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THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, paragraph 8 of the reply mentions about a consultancy report to be expected. The consultancy firm has been entrusted to study bulk wastes reduction. So my question is: Is it possible for us to provide information and make suggestions to the consultants to draw up recommendations concerning the policies? If he is only talking about bulk wastes reduction, can we not also talk about separation of wastes? In paragraph 4 of the reply, it seems that it pre-empts the recommendations because we are told about the resource implication. And yet on the other hand, in paragraph 9 it says that we have to await the Government's recommendation. So my question for Mr. Wong is: Is it not possible for us to have the matter discussed in great detail by the relevant Select Committees i.e. ask the Department to table a paper so that we can devise a forward-looking policy? I understand that many Councillors have been asking similar questions on various locations. This has been a matter addressed by Councillors in the Annual Conventional Debate in many years. I hope the Department can submit a paper for the detailed discussion by the Public Health Select Committee. I don't think we should follow everything to be recommended by the Central Government.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think there are two questions. First is about paragraph 8 which mentions about the employment of consultants. The consultancy work is going on. I hope that round about June, a report will be submitted. Of course, the report is not a policy paper. The two Municipal Councils will be given opportunities to discuss the report and then the Central Government will make a final decision on the disposal of wastes and possibly about the recovery and separation of wastes as well. We hope that in the later half of this year, we will be able to have major input in this exercise so members don't really have to worry. Hong Kong is a small place and we have a high density of population. When we come to the recovery and separation of wastes, we have a lot of problems. Residents only live in a flat of a few hundred square feet and it will be difficult to make use of public place to keep waste receptacles for different categories of wastes. It is not to say that they cannot be overcome, but it will require a lot of efforts. The two Municipal Councils should of course study the possibility of introducing the policy of separation of wastes. On the other hand, we must tie in with the recommendation of the consultants to the Central Government. We should tie in with the efforts. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): What about my question concerning whether the relevant select committee will consider the detailed proposals or detailed problems outlined in paragraph 4? As we are the waste collection authority, maybe the USD can provide more input. Mention is made of a number of countries stipulating the separation of recyclable materials. How have they performed? I think it will be of reference to us if such information can be given to us.
CHAIRMAN (in English): Mr. WONG, as Vice-chairman, would you take this topic and ask the Department to present the paper for more thorough discussions. This is a request rather than a question.
Page 110 of 132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
RESUMPTION OF ANNUAL CONVENTIONAL DEBATE
CHAIRMAN (in English): This is the 111th year of the Urban Council and I am again addressing this meeting as the Chairman of Council and replying to the motion of Members proposing the acceptance of the Statement of Aims. All Members who spoke at the Council's Annual Conventional Debate made invaluable and interesting suggestions on a wide range of subjects. As in the previous years, those related to the Council will be examined in the context of subject Select Committees in the coming months and those concerning other parts of Government will be referred by the Council's Secretariat to the Government for consideration. I will focus my comments on this occasion, on a few common observations made by Members, and which affect the Council as a whole.
Constitutional Reforms
One of the major topics brought up by Members was the Sino-British row and Governor Patten's proposals on constitutional reforms. Much has been said and done to reflect Urban Council's view on this issue. Despite our efforts, it now appears that the British and the Chinese Government have come to a state of impasse and there is little we can do to revert the situation. The Council's majority view is against the abolition of all appointed membership in the District Boards and Municipal Councils and it is much to my regret that our cries to the Government remain unheard and unanswered. Having said that, I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the Chinese and British Government once again to try their best to lay aside their prejudices and work towards maintaining the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. As the Chinese saying goes, 'All things flourish in a harmonious home', I hope both Governments can put the interests of the people of Hong Kong paramount and work towards a smooth and uninterrupted transition.
Environmental Health, Recreation and Amenities
Quite a number of our colleagues made proposals to improve our environment, to green Hong Kong by planting more trees, to increase the provision of recreation and open spaces, to re-design and redevelop our outdated facilities, and to inculcate among the people of Hong Kong the concept of a 'clean and healthy' environment. I am sure the Urban Services Department will agree with me that these are the on-going objectives of the Council as well as the Department and both the Council and the Department will work hard towards these ends.
