HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
there be any changes, such changes should be kept to the minimum. Any earth-shaking changes would inevitably lead to unnecessary disturbance and social instability which is contrary to the principle of smooth transition. Therefore I have the following suggestions on how to ensure smooth transition of the Urban Council beyond 1997:
1. Act according to Sections 97 & 98 of the Basic Law.
2. All Members remain in office till the end of the current tenure.
3.
4. Members who are willing to remain in office should pledge allegiance to the Chinese National Flag and the Flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
New Members should be appointed by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to fill any vacancy that arises.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I second your motion.
MR. PAO PING-Wing (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, since becoming an Urban Councillor in 1983, this is the first time I speak with great caution. Why do I have this feeling of trepidation? The main reason is that I wish to speak my mind today. These heartfelt words may cause some people to misunderstand me or make some people feel unhappy. Nevertheless, I hope that those who may misunderstand will try to understand. Today, I would like to share with you sincerely what I think and what I wish to achieve in the Urban Council in all these years, and I hope Members will give them some thought.
The Urban Council has become a fully elected Council this term. This complete change has led to some outside speculations that the Urban Council is now beset with crises. I have heard quite a number of friends who care about the Urban Council expressing worry over the existing situation of the Council. Therefore the theme of my speech today is actually about crises and opportunities facing the Urban Council. Some friends worry that the Urban Council is now facing a major crisis as the new structural change may have impacts on the long tradition of the Urban Council which has a history of more than 110 years. They also worry that with a combination of different political parties, different political views and different people, the Urban Council may become politicized, resulting in chaos, prolonged meetings, etc. Some people think that this is a hidden danger for the Urban Council. There are also people who feel that because most Members of the present term are new to this Council, crises may occur as a result of our lack of experience in dealing with municipal policies. Of course, there may be many different views concerning crises of the Urban Council and I have mentioned only three aspects.
When I talked with these friends, I told them that while the aforesaid situations, such as, most Members in the Urban Council were new to this Council coming from different political parties, were true, yet whether these would lead to crises or bring opportunities to the Council depended entirely on how serving Members handled matters. The above two factors may not necessarily lead to crises. Having
Page 297 of 485
~7 of 485
10
Page 297 of 485
185
Page 297 of 485
~7 of 485
10
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
there be any changes, such changes should be kept to the minimum. Any earth- shaking changes would inevitably lead to unnecessary disturbance and social instability which is contrary to the principle of smooth transition. Therefore I have the following suggestions on how to ensure smooth transition of the Urban Council beyond 1997:
1. Act according to Sections 97 & 98 of the Basic Law.
2.
All Members remain in office till the end of the current tenure.
3.
4.
Members who are willing to remain in office should pledge allegiance
to the Chinese National Flag and the Flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
New Members should be appointed by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to fill any vacancy that arises.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I second your motion.
MR. PAO PING-Wing (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, since becoming an Urban Councillor in 1983, this is the first time I speak with great caution. Why do I have this feeling of trepidation? The main reason is that I wish to speak my mind today. These heartfelt words may cause some people to misunderstand me or make some people feel unhappy. Nevertheless, I hope that those who may misunderstand will try to understand. Today, I would like to share with you sincerely what I think and what I wish to achieve in the Urban Council in all these years, and I hope Members will give them some thought.
The Urban Council has become a fully elected Council this term. This complete change has led to some outside speculations that the Urban Council is now beset with crises. I have heard quite a number of friends who care about the Urban Council expressing worry over the existing situation of the Council. Therefore the theme of my speech today is actually about crises and opportunities facing the Urban Council. Some friends worry that the Urban Council is now facing a major crisis as the new structural change may have impacts on the long tradition of the Urban Council which has a history of more than 110 years. They also worry that with a combination of different political parties, different political views and different people, the Urban Council may become politicized, resulting in chaos, prolonged meetings, etc. Some people think that this is a hidden danger for the Urban Council. There are also people who feel that because most Members of the present term are new to this Council, crises may occur as a result of our lack of experience in dealing with municipal policies. Of course, there may be many different views concerning crises of the Urban Council and I have mentioned only three aspects.
When I talked with these friends, I told them that while the aforesaid situations, such as, most Members in the Urban Council were new to this Council coming from different political parties, were true, yet whether these would lead to crises or bring opportunities to the Council depended entirely on how serving Members handled matters. The above two factors may not necessarily lead to crises. Having
Page 297 of 485
185
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.