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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The USD Leisure Services Division staff will have to put more effort to maximize the usage of all these Indoor Games Halls through encouraging the formation of more district-based sports groups.
As sports for the physically and mentally handicapped is being given increasing attention and support, I urge that there should be a review of what new or additional sports and recreation facilities for the disabled can be incorporated in existing or new Indoor Games Halls. Interested organizations should be invited to give their suggestions.
Environment
A suggestion to the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign Committee: why not a clean-up project competition among young people by groups of between 3 to 6 young persons. The first three winning groups in the campaign could be sent to different cities outside of Hong Kong to learn how pollution is tackled elsewhere.
Wan Chai
As the Urban Council elected member for Wan Chai District, I would like the Urban Services Department to closely monitor the development of the Wan Chai Park, and to ensure that the site will be released in 1990 as promised, so that completion of the Park can be accomplished by 1992.
I am also concerned at the permanent redevelopment of the Wan Chai Market site together with the redevelopment of the Wong Nai Chung Market.
The Urban Services Department does keep the Wan Chai District Board fully posted on progress in regard to these two market projects and now is the time for more positive action to be taken to get things moving forward faster, especially on the Wong Nai Chung Market Redevelopment.
Constitutional Affairs
On the future role of the Municipal Councils in the Draft Basic Law, I would urge that the two Councils retain seats in the Legislative Council.
Regarding the number of directly elected seats to the Legislature, I would hope that at least one-third be directly elected by 1997, with such directly elected proportion progressively increasing to at least 50% of the Legislature by the year 2003.
As regards the election of the Chief Executive, I am concerned that the Grand Electoral College to elect the first Chief Executive will comprise only 400 delegates. I would much prefer the figure to be between 800–1,000 delegates, providing they are widely representative of the community-at-large, as such a larger number would be less open to manipulation from any particular quarter.
Different views have been expressed as to whether and how soon the Chief Executive should be elected by universal franchise. I am in favour of this taking place by the year 2008, which is 20 years from now and by which time the 3rd term of the HKSAR Chief Executive commences. It should be more than likely that 20 years from now the level of civic education and civic responsibility should on the average be high enough for Hong Kong people to understand what and for whom they are voting for.
The political system that Hong Kong people want is one in which the Chinese Communist Party will not be openly or directly participating in the local political scene after 1997. Were this to happen, there would be genuine concern that China's socialist system could be eroding Hong Kong's capitalist system thus affecting confidence in the future.
Human Rights
Of late, human rights has become an important issue among local political groups.
It is reported that the Government has prepared a draft Human Rights Ordinance incorporating an extensive list of human rights provisions from the two International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which have not yet been enacted into statutory law in Hong Kong. I would urge that this draft Ordinance be enacted into law at an early date, preferably in 1989.
Furthermore, as Hong Kong people place great value on personal freedoms and civil liberties, they would have even more confidence in the future if China should decide by 1990 at the time the Basic Law is adopted to become a signatory ratifying these two International Covenants.
By so doing, all the vital features of the two Covenants will become an integral part of our domestic law and subject to the jurisdiction of the local Courts.
The Future
Those of us who will remain in Hong Kong after 1997, whether by deliberate choice or otherwise, should avoid adopting a pessimistic or negative view of the future.
I hope my fellow Hong Kong citizens will have faith and confidence in Hong Kong which is irrevocably interlinked with the future of China.
China with her population approaching 1.2 billion has an absolute stake in Hong Kong's continued prosperity and stability in the 21st century.
Hong Kong is an economic lighthouse for China's open policy to economic and social reform and progress.
Hong Kong people therefore require from China a Basic Law which will represent our own unique style of parliamentary democratic institutions in which our local leaders, genuinely elected by Hong Kong people, will rule Hong Kong ably and successfully under Chinese sovereignty from 1997 onwards, without interference from the Central Government.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 124 of 182
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Page 124 of 182
238
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The USD Leisure Services Division staff will have to put more effort to maximize the usage of all these Indoor Games Halls through encouraging the formation of more district-based sports groups.
