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people of Hong Kong. With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
THE HON. LI Wah-ming (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, if Mr. Wong Hon-ching considers that this year is inauspicious for the Urban Council, then it may be a good idea to seek advice on the Council from a 'feng shui' master which is a fashionable practice nowadays. However, the expenses incurred should only be borne by the Councillors themselves and not by the Council.
In my capacity as the representative of the Democratic Party, I am the first one to speak in this Urban Council Annual Conventional Debate. I would like to express my views on three issues: first, the controversy arising from the allocation of fund to the Urban Council recently endorsed by the Government; second, the need for curtailing certain expenditure of the Council; and third, the need for improving and providing more purpose-built facilities for the disabled. Ten other colleagues who are also members of the Democratic Party will speak on policies under their charge. The subjects in question include the Provisional Legislature, the transition of the Urban Council and the appointment of Councillors, the Central Market as well as government funding.
First of all, I would like to talk about the controversy arising from the allocation of fund. I believe my colleagues who have attended the recent two SCWC meetings are aware that the fund allocated to the Council in the next triennium is far less than the amount sought by us. I would like to point out that the Government has not taken into account the changes undergone by this Council. When trimming down our provision, she explained that the fund was allocated on the basis of the amount granted for the last two trienniums. As the amount remained basically the same in the past six years, there was only approximately 2 to 3 percent growth in real terms for each year. Hence, from 1997 onwards, the Government would just allow for a real growth of 2 to 3% in addition to the inflationary rate in its allocation of fund to the Council in the next triennium. However, it is apparent that ever since 1995, the Urban Council has become a fully elected council without any appointed members. Among the elected members, some are representatives of district boards directly elected in various geographical constituencies. This fully elected council is quite different from the former Urban Council as it has experienced various changes such as longer hours of meetings, greater number of meetings and working groups. I am not going to elaborate on these changes as they are, I believe, natural changes. I remember that in 1994, as the Director anticipated that the Council would be undergoing certain changes in 1995, he alerted his staff of this; and in anticipation of the longer duration of meetings, and that disagreements and arguments would be more likely to pop up during meetings, his staff were asked to be psychologically prepared. All of the above changes were brought forth by a fully elected Urban Council. Besides, I would like to stress the change of attitude of Councillors. As they are elected from various constituencies, they are more enthusiastic than those in the past. They press for
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people of Hong Kong. With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
THE HON. LI Wah-ming (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, if Mr. Wong Hon- ching considers that this year is inauspicious for the Urban Council, then it may be a good idea to seek advice on the Council from a 'feng shui' master which is a fashionable practice nowadays. However, the expenses incurred should only be borne by the Councillors themselves and not by the Council.
In my capacity as the representative of the Democratic Party, I am the first one to speak in this Urban Council Annual Conventional Debate. I would like to express my views on three issues: first, the controversy arising from the allocation of fund to the Urban Council recently endorsed by the Government; second, the need for curtailing certain expenditure of the Council; and third, the need for improving and providing more purpose-built facilities for the disabled. Ten other colleagues who are also members of the Democratic Party will speak on policies under their charge. The subjects in question include the Provisional Legislature, the transition of the Urban Council and the appointment of Councillors, the Central Market as well as government funding.
First of all, I would like to talk about the controversy arising from the allocation of fund. I believe my colleagues who have attended the recent two SCWC meetings are aware that the fund allocated to the Council in the next triennium is far less than the amount sought by us. I would like to point out that the Government has not taken into account the changes undergone by this Council. When trimming down our provision, she explained that the fund was allocated on the basis of the amount granted for the last two trienniums. As the amount remained basically the same in the past six years, there was only approximately 2 to 3 percent growth in real terms for each year. Hence, from 1997 onwards, the Government would just allow for a real growth of 2 to 3% in addition to the inflationary rate in its allocation of fund to the Council in the next triennium. However, it is apparent that ever since 1995, the Urban Council has become a fully elected council without any appointed members. Among the elected members, some are representatives of district boards directly elected in various geographical constituencies. This fully elected council is quite different from the former Urban Council as it has experienced various changes such as longer hours of meetings, greater number of meetings and working groups. I am not going to elaborate on these changes as they are, I believe, natural changes. I remember that in 1994, as the Director anticipated that the Council would be undergoing certain changes in 1995. he alerted his staff of this; and in anticipation of the longer duration of meetings, and that disagreements and arguments would be more likely to pop up during meetings, his staff were asked to be psychologically prepared. All of the above changes were brought forth by a fully elected Urban Council. Besides, I would like to stress the change of attitude of Councillors. As they are elected from various constituencies, they are more enthusiastic than those in the past. They press for
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Page 311 of 498
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