Page 316 of 498
Page 316 of 498
10 UI 498
358
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
authority vested by law, the rule of law in our community is still the foundation stone of stability and prosperity.
excuse.
Anyone who applies for a licence from the Urban Services Department should be granted the same upon the fulfillment of all requirements. The Department should not obstruct any application with any excuse. Nevertheless, some political parties, which use democracy as a means to their ends, sneer at other people for not abiding by laws on one hand, but rebuke the Urban Services Department for issuing lawful licences to them on the other. In the Western District, there are three pig-roasting workshops which have been in existence for half a century. Certainly, they are not welcomed by the nearby residents. Nonetheless, they had obtained their licences well before the residents moved in. They have renewed their equipment in accordance with any new regulations, and have fulfilled the requirements stipulated in the ordinances concerning environmental protection and municipal services. Apart from renewing their licences according to law, what else could the Department do? A commercial unit of a commercial/residential building in Mong Kok applied for a liquor licence. Residents upstairs were of course not happy about it. However, as the application was in full conformity with the regulations and licensing requirements, according to law, the Urban Council had to grant the licence. Yet, the Urban Services Department was fiercely attacked by a political party at a meeting after it had issued the licence. Coincidentally, residents of the district were aroused to petition the Urban Council on the very day. If the public were fooled simply for votes, it could be considered a minor problem concerning the conduct of individual politicians. But, if the political party intended to make use of the Urban Council to destroy the rule of law in our community, it would be a disaster to the 6 million people of Hong Kong. Mr. Chairman, will foreign capital flow into Hong Kong if businessmen cannot obtain licences even though they comply with the relevant laws? I think we know the answer only too well.
In addition, some Legislative Councillors recently ganged up in public to set fire and throw slogans at the police under the pretext of protesting against the Chief Executive selection, in a planned move to challenge the law. In mid-December last year, a few Legislative Councillors also ganged up under the same pretext and succeeded in lying on the road after breaking through the police defence line. As expected, the Legal Department dare not lay a charge for such a criminal offence. Thereafter, incidents of forcing into restricted zones along the border occurred one after another. Worse still, under the guise of a nationalistic cause, some Councillors with party affiliation dashed into a consulate office and aroused a tumult there, taking no heed whatsoever of the international law. In the days of Red Cambodia, no one dared to break into an embassy. While taking refuge in the United States Embassy, FANG Lizhi was safe and free from any disturbance. But the Councillors in Hong Kong, acting under the guise of democracy, purposely violated the internationally observed covenants. All they want is only to impress the world that Hong Kong is an
Page 316 of 498
Page 316 of 498
Page 317 of 498
should be removed as it is not part of the original text on page 316, here is the corrected version:Page 316 of 498
Page 316 of 498
10 UI 498
358
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
authority vested by law, the rule of law in our community is still the foundation stone of stability and prosperity.
excuse.
Anyone who applies for a licence from the Urban Services Department should be granted the same upon the fulfillment of all requirements. The Department should not obstruct any application with any Nevertheless, some political parties, which use democracy as a means to their ends, sneer at other people for not abiding by laws on one hand, but rebuke the Urban Services Department for issuing lawful licences to them on the other. In the Western District, there are three pig-roasting workshops which have been in existence for half a century. Certainly, they are not welcomed by the nearby residents. Nonetheless, they had obtained their licences well before the residents moved in. They have renewed their equipment in accordance with any new regulations, and have fulfilled the requirements stipulated in the ordinances concerning environmental protection and municipal services. Apart from renewing their licences according to law, what else could the Department do? A commercial unit of a commercial/residential building in Mong Kok applied for a liquor licence. Residents upstairs were of course not happy about it. However, as the application was in full conformity with the regulations and licensing requirements, according to law, the Urban Council had to grant the licence. Yet, the Urban Services Department was fiercely attacked by a political party at a meeting after it had issued the licence. Coincidentally, residents of the district were aroused to petition the Urban Council on the very day. If the public were fooled simply for votes, it could be considered a minor problem concerning the conduct of individual politicians. But, if the political party intended to make use of the Urban Council to destroy the rule of law in our community, it would be a disaster to the 6 million people of Hong Kong. Mr. Chairman, will foreign capital flow into Hong Kong if businessmen cannot obtain licences even though they comply with the relevant laws? I think we know the answer only too well.
