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between the Council and the Department we have been doing our very best to get value for money for the ratepayers of Hong Kong.
During my second term as Chairman of Finance Select Committee I would like to see our forecasting techniques further improved. The recently introduced computerized information system should help us in this direction, but more importantly I would again like to remind the Chairman of the Council's functional Select Committees to:
(a) exercise control over funds within the ambit of their respective committees to ensure effective utilization of allocated financial resources; and
(b) ensure, in conjunction with the Department, that greater emphasis is placed on drawing up realistic individual budgets with attainable goals,
I already said last year that I see the function of the Finance Committee as positive and not negative, and when making these requests I am not trying to play Scrooge. The Finance Committee is there to say yes to worthwhile projects. And I want to repeat that if because of unforeseen circumstances such projects arise outside the budget and there are sufficient reserves, there is no reason why the money should not be allocated. It is in this spirit that I ask the Chairmen of all Select Committees in conjunction with the Department for the greatest possible emphasis on the drawing up of realistic individual budgets with attainable goals.
I said last year that there was a new spirit among Councillors which I think by the example of the splendid cooperation which exists between our Chairman and Vice-Chairman has now really taken hold with all of us cooperating and pulling together, and all I am really asking is that this cooperative spirit is also applied to the dollars and cents.
Having said that, I think our budget for this financial year is far more realistic than any budget we have ever had. And although it is sticking one's neck when only two weeks into the financial year to say so, I think we have every reasonable chance, subject always to those famous unforeseen circumstances, to achieve our forecast for this year.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Ngau Chi Wan, Kowloon as a library, cancel the designation of the Happy Valley and Wan Chai Public Libraries and to amend the Schedule to the Designation of Libraries (Urban Council Area) Order 1986.
MR. MARVIN K. T. CHEUNG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded the motion (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT—3.32 p.m.
CHAIRMAN (in English):- That concludes the business of today's meeting. The Council adjourned until Tuesday, 12 May 1986 at 2.30 p.m.
MOTION
1. MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, move the following motion (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:-
'THAT the Public Health and Municipal Services (Designation of Libraries) (Urban Council Area) (No. 2) Order 1987 be made under Section 105K of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Chapter 132.'
The purposes of the Order are to designate the premises at the fifth and sixth floors of Urban Council Ngau Chi Wan Complex, 11 Clear Water Bay Road,
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, HONG KONG
Page 13 of 185
Page 13 of 185
18
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
between the Council and the Department we have been doing our very best to get value for money for the ratepayers of Hong Kong.
During my second term as Chairman of Finance Select Committee I would like to see our forecasting techniques further improved. The recently introduced computerized information system should help us in this direction, but more importantly I would again like to remind the Chairman of the Council's functional Select Committees to:
(a) exercise control over funds within the ambit of their respective committees to ensure effective utilization of allocated financial resources; and
(b) ensure, in conjunction with the Department, that greater emphasis is
placed on drawing up realistic individual budgets with attainable goals,
I already said last year that I see the function of the Finance Committee as positive and not negative, and when making these requests I am not trying to play Scrooge. The Finance Committee is there to say yes to worthwhile projects. And I want to repeat that if because of unforeseen circumstances such projects arise outside the budget and there are sufficient reserves, there is no reason why the money should not be allocated. It is in this spirit that I ask the Chairmen of all Select Committees in conjunction with the Department for the greatest possible emphasis on the drawing up of realistic individual budgets with attainable goals.
I said last year that there was a new spirit among Councillors which I think by the example of the splendid cooperation which exists between our Chairman and Vice-Chairman has now really taken hold with all of us cooperating and pulling together, and all I am really asking is that this cooperative spirit is also applied to the dollars and cents.
Having said that, I think our budget for this financial year is far more realistic than any budget we have ever had. And although it is sticking one's neck when only two weeks into the financial year to say so, I think we have every reasonable chance, subject always to those famous unforeseen circumstances, to achieve our forecast for this year.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 13 of 185
19
Ngau Chi Wan, Kowloon as a library, cancel the designation of the Happy Valley and Wan Chai Public Libraries and to amend the Schedule to the Designation of Libraries (Urban Council Area) Order 1986.
MR. MARVIN K. T. CHEUNG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded the motion (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT—3.32 p.m.
CHAIRMAN (in English):- That concludes the business of today's meeting. The Council adjourned until Tuesday, 12 May 1986 at 2.30 p.m.
MOTION
1. MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, move the following motion (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name:-
'THAT the Public Health and Municipal Services (Designation of Libraries) (Urban Council Area) (No. 2) Order 1987 be made under Section 105K of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Chapter 132.'
The purposes of the Order are to designate the premises at the fifth and sixth floors of Urban Council Ngau Chi Wan Complex, 11 Clear Water Bay Road,
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER, HONG KONG
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