HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 101 of 126
179
Secondly, there are sufficient channels through which the Government can find out what the public need and the public can monitor the operation of the Government so that the Government can change those decisions that go against the wishes of the majority of the people. Thirdly, the Government is elected by the people. This is particularly important when it comes to the election of the chief executive, who is to guide the Government into enacting a set of policies and laws that conform with the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of the people. For the time being, Hong Kong falls short of the three conditions mentioned above, particularly the second and the third ones; and Hong Kong people simply can do nothing about it. No matter how many directly elected seats are provided in the Legislative Council, it remains that absolute authority still rests with the Governor. The fact that Hong Kong is a colony with a Governor appointed by the Queen does constitute the greatest stumbling block to democracy. The political reform package currently put forward by the Governor is an offer of democracy made by a colonial ruler to his people in Hong Kong. This kind of democracy granted to the people by the authority above can by no means be regarded as democracy and this is one of the reasons why the Governor has to withdraw his package. Some people want to mislead others by saying that there will not be any democracy in the future if people do not fight for it now and that people fight for more directly elected seats as they do not have confidence in China. Such statements are, indeed, not worth rebutting, yet I would like to make a positive response. I find that most people in Hong Kong have great confidence in the issue of 1997 but this has nothing to do with direct election or the Governor's political reform package. Mr. Chairman, in order to have real democracy in Hong Kong, I hope that the Governor will withdraw his political reform package.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
Ms. YEUNG KAM-CHUN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, the problem of hawker is very important in Kwun Tong. Mr. Fred Li has touched on that point therefore I will not repeat those points.
The subject I would like to raise today concerns the 'Promotion of Sports'. We have to make all the people of Hong Kong physically strong, be they old, middle-aged, youngsters or children. We must persevere in the promotion work and regard it as an on-going campaign like the 'Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign'.
To keep in line with the long term planning and sports development of the Urban Council, we have all along been emphasizing, as far as I can remember, the concepts of 'sports-for-all' and 'mass participation'.
From the information available, I note that the number of participants in sports activities in urban areas in 1990 was over 250,000 and, at the end of 1992, the number was over 287,000. It seems that our promotion work has apparently been successful. However, we must bear in mind that the urban
Page 101 of 126
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 101 of 126
179
Secondly, there are sufficient channels through which the Government can find out what the public need and the public can monitor the operation of the Government so that the Government can change those decisions that go against the wishes of the majority of the people. Thirdly, the Government is elected by the people. This is particularly important when it comes to the election of the chief executive, who is to guide the Government into enacting a set of policies and laws that conform with the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of the people. For the time being, Hong Kong falls short of the three conditions mentioned above, particularly the second and the third ones; and Hong Kong people simply can do nothing about it. No matter how many directly elected seats are provided in the Legislative Council, it remains that absolute authority still rests with the Governor. The fact that Hong Kong is a colony with a Governor appointed by the Queen does constitute the greatest stumbling block to democracy. The political reform package currently put forward by the Governor is an offer of democracy made by a colonial ruler to his people in Hong Kong. This kind of democracy granted to the people by the authority. above can by no means be regarded as democracy and this is one of the reasons why the Governor has to withdraw his package. Some people want to mislead others by saying that there will not be any democracy in the future if people do not fight for it now and that people fight for more directly elected seats as they do not have confidence in China. Such statements are, indeed, not worth rebutting, yet I would like to make a positive response. I find that most people in Hong Kong have great confidence in the issue of 1997 but this has nothing to do with direct election or the Governor's political reform package. Mr. Chairman, in order to have real democracy in Hong Kong, I hope that the Governor will withdraw his political reform package.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
Ms. YEUNG KAM-CHUN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the problem of hawker is very important in Kwun Tong. Mr. Fred Li has touched on that point therefore I will not repeat those points.
The subject I would like to raise today concerns the 'Promotion of Sports'. We have to make all the people of Hong Kong physically strong, be they old, middle-aged, youngsters or children. We must persevere in the promotion work and regard it as an on-going campaign like the 'Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign'.
To keep in line with the long term planning and sports development of the Urban Council, we have all along been emphasizing, as far as I can remember, the concepts of 'sports-for-all' and 'mass participation'.
From the information available, I note that the number of participants in sports activities in urban areas in 1990 was over 250 000 and, at the end of 1992, the number was over 287 000. It seems that our promotion work has apparently been successful. However, we must bear in mind that the urban
Page 101 of 126
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.