I am sure respective Select Committee will look into the proposals made by our Members in these areas. We have, in 1993, designated the year as the 'Greening Year' during which numerous greening campaigns were organised throughout Hong Kong. We were able to enlist the support of Government departments, organisations and District Boards and we hope that through concerted efforts, public awareness of the need for a green and clean Hong Kong will be enhanced and community participation in various greening activities encouraged.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, paragraph 8 of the reply mentions about a consultancy report to be expected. The consultancy firm has been entrusted to study bulk wastes reduction. So my question is: Is it possible for us to provide information and make suggestions to the consultants to draw up recommendations concerning the policies? If he is only talking about bulk wastes reduction, can we not also talk about separation of wastes? In paragraph 4 of the reply, it seems that it pre-empts the recommendations because we are told about the resource implication. And yet on the other hand, in paragraph 9 it says that we have to await the Government's recommendation. So my question for Mr. Wong is. Is it not possible for us to have the matter discussed in great detail by the relevant Select Committees i.e. ask the Department to table a paper so that we can devise a forward looking policy? I understand that many Councillors have been asking similar questions on various locations. This has been a matter addressed by Councillors in the Annual Conventional Debate in many years. I hope the Department can submit a paper for the detailed discussion by the Public Health Select Committee. I don't think we should follow every-thing to be recommended by the Central Government.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think there are two questions. First is about paragraph 8 which mentions about the employment of consultants. The consultancy work is going on. I hope that round about June, a report will be submitted. Of course, the report is not a policy paper. The two Municipal Councils will be given opportunities to discuss the report and then the Central Government will make a final decision on the disposal of wastes and possibly about the recovery and separation of wastes as well. We hope that in the later half of this year, we will be able to have major input in this exercise so members don't really have to worry. Hong Kong is a small place and we have a high density of population. When we come to the recovery and separation of wastes, we have a lot of problems. Residents only live in a flat of a few hundred square feet and it will be difficult to make use of public place to keep waste receptacles for different categories of wastes. It is not to say that they cannot be overcome, but it will require a lot of efforts. The two Municipal Council should of course study the possibility of introducing the policy of separation of wastes. On the other hand, we must tie in with the recommendation of the consultants to the Central Government. We should tie in with the efforts. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
THE HONOURABLE MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese): What about my question concerning whether the relevant select committee wil consider the detailed proposals or detailed problems outlined in paragraph 4? As we are the waste collection authority, maybe the USD can provide more input. Mention is made of a number of countries stipulating the separation of recyclable materials. How have they performed? I think it will be of reference to us if such information can be given to us.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Mr. WONG, as Vice-chairman, would you take this topic and ask the Department to present the paper for more thorough discussions. This is a request rather than a question.
Page 110 of 132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
RESUMPTION OF ANNUAL CONVENTIONAL DEBATE
CHAIRMAN (in English):---This is the 111th year of the Urban Council and I am again addressing this meeting as the Chairman of Council and replying to the motion of Members proposing the acceptance of the Statement of Aims. All Members who spoke at the Council's Annual Conventional Debate made invaluable and interesting suggestions on a wide range of subjects. As in the previous years, those related to the Council will be examined in the context of subject Select Committees in the coming months and those concerning other parts of Government will be referred by the Council's Secretariat to the Government for consideration. I will focus my comments on this occasion, on a few common observations made by Members, and which affect the Council as a whole.
Constitutional Reforms
One of the major topics brought up by Members was the Sino-British row and Governor Patten's proposals on constitutional reforms. Much have been said and done to reflect Urban Council's view on this issue. Despite our efforts, it now appears that the British and the Chinese Government have come to a state of impasse and there is little we can do to revert the situation. The Council's majority view is against the abolition of all appointed membership in the District Boards and Municipal Councils and it is much to my regret that our cries to the Government remain unheard and unanswered. Having said that, I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to the Chinese and British Government once again to try their best to lay aside their prejudices and work towards maintaining the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. As the Chinese saying goes, 'All things flourish in a harmonious home', I hope both Governments can put the interests of the people of Hong Kong paramount and work towards a smooth and uninterrupted transition.
Environmental Health, Recreation and Amenities
Quite a number of our colleagues made proposals to improve our environment, to green Hong Kong by planting more trees, to increase the provision of recreation and open spaces, to re-design and redevelop our outdated facilities, and to inculcate among the people of Hong Kong the concept of a 'clean and healthy' environment. I am sure the Urban Services Department will agree with me that these are then on-going objectives of the Council as well as the Department and both the Council and the Department will work hard towards these ends.
I am sure respective Select Committee will look into the proposals made by our Members in these areas. We have, in 1993, designated the year as the 'Greening Year' during which numerous greening campaigns were organised throughout Hong Kong. We were able to enlist the suport of Government departments, organisations and District Boards and we hope that through concerted efforts, public awareness of the need for a green and clean Hong Kong will be enhanced and community participation in various greening activities encouraged.
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