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also reflect to District Boards the views on municipal services and facilities from voters of different regional constituencies, which are bigger than the districts of the elected District Board members. Urban Councillors participate in the work of District Boards and their subordinating committees in such an active way that they shoulder no lighter workload than elected District Board members. They are 100% Urban Councillors as well as 100% District Board members.
To promote the political status of District Boards, the government does not hesitate to sacrifice the Council's democratic system of accountability which has survived challenges for over a hundred years. All the three options as regards the relationship between the Urban Council and District Boards mentioned in paragraph 160 of the Summary part of the Green Paper aim at expanding the political power of District Boards. No matter which option is adopted, the retrogressive measure of indirect election will be transplanted into the sound democratic system of the Urban Council. To the urban District Board members and chairmen who strive for the more attractive political prospect, doubtlessly the three options are already ideal phenomenon. But to those who show genuine concern towards democratic development of Hong Kong, the options are just unimaginably retrogressive measures. Since the Urban Councillors attending District Board meetings can fully function as a link between the Urban Council and District Boards and reflect in District Boards the views of the voters who outnumber the voters of the District Board members, I do not think it is necessary to replace the existing system of keeping a link between District Boards and the Urban Council with the retrogressive measure of selecting indirectly District Board members to attend Urban Council meetings.
A Sound Planning and Executive System
The Urban Council has both power and responsibility to plan and implement policies with its Councillors fulfilling the tasks of formulating these policies and supervising their implementation and standards. It is through the thirteen subordinating Select Committees and a number of working parties that the Council formulates its policies efficiently and submits them to the Urban Services Department, its executive arm, for implementation. Through the Urban Council's public monthly meetings and some Select Committees which hold public meetings, citizens are able to understand the ways the policies are formulated and implemented. They can also discuss their views with the Councillors in their ward offices. Such system of integrating the power and responsibilities of consultation, planning and supervision of execution is a unique feature of the Urban Council. It is the essence of representative government that citizens can, through direct elections, elect working Councillors who are responsible for formulating policies and supervising the executive department.
It is proposed in paragraph 162 of the Summary part of the Green Paper that sub-regional committees with responsibilities covering more than one district should be established either in addition to the existing Select Committees of the Council; or to replace the functions of some existing Select Committees.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Doubtlessly, such proposals suggest the government to establish an additional tier outside the original three-tier structure and divide the original central function of policymaking among a number of district bodies which lack the power to directly supervise administrative and may not come to a consensus easily on central policies. This is certainly a waste of resources and would bring a loss of efficiency. Ultimate victims of the changes being made for the sake of changes are citizens who have to pay higher rates and more municipal services fees but receive poorer services in return.
Financial Autonomy
Having gained financial autonomy in 1973, the Urban Council was able to draw up long-term development plans to provide diversified municipal services of high standard. In view of a close link between these municipal services and the daily lives of the citizens, stable financial resources and independent operation are highly important.
In paragraph 158 of the Summary part of the Green Paper, it is proposed that District Boards should be given a role in the management of certain district facilities while it is mentioned in paragraph 162 that sub-regional committees with responsibilities covering more than one district should be established. These two options have not taken into account the existing relationship between financial independence of the Urban Council and its provision of high standard municipal services and forcibly distribute the planning function of central services to financially dependent bodies which have not gone through the trial of time. Certainly, this would result in a pointless waste.
Mr. Chairman, I believe that the review of representative government should be considered from the point of providing accountable and diversified services of high standard through political structures of different tiers. If the political structure is molded before considering how to allocate power and responsibilities, it is just like putting the cart before the horse or cutting one's feet to suit one's shoes. At present, the Urban Council can, through the three systems of democratic accountability, supervision of administration and financial independence, bring the spirit of representativeness into full play and provide efficient municipal services of excellent standard, so I do not think there is need to improve the current operation system. Mr. Chairman, I am for the maintenance of the existing structure and operation system of the Urban Council as well as its relationship with the urban District Boards.
(Mr. Samuel P. W. WONG left at 3:44 p.m.)
MRS. NELLIE FONG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, many people would agree that the Urban Council has succeeded in developing a network of efficient municipal services to create a cleaner, healthier and more attractive city environment for Hong Kong. The Urban Council has also played a prominent part in enriching life in Hong Kong in developing cultural, recreational and leisure facilities.
