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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

surface its economic prosperity at present is admirable. But still people in Hong Kong are on the vigilance. There will still be people leaving within these ten years. They are adopting the 'wait-and-see' attitude: if stability is maintained, then they stay and work here. Perhaps this is my worst supposition. I hope we can absolutely ensure prosperity and stability, for only then will we live in peace and comfort. Thus I am for no change or minor changes under the right circumstances. The system of government should develop progressively and in accordance with the wishes of the majority. Damnable are those who wish to stir up trouble.

(2) Urban Councillors' seats in the District Boards initially Urban Councillors were elected on a territory-wide basis. Recently it has developed into a constituency basis. Elected members of the Urban and Regional Councils are as well ex-officio members of the District Boards. In order to be known by the residents, they have to take up all the duties assigned by the Urban Council as well as by the District Boards no matter how heavy they are. Up to this day, I dare say I and other Urban Councillors have become used to sharing work and cooperating with our District Board colleagues. The Public have discerning eyes. They will feel the presence of democracy only if they are allowed to vote for their representatives. This is what I feel after working in the Kowloon City District Board for several years and the Wong Tai Sin District Board for more than four years. We have been working happily. Whence comes friction? There are no prejudices either. As to the recent suggestion by some District Board members that Urban Council seats be filled by representatives elected from among District Board members or by District Board Chairmen, this means abandoning the Urban Council system, which has been a pioneer for several decades in democratic elections, for a system of elections by District Boards which have an experience of only several years. One would feel that this is retrogressive and undemocratic.

Some people favour direct elections to the Legislative Council as a replacement for the present elections by District Boards system. They think the more the number of seats and sooner direct elections are introduced, the better. Suddenly I am confused. On one hand, we have the suggestion that members of the Urban Council should be elected by the District Boards instead of by the present form of direct elections. On the other, when the District Boards have already been electing members to the legislature, there is the demand for changing it to direct elections. What is this changing back and forth all about? Are there not contradictions? Are they for the sake of democracy or tricks of some sort? I sigh when thinking of the people who wrote this Green Paper! Having no understanding of the history of the Urban Council and the way the Urban Council and District Boards work, they have presumptuously come up with proposals which lead to disputes among us.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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Elections by District Boards will in future cause breaking up of District Boards. I hope very much the future White Paper will provide some proper guidance,

(3) As regards the selection of members (including members of the Urban and Regional Councils, District Boards and the future Executive and Legislative Councils), direct elections are a world trend. Only one-man-one-vote can ensure full representation of public views. Under the present system, one-fourth of members are elected by the electoral college, one-fourth are elected by the functional constituencies (there should be more functional constituencies), one-fourth are directly elected while the remaining one-fourth are appointed. This system is sound and reliable and should be maintained for the sake of stability.

The terms of office should be three or four years. Members may be re-elected upon expiry of their terms of office. All elections should be held on the same day. The four rounds of elections in the past two years were a waste of money and manpower. Thus we should designate one of those floating holidays as the 'general elections day'. When the whole Hong Kong goes on leave to ballot, no one can say he has no time to vote. The day will be regarded as one of great significance and people's sense of duties and rights enhanced. To establish civic rights for the next generation, civic consciousness must be instilled at an early age. Mr. Chairman, I support today's motion.

MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman,

(1) I fully support your statement, and I am certain that your view has been shared by, if not all, at least the majority of members sitting in this Chamber today.

(2) Suggestions concerning structural and non-structural change of the Urban Council described in Chapter 3 of Green Paper (para 68 to 73) are ignorance and misleading.

In fact, at the end of every financial year, Urban Services Department is requested to examine operational needs, any merger or creation of select committee are required for the ensuing year, then recommendation is made to the standing committee of the whole Council on the first meeting of new financial year in April prior to the Chairman and Vice Chairman of select committee being elected. There are already additions and changes of committee in past years, without the guidance of any white paper or public consultation. Government fully recognizes such practice is in accordance with ordinance.

(3) The existing ordinance already provides that Urban Council may co-opt outside members not more than one-third of membership in any select committee or working party either for technical expertise or community involvement (e.g. Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign Committee since 1972, Festival Organizing Committee etc.) So far these co-options are found workable, acceptable and satisfactory.

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