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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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just earn meagre salary and for those who have several children, it is a very hard life. He Said:--Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name. After it is being seconded, I will move for its adjournment under Standing Order 21 rule 16(e).

sum. With the above remarks, I object to the motion.

motion. But one thing does arise from Mr. Joseph CHAN'S speech is the timing.

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—I did not mean to speak. I am for the increase.

Is it not possible not just this increase but for the increase generally, after the summer vacation rather than before the summer vacation.

MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in English):-I will answer not all the 14 points which Mr. Joseph CHAN has raised. But I do like to answer on a few points.

First of all, Mr. Joseph CHAN did mention about the sessional arrangements at the pools. In the year 1987 and before, most of the swimming pools of the UC operated on a five sessions basis per day. It means if you wanted to spend the whole day in the Urban Council swimming pools, then you had to pay five times; not only that, you had to get out of the pool, queue up again and get in. We solved this problem by letting, especially youngsters in the summer months, spend more time in the swimming pools and do away with most of the session hours. By 1988, six of our swimming pools were on single session. It means you only paid once to get into the pool at 7 o'clock in the morning and enjoy yourself instead of playing around in the street and doing vandalism as mentioned by Joseph CHAN or doing nothing; you can bath in the pool for the whole day just paying once. Up to now, it is $4. Next month, we hope it will be increased to $5. By 1989, nearly all the swimming pools would be on single session per day. With the only exception of Victoria Park, Morrison Hill and Kowloon Park, which will be very popular, we will only have 3 sessions a day. Compared with what we usually had 5 sessions a day, this would be at least a 50% discount.

Mr. Joseph CHAN was wrong. We did not increase the admission charges in 1988. The last time we increased it was June 1987.

The third point mentioned by Mr. Joseph CHAN is about the weather. Indeed, weather in the month of August plays a very important part. Typhoon and heavy rains come in the month of July and August. Who would swim in our swimming pools? So, I believe the department was right in quoting the statistics that weather did play an important part in the total number of people using the pools.

Mr. Chairman, that is all I would like to answer.

The question was put,

The motion was carried with 23 for, 4 against and 7 abstentions.

2. MR. PETER C. K. CHAN moved the following motion (in English):-

'Moved that this Council notes the contents of the Draft Basic Law and requests the Secretary to send Members' comments to the Drafting Committee through the appropriate channels.'

In moving this motion, I have very little to say for the time being. Sir, I beg to move.

MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.

MR. PETER C. K. CHAN (in English): Sir, as the motion has been moved and seconded and nobody speaks on it, I now formally move the motion be adjourned under Standing Order 21(16)(e) and I hope my colleagues would support this motion for adjournment.

MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU (in Cantonese): - Mr. Chairman, I support the original motion and now I also support the amended motion. In the present circumstance, it is meaningless to discuss the Basic Law. We all know that constitutional laws in Mainland China are not respected; how can people's confidence in the Basic Law depend upon the constitutional laws of Mainland China? If the property and life are not properly protected, the Basic Law under 'the one country, two systems' is being regarded as a system with certain democratic characteristics. It will be a Basic Law without any firm foundation.

I would like to adjourn the consultation period of the Basic Law so that the general public in Hong Kong can have more time to study the matter. We should approach the matter from a new angle. We are used to living in a free and capitalistic society. Will such tradition be regarded as the base supporting counter-revolutionary activities? These are the points which are worth considering.

The incidents on 4 June have caused a lot of concerns among the general public of Hong Kong. Before the TV screen, we have already seen the unrest and turmoil; I would not like to comment on it again. Let Chinese history tell the truth. With the 5,000 years of Chinese culture, one day, the grandfather will tell the grandson that 'a spark of fire can destroy the whole forest.'

It does not mean that I have no view to express on the Draft Basic Law. I think in the ...

MR. CHAIRMAN (in English):- The motion adjourning sine die has been moved and seconded. Does anyone wish to speak?

MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I support the amended motion. I think that it is not the time to have discussion on the Basic Law but rather how to maintain Hong Kong people's confidence in Hong Kong. I think in Hong Kong, the most urgent matter is how to stabilize its situation to stop the emigration trend. The Basic Law which will prove to be effective or the Joint Declaration which can succeed depend to a large extent on two principles. First of all, we will really have a 'one country, two systems' and a highly autonomous system. As regards 'the one country, two systems', what we have to do in Hong Kong is to build up a good foundation.

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