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also reflect to District Boards the views on municipal services and facilities from voters of different regional constituencies, which are bigger than the districts of the elected District Board members. Urban Councillors participate in the work of District Boards and their subordinating committees in such an active way that they shoulder no lighter workload than elected District Board members. They are 100% Urban Councillors as well as 100% District Board members.
To promote the political status of District Boards, the government does not hesitate to sacrifice the Council's democratic system of accountability which has survived challenges for over a hundred years. All the three options as regards the relationship between the Urban Council and District Boards mentioned in paragraph 160 of the Summary part of the Green Paper aim at expanding the political power of District Boards. No matter which option is adopted, the retrogressive measure of indirect election will be transplanted into the sound democratic system of the Urban Council. To the urban District Board members and chairmen who strive for the more attractive political propsect, doubtlessly the three options are already ideal phenomenon. But to those who show genuine concern towards democratic development of Hong Kong, the options are just unimaginably retrogressive measures. Since the Urban Councillors attending District Board meetings can fully function as a link between the Urban Council and District Boards and reflect in District Boards the views of the voters who outnumber the voters of the District Board members, I do not think it is necessary to replace the existing system of keeping a link between District Boards and the Urban Council with the retrogressive measure of selecting indirectly District Board members to attend Urban Council meetings.
A Sound Planning and Executive System
The Urban Council has both power and responsibility to plan and implement policies with its Councillors fulfilling the tasks of formulating these policies and supervising their implementation and standards. It is through the thirteen subordinating Select Committees and a number of working parties that the Council formulates its policies efficiently and submits them to the Urban Services Department, its executive arm, for implementation. Through the Urban Council's public monthly meetings and some Select Committees which hold public meetings, citizens are able to understand the ways the policies are formulated and implemented. They can also discuss their views with the Councillors in their ward offices. Such system of integrating the power and responsibilities of consultation, planning and supervision of execution is a unique feature of the Urban Council. It is the essence of representative government that citizens can, through direct elections, elect working Councillors who are responsible for formulating policies and supervising the executive department.
It is proposed in paragraph 162 of the Summary part of the Green Paper that sub-regional committees with responsibilities covering more than one district should be established either in addition to the existing Select Committees of the Council; or to replace the functions of some existing Select Committees.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Doubtlessly, such proposals suggest the government to establish an additional tier outside the original three-tier structure and divide the original central function of policymaking among a number of district bodies which lack the power to directly supervise administrative and may not come to a consensus easily on central policies. This is certainly a waste of resources and would bring a loss of efficiency, Ultimate victims of the changes being made for the sake of changes are citizens who have to pay higher rates and more municipal services fees but receive poorer services in return.
Financial Autonomy
Having gained financial autonomy in 1973, the Urban Council was able to draw up long term development plans to provide diversified municipal services of high standard. In view of a close link between these municipal services and the daily lives of the citizens, stable financial resources and independent operation are highly important.
In paragraph 158 of the Summery part of the Green Paper, it is proposed that District Boards should be given a role in the management of certain district facilities while it is mentioned in paragraph 162 that sub-regional committees with responsibilities covering more than one district should be established. These two options have not taken into account the existing relationship between financial independence of the Urban Council and its provision of high standard municipal services and forcibly distribute the planning function of central services to financially dependent bodies which have not gone through the trial of time. Certainly this would result in a pointless waste.
Mr. Chairman, I believe that the review of representative government should be considered from the point of providing accountable and diversified services of high standard through political structures of different tiers. If the political structure is molded before considering how to allocate power and responsi- bilities, it is just like putting the cart before the horse or cutting one's feet to suit one's shoes. At present, the Urban Council can, through the three systems of democratic accountability, supervision of administration and financial indepen- dence, bring the spirit of representativeness into full play and provide efficient municipal services of excellent standard, so I do not think there is need to improve the current operation system. Mr. Chairman, I am for the maintenance of the existing structure and operation system of the Urban Council as well as its relationship with the urban District Boards.
(Mr. Samuel P. W. WONG left at 3.44 p.m.)
MRS. NELLIE FONG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, many people would agree that the Urban Council has succeeded in developing a network of efficient municipal services to create a cleaner, healthier and more attractive city environment for Hong Kong. The Urban Council has also played a prominent part in enriching life in Hong Kong in developing cultural, recreational and leisure facilities.
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