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Department by substantial salary awards. No one should grudge the Civil Service their increase, as it was similar to that granted to the commercial sector. But it must be emphasised that personal emoluments absorb a high proportion of our total revenue. A major factor that will be responsible for our decline into substantial deficit over the next two years. But I am sure the Chairman of Finance Select Committee will have more to say on this subject.
However, it is a fact of life that having realized many of the infrastructural amenities that our population now demands, these must be serviced by able and intelligent staff who must be paid at the going rate. No amount of appeals from the Secretary for the Treasury to restrict growth is going to obscure the fact that expensive capital projects have to be manned or else…!
The Department needs no urging from us to accelerate the search for contracting out services that can be equally well done by the private sector. Abattoirs, the first and obvious choice for privatisation, after three years still drags on, although much progress has been made. There are other candidates for similar treatment but until the abattoirs privatisation has been successfully concluded, we must bide our time.
The Council should take pride in the number of projects completed over the past decade, and particularly the last two or three years initiated by this Council, some paid for by Government, some out of our own resources. But all to be managed by the Department on our behalf. As I said these projects will require good staff, full of initiative, to ensure the money pumped into them, invested in these projects is put to good use.
I think we must pay tribute to our predecessors who laid the ground work and fostered the concept of many of the big projects now coming to fruition. We, of course, are grateful to the Government for agreeing to fund the major part of some of them, such as the Cultural Centre, and the Museum of Art, and of course to our universal benefit of the Jockey Club for contributing all the costs of Kowloon Park and half of the costs of Hong Kong Park now under construction. But I think it emphasises the trust both the Government and the Jockey Club place in the ability of this Council to manage such projects well and efficiently, and of course, for the benefit of the public.
One other subject that this Council must be alert to, is changes affecting the constitution and well-being of the Council. We have been assured that in the past that no changes will be made to the present arrangements made in the White Paper on the 'Development of Representative Government: The Way Forward', without prior consultation. I can advise you that no such consultation has or is taking place, but I would like to remind Government of previous undertakings given to us.
The final handing over ceremony of the Cultural Centre by His Excellency the Governor on 5 November, followed by the Royal Visit on 8 November,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
197
I think raised the prestige of the Urban Council to new heights. But while we may indulge ourselves by basking temporarily in the light of public approbation, let's not forget the work that still has to be done.
We close the decade like a chapter in a book, but a new chapter opens with new challenges, new aspirations for the Council. I am sure we will continue to work as a team in the future, and aligned with the dedication of the Department, there is no problem that cannot be solved by mutual collaboration.
Finally, I would like to thank Roy Spencer and his willing band of workers in the Secretariat for having served the Council so ably over the past year, and to the Department under the new leadership of James So for undertaking their tasks so effectively.
MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU, VICE-CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL (in English):—Mr. Chairman, at the break of a year, I find it seasonal to talk about flowers.
The flower we all know is Bauhinia blakeana. The fragrant and beautiful flower which blooms profusely in the winter has been selected as a flower emblem for Hong Kong and an official logo for the Council in 1965.
Twenty-five years had passed. The past quarter-century has been an eventful period for the Council which continues to play a key role in maintaining the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. We have been making very considerable progress in our efforts to develop cultural, sports and recreational facilities as we have never failed in providing high-quality essential municipal services for the people of Hong Kong. As we enter into the 90s, our commitments in upgrading the quality of life and in making Hong Kong a cleaner, healthier and more cultural city could not be firmer. I would very much like to see our Bauhinia bloom and flourish but this needs to be cultivated and nurtured in a pleasant environment.
Our services in the fields of environmental work, food hygiene, recreation and culture have received as many compliments as complaints. In keeping with public demands for quality municipal services and in pursuit of a better living environment, it is our Council's responsibility to serve the community well. Therefore, our important tasks ahead are primarily:
Firstly, to continue to provide an essential municipal service of high standards comparable to any big cities in the world.
Secondly, to improve the quality of life of the community.
Thirdly, to develop the continuing good relationship between the Council and the local community as well as overseas organizations.
Fourthly, to plan and build projects for the community under the capital works programme, taking into account the available land, financial resources and public needs.
