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Kong is one of the leading financial and trading centres in the world. When the Exhibition Centre is completed in the future, Hong Kong will also become an international exhibition centre. All the above indicate that Hong Kong should be able to organize major international sports activities. Hong Kong is better developed than other Southeast Asian territories in terms of traffic, transport, telecommunication, hotel services and sporting facilities. The Hong Kong Government should therefore adopt a more positive attitude in organizing international sports activities and consider whether Hong Kong can organize sports activities of a larger scale. In planning the future development of sports in Hong Kong, we should also pay more attention to the provision of adequate sports facilities to meet the demand for international sports activities.
In fact, the organization of more international sports activities contributes to the economy and prosperity of society. The Olympic Games held in Los Angeles in 1984 has proved to be profitable and successful. Seoul organized the 1986 Asian Games and is going to organize the 1988 Olympic Games with such a purpose as well. In fact, such organizers are mostly able to stimulate the development of sports within the country through organizing these sports events and to bring positive effects on the domestic economy and stability to the internal political situation. China once reaped much diplomatic gain through sports. Therefore, as Hong Kong possesses the objective advantages, it should organize large scale international sports activities through the efforts of the Government. In planning the provision of sports facilities in the future, the Hong Kong Government should also consider whether they are adequate for holding large scale sports activities.
3.
Bill on electoral provisions
Lastly I would like to discuss the amendment bill on electoral provisions which is going to be tabled at the LegCo meeting for first and second readings soon. As everyone knows, the amendment bill proposed by CNTA last month once passed, Urban Councillors will cease to be ex officio members of District Boards. As a result, Urban Councillors who want to be DB members concurrently will have to stand for elections.
When the Green Paper on the Review of Developments in Representative Government was first published, the Government stressed that district administration is only an important part of political development and citizens should view the Green Paper from a broad angle. The White Paper has not yet been published, but the Government has announced the introduction of the amendment bill on electoral provisions. It is obvious that the Government wants to separately consider the issue whether Urban Councillors should be ex officio members of District Boards. Under the existing ordinance, when DB members have been successfully elected to be Urban Councillors, they will be regarded as having resigned the post of DB member. On the other hand, when Urban Councillors have been successfully elected to DB members, they will also be regarded as having resigned the post of Urban Councillors. Therefore, amendments to the existing ordinance have to be passed by the LegCo before the publication of the White Paper.
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regarded as having resigned the post of Urban Councillors. Therefore, amendments to the existing ordinance have to be passed by the LegCo before the publication of the White Paper.
The first reading of the amendment bill will be carried out on 27 January and the second in early February. As regards the advantages and disadvantages of the new policy, my colleagues have already discussed in great detail. I don't want to repeat here. However, I would now like to urge those who gained LegCo seats via the channel of District Boards and the electoral college to abstain from voting at the second reading. This is because of the conflict of interest that may arise. Though District Boards are district advisory bodies, they can also serve as a stepping stone to the legislature. LegCo members who come from District Boards will find themselves in an embarrassing situation when discussing the Bill. In order to be fair to the public and to win the public's confidence in the voting result, I think that they should abstain from voting this time. This situation is similar to the Company Law in that a Company Director has to abstain from voting in matters that personal interest is involved. Now Urban Councillors also have to withdraw from the meeting and abstain from voting whenever conflict of interest arises. I therefore sincerely hope that the LegCo members concerned will abstain from voting in the passing of the amendment bill so as to maintain the public's confidence.
MR. VICTORIA Y. CHAN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, traffic jams, as in all big cities, are common place in Hong Kong. During the rush hours, they reach chaotic proportions. Without the Mass Transit Railways system, the traffic in Hong Kong would have been a stand-still situation for some time now. Government has shown its concern of the congested road surface by inviting transport consultants to Hong Kong. The congestion of vehicles on the road can be solved only by limiting as many vehicles on the road as possible. Government has been aware of this and it devised an increase of road licences and at various stages, was contemplating on taxing all vehicles entering Central at peak hours. The use of vehicles is for transport and communication. In ancient times, before vehicles were invented to afford the luxury of transport, our ancestors used their feet, which the locals popularly refer to as their 'No. 11 bus'. If Government would only allow more people to commute by feet by building more foot bridges and pavements, some of the traffic problems we presently face may be become less acute. In this connection, I would suggest that:-
(a) a promenade be built along the shoreline of Hong Kong Island from Sheung Wan to Chai Wan connected by elevated walkways for access to the centre of the city. The promenade may be lined with shops or kiosks to contribute to the expense of maintenance of the promenade which will offer a healthy alternative to our present transport system; and
(b) the Highways Department and the Lands Department will diligently co-ordinate and monitor construction works on roads and pavements
Page 152 of 185
Page 152 of 185
294
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Kong is one of the leading financial and trading centres in the world. When the Exhibition Centre is completed in the future, Hong Kong will also become an international exhibition centre. All the above indicate that Hong Kong should be able to organize major international sports activities. Hong Kong is better developed than other Southeast Asian territories in terms of traffic, transport, telecommunication, hotel services and sporting facilities. The Hong Kong Government should therefore adopt a more positive attitude in organizing international sports activities and consider whether Hong Kong can organize sports activities of a larger scale. In planning the future development of sports in Hong Kong, we should also pay more attention to the provision of adequate sports facilities to meet the demand for international sports activities.
