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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
for example, using less paper, enhancing energy efficiency and providing guidelines on energy-saving. Externally, we should formulate policies on the separation of waste and recycling so that we can lead the pace of the territory's overall environmental protection work. The Urban Council should have the courage to be a pioneer.
Thirdly, The Council should examine the feasibility of setting up a library and a museum with itself as the theme. The library will collect information relevant to the Council and not only will it serve all our staff, but it will also serve the public. Apart from that, as the history of the development of the Council is closely related to that of Hong Kong, the setting up of a museum on the development of urban services as a witness to the history of Hong Kong is justified.
Fourthly, I think in serving the community the Council should introduce the concept of 'total quality management', one of the most essential elements of which is 'customer satisfaction'. Members of the public are the ‘ultimate' targets of our service, and the degree of their satisfaction with the Council's service is an important indicator of the success or failure of our work. In addition, the establishment of a self-improving management system is also a new topic for us.
Fifthly, I hope the Council and the Department will design a comprehensive 'orientation' programme after the election in March to familiarise the newly elected Members with the actual operation of the Council and the Department and to allow them to establish a working relationship with the latter.
Sixthly, the Council should increase its communication and dialogue with different social institutions such as district bodies, performing groups, the mass media, etc. By doing so, not only can we win their support for the work of the Council and the Department but we can also reduce the blind spots in our policies, thus avoiding policy errors and unnecessary waste of resources.
Seventhly, being a new Councillor, I am free of any historic burden. So I can assume that the Urban Council is starting from scratch today. What kind of a municipal council do we need exactly?
Eighthly, I think that the annual statement of aims of the Urban Council should be drawn up with quantification. Also, we should find out our achievements beforehand and reflect more specifically as to whether the targets can be met. The second Performance Pledge of the Urban Services Department has been completed. I believe that it will be the Council's most important performance pledge if the Council will monitor the honouring of the Performance Pledge by the Urban Services Department.
Lastly, the ideal behind our slogan 'enriching city life' must be based on solid work. But what sort of an ideal city should we expect after 1997? This is a question that we have to face up to positively. Instead of just working out a slogan, we should work realistically, ponder and then work again. Then, and only then, we will not fail to fulfil the mission assigned to us by history.
With these words, I support the motion.
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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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MR. CHAN NOI-YUE (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, I have been recently elected to this Council to represent the sixth term Kowloon City District Board members. Although it has only been two-odd months since I began attending the Council's meetings with all of you, I am very delighted to see so many old and new friends working on the Council serving the public with such dedication. Having the chance to join the Council, I really hope to join you in making contribution to the urban services. Furthermore, I hope we can work together whole-heartedly to promote the Council's projects and improve various kinds of facilities and environmental hygiene with the aim of building a good new city. On the issue of the political system, the Urban Council will inevitably feel the impact of the coming political reform. I, however, feel that we must try our best to contain the row over political reform. I earnestly hope that our society will remain stable and prosperous, and has a smooth transition in the run-up to 1997. Being an Urban Councillor, I think we should serve members of the public conscientiously in order to win their trust in our work. Only by doing so, can we work for the well-being and meet the expectations of our people.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. ALBERT LAI WING-LIN (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, I am an indirectly elected Councillor representing Kwun Tong District Board. I can say I stand absolutely neutral and I do not belong to any political party. I do not know why I was elected to the Urban Council. In the past two-odd months with the Council, I have the impression that the Council is just like a kind father who has not divided his property among his children while the Urban Services Department is like a very naughty and rather disobedient son who feigns compliance to his father's instructions but acts otherwise in secret thus making father lose face all of a sudden.
First of all, I would like to talk about the Department's approach in law enforcement. I admit that the Urban Services Department has frequently reminded the people that stagnant water breeds mosquitoes and that offenders are liable to prosecution. But may I ask whether the Department has actually educated the people about the spots where stagnant water may appear and become breeding grounds of mosquitoes? Let me give you some examples, which show the answer to that question is in the negative. Are you aware that there is stagnant water in the holes at the bottom of flower pots and that corporate owners of some buildings have been prosecuted for this? Does it occur to you that you may be prosecuted just because there is a little water remaining in the bucket you use for watering flowers? Does it also occur to you that you may be prosecuted for keeping used tyres which have stagnant water inside? Can you imagine that someone may prise open the iron cover of the ditches of your building to get some water and hence lead to prosecution action against you? Furthermore, it will be even more difficult to imagine that you will be prosecuted because someone has taken the trouble to get some water out of your rain water drains. I dare not say these prosecutions are unlawful. They are indeed very lawful because there are definitely mosquitoes on your premises. But are the general public aware of these problems? Have you noted these problems before I pointed them out? The above 5 cases took place in 5 different buildings. The people prosecuted knew that the judges would not
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
for example, using less paper, enhancing energy efficiency and providing guidelines on energy-saving. Externally, we should formulate policies on the separation of waste and recycling so that we can lead the pace of the territory's overall envrionmental protection work. The Urban Council should have the courage to be a pioneer.
