wise one, i.e. we restrict what could be discussed during open meetings, therefore, we could not discuss matters not within our terms of reference, therefore, nowadays we deal solely with recrea- tional, cultural, environmental and cleansing matters. Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a very sincere pledge to members of this Council during the next terms of office, could you please re-consider the fact that Mrs. Tu and I have urged time and again that during open meetings, we could discuss matters of importance to the public and that we would have the chance to speak on matters of public concern. It is not a difficult decision to make and if we have the power to restrain ourselves and certainly we would do away with that restrait also. If this suggestion was adopted, I am sure that we would certainly improve the image of the Urban Council in the eyes of the public. Thank you. (applause)
THE HONOURABLE Maria W. C. TAM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, actually I have not prepared myself to speak, but what is most important is to say that although today I am leaving the Urban Council, all I have learned about public affairs and how to deal with people etc. is from this Council. What is the most important is that all my colleagues here today and those that I get in touch with in social matters or other areas of social services still maintain contact with them and I work with them differently in the other areas in future. I would like to say with all sincerity that people in Hong Kong appreciated what the Urban Council is doing for them and I hope that the Urban Council will in future be more and more appreciated by the public and I hope that those that I have come to know in this Council will in future guide me and advise me in other areas of work. (applause)
MR. AUGUSTINE S. K. CHUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, what you have said about me, I would like to thank you very much. You said that for personal reasons, I have decided not to stand for re-election, this does not mean that if I could spare some time in the future, I would not devote time to serve the public.
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