As sports for the physically and mentally handicapped is being given increas- ing attention and support, I urge that there should be a review of what new or additional sports and recreation facilities for the disabled can be incorporated in existing or new Indoor Games Halls. Interested organizations should be invited to give their suggestions.
Environment
A suggestion to the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign Committee: why not a clean-up project competition among young people by groups of between 3 to 6 young persons. The first three winning groups in the campaign could be sent to different cities outside of Hong Kong to learn how pollution is tackled else- where.
Wan Chai
As the Urban Council elected member for Wan Chai District, I would like the Urban Services Department to closely monitor the development of the Wan Chai Park, and to ensure that the site will be released in 1990 as promised, so that completion of the Park can be accomplished by 1992.
I am also concerned at the permanent redevelopment of the Wan Chai Market site together with the redevelopment of the Wong Nai Chung Market.
The Urban Services Department does keep the Wan Chai District Board fully posted on progress in regard to these two market projects and now is the time for more positive action to be taken to get thing moving forward faster, especially on the Wong Nai Chung Market Redevelopment.
Constitutional Affairs
On the future role of the Municipal Councils in the Draft Basic Law, I would urge that the two Councils retain seats in the Legislative Council.
Regarding the number of directly elected seats to the Legislature, I would hope that at least one-third be directly elected by 1997, with such directly elected proportion progressively increasing to at least 50% of the Legislature by the
year · 2003.
As regards the election of the Chief Executive, I am concerned that the Grand Electoral College to elect the first Chief Executive will comprize only 400 delegates. I would much prefer the figure to be between 800–1 000 delegates, providing they are widely representative of the community-at-large, as such a larger number would be less open to manipulation from any particular quarter.
Different views have been expressed as to whether and how soon the Chief Executive should be elected by universal franchise. I am in favour of this taking
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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place by the year 2008, which is 20 years from now and by which time the 3rd term of the HKSAR Chief Executive commences. It should be more than likely that 20 years from now the level of civic education and civic responsibility should on the average be high enough for Hong Kong people to understand what and for whom they are voting for.
The political system that Hong Kong People want is one in which the Chinese Communist Party will not be openly or directly participating in the local political scene after 1997. Were this to happen, there would be genuine concern that China's socialist system could be eroding Hong Kong's capitalist system thus affecting confidence in the future.
Human Rights
Of late, human rights has become an important issue among local political groups.
It is reported that the Government has prepared a draft Human Rights Ordinance incorporating an extensive list of human rights provision from the two International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which have not yet been enacted into statutory law in Hong Kong. I would urge that this draft Ordinance be enacted into law at an early date, preferably in 1989.
Furthermore, as Hong Kong people place great value on personal freedoms and civil liberties, they would have even more confidence in the future if China should decide by 1990 at the time the Basic Law is adopted to become a signa- tory ratifying these two International Covenants.
By so doing, all the vital features of the two Covenants will become an inte- gral part of our domestic law and subject to the jurisdiction of the local Courts.
The Future
Those of us who will remain in Hong Kong after 1997, whether by deliberate choice or otherwise, should avoid adopting a pessimistic or negative view of the future.
I hope my fellow Hong Kong citizens will have faith and confidence in Hong Kong which is irrevocably interlinked with the future of China.
China with her population approaching 1.2 billion has an absolute stake in Hong Kong's continued prosperity and stability in the 21st century.
Hong Kong is an economic lighthouse for China's open policy to economic and social reform and progress.
Hong Kong people therefore require from China a Basic Law which will re- present our own unique style of parliamentary democratic institutions in which our local leaders, genuinely elected by Hong Kong people, will rule Hong Kong ably and successfully under Chinese sovereignty from 1997 onwards, without interference from the Central Government.
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Private notes are available after approval.