In fact, the organization of more international sports activities contributes to the economy and prosperity of society. The Olympic Games held in Los Angeles in 1984 has proved to be profitable and successful. Seoul organized the 1986 Asian Games and is going to organize the 1988 Olympic Games with such a purpose as well. In fact, such organizers are mostly able to stimulate the development of sports within the country through organizing these sports events and to bring positive effects on the domestic economy and stability to the internal political situation. China once reaped much diplomatic gain through sports. Therefore, as Hong Kong possesses the objective advantages, it should organize large scale international sports activities through the efforts of the Government. In planning the provision of sports facilities in the future, the Hong Kong Government should also consider whether they are adequate for holding large scale sports activities.
3.
Bill on electoral provisions
Lastly I would like to discuss the amendment bill on electoral provisions which is going to be tabled at the LegCo meeting for first and second readings soon. As everyone knows, the amendment bill proposed by CNTA last month once passed, Urban Councillors will cease to be ex officio members of District Boards. As a result, Urban Councillors who want to be DB members concur- rently will have to stand for elections.
When the Green Paper on the Review of Developments in Representative Government was first published, the Government stressed that district adminis- tration is only an important part of political development and citizens should view the Green Paper from a broad angle. The White Paper has not yet been published, but the Government has announced the introduction of the amend- ment bill on electoral provisions. It is obvious that the Government wants to separately consider the issue whether Urban Councillors should be ex officio members of District Boards. Under the existing ordinance, when DB members have been successfully elected to be Urban Councillors, they will be regarded as having resigned the post of DB member. On the other hand, when Urban Councillors have been successfully elected to DB members, they will also be
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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regarded
as having resigned the post of Urban Councillors. Therefore, amend- ments to the existing ordinance have to be passed by the LegCo before the publication of the White Paper.
The first reading of the amendment bill will be carried out on 27 January and the second in early February. As regards the advantages and disadvantages of the new policy, my colleagues have already discussed in great detail. I don't want to repeat here. However, I would now like to urge those who gained LegCo seats via the channel of District Boards and the electoral college to abstain from voting at the second reading. This is because of the conflict of interest that may arise. Though District Boards are district advisory bodies, they can also serve as a stepping stone to the legislature. LegCo members who come from District Boards will find themselves in an embarrassing situation when discussing the Bill. In order to be fair to the public and to win the public's confidence in the voting result, I think that they should abstain from voting this time. This situation is similar to the Company Law in that a Company Director has to abstain from voting in matters that personal interest is involved. Now Urban Councillors also have to withdraw from the meeting and abstain from voting whenever conflict of interest arises. I therefore sincerely hope that the LegCo members concerned will abstain from voting in the passing of the amendment bill so as to maintain the public's confidence.
MR. VICTORIA Y. CHAN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, traffic jams, as in all big cities, are common place in Hong Kong. During the rush hours, they reach chaotic proportions. Without the Mass Transit Railways system, the traffic in Hong Kong would have been a stand-still situation for some time now. Government has shown its concern of the congested road surface by inviting transport consultants to Hong Kong. The congestion of vehicles on the road can be solved only by limiting as many vehicles on the road as possible. Government has been aware of this and it devised an increase of road licences and at various stages, was contemplating on taxing all vehicles entering Central at peak hours. The use of vehicles is for transport and communication. In ancient times, before vehicles were invented to afford the luxury of transport, our ancestors used their feet, which the locals popularly refer to as their 'No. 11 bus'. If Government would only allow more people to commute by feet by building more foot bridges and pavements, some of the traffic problems we presently face may be become less acute. In this connection, I would suggest that:-
(a) a promenade be built along the shoreline of Hong Kong Island from Sheung Wan to Chai Wan connected by elevated walkways for access to the centre of the city. The promenade may be lined with shops or kiosks to contribute to the expense of maintenance of the promenade which will offer a healthy alternative to our present transport system; and
(b) the Highways Department and the Lands Department will diligently co-ordinate and monitor construction works on roads and pavements
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