In addition, some Legislative Councillors recently ganged up in public to set fire and throw slogans at the police under the pretext of protesting against the Chief Executive selection, in a planned move to challenge the law. In mid-December last year, a few Legislative Councillors also ganged up under the same pretext and succeeded in lying on the road after breaking through the police defence line. As expected, the Legal Department dare not lay a charge for such a criminal offence. Thereafter, incidents of forcing into restricted zones along the border occurred one after another. Worse still, under the guise of a nationalistic cause, some Councillors with party affiliation dashed into a consulate office and aroused a tumult there, taking no heed whatsoever of the international law. In the days of Red Cambodia, no one dared to break into an embassy. While taking refuge in the United States Embassy, FANG Lizhi was safe and free from any disturbance. But the Councillors in Hong Kong, acting under the guise of democracy, purposely violated the internationally observed covenants. All they want is only to impress the world that Hong Kong is an
Page 316 of 498
Page 316 of 498
10 UI 498
358
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
authority vested by law, the rule of law in our community is still the foundation stone of stability and prosperity.
excuse.
Anyone who applies for a licence from the Urban Services Department should be granted the same upon the fulfillment of all requirements. The Department should
not obstruct any application with any Nevertheless, some political parties, which use democracy as a means to their ends, sncer at other people for not abiding by laws on one hand, but rebuke the Urban Services Department for issuing lawful licences to them on the other. In the Western District, there are three pig-roasting workshops which have been in existence for half a century. Certainly, they are not welcomed by the nearby residents. Nonetheless, they had obtained their licences well before the residents moved in. They have renewed their equipment in accordance with any new regulations, and have fulfilled the requirements stipulated in the ordinances concerning environmental protection and municipal services. Apart from renewing their licences according to law, what else could the Department do? A commercial unit of a commercial/residential building in Mong Kok applied for a liquor licence. Residents upstairs were of course not happy about it. However, as the application was in full conformity with the regulations and licensing requirements, according to law, the Urban Council had to grant the licence. Yet, the Urban Services Department was fiercely attacked by a political party at a meeting after it had issued the licence. Coincidentally, residents of the district were aroused to petition the Urban Council on the very day. If the public were fooled simply for votes, it could be considered a minor problem concerning the conduct of individual politicians. But, if the political party intended to make use of the Urban Council to destroy the rule of law in our community, it would be a disaster to the 6 million people of Hong Kong. Mr. Chairman, will foreign capital flow into Hong Kong if businessmen cannot obtain licences even though they comply with the relevant laws? I think we know the answer only too well.
In addition, some Legislative Councillors recently ganged up in public to set fire and throw slogans at the police under the pretext of protesting against the Chief Executive selection, in a planned move to challenge the law. In mid- December last year, a few Legislative Councillors also ganged up under the same pretext and succeeded in lying on the road after breaking through the police defence line. As expected, the Legal Department dare not lay a charge for such a criminal offence. Thereafter, incidents of forcing into restricted zones along the border occurred one after another. Worse still, under the guise of a nationalistic cause, some Councillors with party affiliation dashed into a consulate office and aroused a tumult there, taking no heed whatsoever of the international law. In the days of Red Cambodia, no one dared to break into an embassy. While taking refuge in the United States Embassy, FANG Lizhi was safe and free from any disturbance. But the Councillors in Hong Kong, acting under the guise of democracy, purposely violated the internationally observed covenants. All they want is only to impress the world that Hong Kong is an
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