By then we will have a favourable environment for the Bauhinia to bloom but that is not enough. The flower needs proper nurturing. Excessive watering
Page 105
Page 106
Page 106 of 166
Page 105 of 166
196
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Department by substantial salary awards. No one should grudge the Civil Service their increase, as it was similar to that granted to the commercial sector. But it must be emphasised that personal emoluments absorb a high proportion of our total revenue. A major factor that will be responsible for our decline into substantial deficit over the next two years. But I am sure the Chairman of Finance Select Committee will have more to say on this subject.
However, it is a fact of life that having realized many of the infrastructural amenities that our population now demands, these must be serviced by able and intelligent staff who must be paid at the going rate. No amount of appeals from the Secretary for the Treasury to restrict growth is going to obscure the fact that expensive capital projects have to be manned or else...!
The Department needs no urging from us to accelerate the search for contracting out services that can be equally well done by the private sector. Abattoirs, the first and obvious choice for privatisation, after three years still drags on, although much progress has been made. There are other candidates for similar treatment but until the abattoirs privatisation has been successfully concluded, we must bide our time.
The Council should take pride in the number of projects completed over the past decade, and particularly the last two or three years initiated by this Council, some paid for by Government, some out of our own resources. But all to be managed by the Department on our behalf. As I said these projects will require good staff, full of initiative, to ensure the money pump into them, invested in these projects is put to good use.
I think we must pay tribute to our predecessors who laid the ground work and fostered the concept of many of the big projects now coming to fruition. We, of course, are grateful to the Government for agreeing to fund the major part of some of them, such as the Cultural Centre, and the Museum of Art, and of course to our universal benefit of the Jockey Club for contributing all the costs of Kowloon Park and half of the costs of Hong Kong Park now under construction. But I think emphasises the trust both the Government and the Jockey Club place in the ability of this Council to manage such projects well and efficiently, and of course, for the benefit of the public.
One other subject that this Council must be alert to, is changes affecting the constitution and well-being of the Council. We have been assured that in the past that no changes will be made to the present arrangements made in the White Paper on the 'Development of Representative Government: The Way Forward', without prior consultation. I can advise you that no such consultation has or is taking place, but I would like to remind Government of previous undertakings given to us.
The final handing over ceremony of the Cultural Centre by His Excellency the Governor on 5 November, followed by the Royal Visit on 8 November,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
197
I think raised the prestige of the Urban Council to new heights. But while we may indulge ourselves by basking temporarily in the light of public approbation, let's not forget the work that still to be done.
We close the decade like a chapter in a book, but a new chapter opens with new challenges, new aspirations for the Council. I am sure we will continue to work as a team in the future, and aligned with the dedication of the Depart- ment, there is no problem that cannot be solved by mutual collaboration.
Finally, I would like to thank Roy Spencer and his willing band of workers in the Secretariat for having served the Council so ably over the past year, and to the Department under the new leadership of James So for undertaking their tasks so effectively.
MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU, VICE-CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL (in English):—Mr. Chairman, at the break of a year, I find it seasonal to talk about flowers.
The flower we all know is Bauhinia blakeana. The fragrant and beautiful flower which blooms profusely in the winter has been selected as a flower emblem for Hong Kong and an official logo for the Council in 1965.
Twenty-five years had passed. The past quarter-century has been an eventful period for the Council which continues to play a key role in maintaining the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. We have been making very considerable progress in our efforts to develop cultural, sports and recreational facilities as we have never failed in providing high-quality essential municipal services for the people of Hong Kong. As we enter into the 90s, our commitments in upgrading the quality of life and in making Hong Kong a cleaner, healthier and more cultural city could not be firmer. I would very much like to see our Bauhinia bloom and flourish but this needs to be cultivated and nurtured in a pleasant environment.
Our services in the fields of environmental work, food hygiene, recreation and culture have received as many compliments as complaints. In keeping with public demands for quality municipal services and in pursuit of a better living environment, it is our Council's responsibility to serve the community well. Therefore, our important tasks ahead are primarily:
Firstly, to continue provide an essential municipal service of high standards comparable to any big cities in the world.
Secondly, to improve the quality of life of the community.
Thirdly, to develop the continuing good relationship between the Council and the local community as well as overseas organizations.
Fourthly, to plan and build projects for the community under the capital works programme, taking into account of the available land, financial resources and public needs.
By then we will have a favourable environment for the Bauhinia to bloom but that is not enough. The flower needs proper nurturing. Excessive watering
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Page 106 of 166
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