Thirdly, The Council should examine the feasibility of setting up a library and a museum with itself as the theme. The library will collect information relevant to the Council and not only will it serve all our staff, but it will also serve the public. Apart from that, as the history of the development of the Council is closely related to that of Hong Kong, the setting up of a museum on the development of urban services as a witness to the history of Hong Kong is justified.
Fourthly, I think in serving the community the Council should introduce the concept of 'total quality management', one of the most essential elements of which is 'customer satisfaction'. Members of the public are the ‘ultimate' targets of our service, and the degree of their satisfaction with the Council's service is an important indicator of the success or failure of our work. In additional, the establishment of a self-improving management system is also a new topic for us.
Fifthly, I hope the Council and the Department will design a comprehensive 'orientation' programme after the election in March to familiarise the newly elected Members with the actual operaiton of the Council and the Department and to allow them to establish a working relationship with the latter.
Sixthly, the Council should increase its communication and dialogue with different social institutions such as district bodies, performing groups, the mass media, etc. By dong so, not only can we win their support for the work of the Council and the Department but we can also reduce the blind spots in our politices, thus avoiding policy errors and unnecessary waste of resources.
Seventhly, being a new Councillor, I am free of any historic burden. So I can assume that the Urban Council is starting from scratch today. What kind of a municipal council do we need exactly?
Eighthly, I think that the annual statement of aims of the Urban Council should be drawn up with quantification. Also, we should find out our achievements beforehand and reflect more specifically as to whether the targets can be met. The second Performance Pledge of the Urban Services Department has been completed. I believe that it will be the Council's most important performance pledge if the Council will monitor the honouring of the Performance Pledge by the Urban Services Department.
Lastly, the ideal behind our slogan 'enriching city life' must be based on solid work. But what sort of an ideal city should we expect after 1997? This is a question that we have to face up to positively. Instead of just working out a slogan, we should work realistically, ponder and then work again. Then, and only then, we will not fail to fulfil the mission assigned to use by history.
With these words, I support the motion.
Page 109 of 115
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 109 of 115
207
MR. CHAN NOI-YUE (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I have been recently elected to this Council to represent the sixth term Kowloon City District Board members. Although it has only been two-odd months since I began attending the Council's meetings with all of you, I am very delighted to see so many old and new friends working on the Council serving the public with such dedication. Having the chance to join the Council, I really hope to join you in making contribution to the urban services. Furthermore, I hope we can work together whole-heartedly to promote the Council's projects and improve various kinds of facilities and environmental hygiene with the aim of building a good new city. On the issue of the political system, the Urban Council will inevitably feel the impact of the coming political reform. I, however, feel that we must try our best to contain the row over political reform. I however, feel that we must try out best to contain the row over political reform. I earnestly hope that our society will remain stable and prosperous, and has a smooth transition in the run- up to 1997. Being an Urban Councillor, I think we should serve members of the public conscientiously in order to win their trust in our work. Only by doing so, can we work for the well-being and meet the expectations of our people.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. ALBERT LAI WING-LIN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I am an indirectly elected Councillor representating Kwun Tong District Board. I can say I stand absolutely neutral and I do not belong to any political party. I do not know why I was elected to the Urban Council. In the past two-odd months with the Council, I have the impression that the Council is just like a kind father who has not divided his property among his children while the Urban Services Department is like a very naughty and rather disobedient son who feigns compliance to his father's instructions but acts otherwise in secret thus making father lose face all of a sudden.
First of all, I would like to talk about the Department's approach in law enforcement. I admit that the Urban Services Department has frequently reminded the people that stagnant water breeds mosquitoes and that offenders are liable to prosecution. But may I ask whether the Department has actually educated the people about the spots where stagnant water may appear and become breeding grounds of mosquitoes? Let me give you some examples, which show the answer to that question is in the negative. Are you aware that there is stagnant water in the holes at the bottom of flower pots and that corporated owners of some buildings have been prosecuted for this? Does it occur to you that you may be prosecuted just because there is a little water remaining in the bucket you use of watering flowers? Does it also occur to you that you may be prosecuted for keeping used tyres which have stagnant water inside? Can you imagine that someone may prise open the iron cover of the ditches of your building to get some water and hence lead to prosecution action against you? Futhermore, it will be even more difficult to imagine that you will be prosecuted because someone has taken the trouble to get some water out of your rain water drains. I dare not say these prosecutions are unlawful. They are indeed very lawful because there are definitely mosquitoes on your premises. But are the general public aware of these problems? Have you noted these problems before I pointed them out? The above 5 cases took place in 5 different buildings. The people prosecuted knew that the judges would not
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