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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

RESUMPTION OF ANNUAL CONVENTIONAL DEBATE

CHAIRMAN (in English):-I rise to exercise my right of reply to the motion moved at the Council's Annual Conventional Debate held on Tuesday, 10 January, and Thursday, 12 January:

"That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1989-90,'

I will restrict my comments generally to matters concerning those points which have relevance to our jobs of the Urban Council itself and of course to the Urban Services Department, although the speeches themselves have been sent to the Department and the Chief Secretary as is the usual practice.

The VCUC has made what I think are valid comments on the Commissioner for Administrative Complaints, commonly known as the 'Ombudsman'. Dr. Tu herself has been an unofficial 'ombudsman' for many years more than many of us care to remember and anything she says on this subject must be listened to with respect due to the expertise she brings to the subject.

The Urban Council's ward office system has dealt with complaints for many years and I agree with Dr. Tu that whilst it is desirable that the Commissioner receives complaints through some sort of vetting process the Urban Council should also be a channel through which complaints are directed to the Commissioner. I would urge Government to reconsider.

The VCUC as well as Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN and Mr. Stephen LAU have commented on the provision of land by Government to assist in our control of the hawker situation. We have tried for years to control hawking activities. But it is a fact that many hawkers provide housewives with a convenient means of obtaining their daily necessities, particularly vegetables, etc., and it is not a feasible option to drive them out of being.

Government is serious in its intent to assist us in a more effective control of the great number of on-street hawkers, so it has to provide the land to allow them to be accommodated in viable markets. We know that land is in short supply but until markets are provided in areas which are viable for business, hawkers will come out onto the street.

You all know the Chief Secretary set up a Working Party some two years ago to look into the general question of hawker control but it has not yet been able to address the vital question of the provision of land. Although progress has been made towards agreement between departments for co-operation on general control measures; modest progress indeed.

URBTIX System

Mr. Stephen LAU also mentioned the URBTIX system- -a successful, if expensive, computerized ticketing system. Approximately 40 000 seats per night can be booked in various venues through this system and it is possible to obtain tickets at many locations, saving the public a great deal of inconvenience by having to travel to individual venues to obtain their tickets. The hardware and

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software are reaching full capacity and the committees concerned have now approved upgrading both the hardware and software to provide a better service. This system is heavily subsidised by the Council as a public service.

Wongnaichong Market Redevelopment

Mr. CHEONG-LEEN mentioned many matters, including Wongnaichong Market Redevelopment. It can only be redeveloped if some suitable viable site can be found for the present market stalls during the construction of a new market. So perhaps the Wanchai District Board could help us by advising where to place the market stalls and associated hawkers during the construction period, so far the Council has been unable to locate a suitable site.

Cleaning of Harbour

Next point of interest was the subject just discussed-Harbour Cleansing. Not for the first time, as Mr. SULKE who is itching to put his maritime experience to good use. The Marine Department on the surface (to coin a phrase) does not scem able to make a great deal of impression in this area. While we could take on this task I think that we should not offer to do this unless we got the financial and physical resources that need to come with the job. Of Course, Dr. LEUNG has already committed his Committee to a thorough examination, I will say no more than on that subject.

Mr. SULKE has again suggested direct funding of District Boards. This would of course require the provision of Urban Council staff to maintain them, something for incoming DB members to ponder. But I get the impression from the Central and Western District Board-They like to do their own thing-may be with some of our money of course.

He also suggested dissolving the CNTA and involving this Council in the whole series of new activities e.g. taking the DBs, Transport, etc. under our wing. Certainly a breathtaking idea that would be received in some quarters with considerable elation, but be viewed with a jaundiced eye in others.

Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements

The question of the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements has been mentioned many times in the past and it's a moot point that we gain more out of it in its present form without referring to it than from a revised document. But I do accept his advice that the Department and the Council should take another look at it. Certainly the role of the Electrical and Mechanical Department and its vehicle service does need to be looked at, as we are tied into a system which allows little flexibility. We are fortunate to have Mr. SULKE's experience in that activity to advise us.

Library facilities

Mr. Joseph CHAN brought up the question of Central Library and library facilities in general. Hong Kong Island will have a proper Central Library in due course and this has not been forgotten.