1996 — Page 328

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 328 of 498

498

370

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

so as to fulfill the pledge we made when we ran for election. Although aware of the Central Government's irresponsibility, the Council set up a Working Group on the Reprovisioning of Central Market and the Redevelopment of the Central Market Site last year to convey to the government our wish to redevelop the Central Market. However, when the representatives of the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch of the Central Government attended a UC meeting in September 1996 on our invitation, we were told that the government had no plan to develop the Central Market Site. In fact, when the Working Group first discussed the matter, the government departments concerned repeatedly canvassed our members, seeking support for the proposed relocation of the Central Market to the police quarters in Hollywood Road. The incoherence of the above proposals once again exposed the government's irresponsibility.

The Central Government recently sent us another letter, expressing its interest in forming a joint working group on the matter with the Council. As such, a number of Councillors have been nominated as representatives of the Council, to form the joint working group with the Government. However, as this sunset government has gone back on its words several times before, how can we place our trust in it anymore? I therefore have reservations on this proposal. I now appeal to the Government to show its sincerity by sending its representatives to the Council to discuss with the Working Group on the Reprovisioning of Central Market and the Redevelopment of the Central Market Site, with a view to finalising the redevelopment of the market and resolving this issue which has dragged on since 1976.

Furthermore, I would like to discuss briefly the Council's library services. The Democratic Party will, in the future, continue to strive for the extension of library opening hours. Last February, Urban Councillors from the Democratic Party moved this motion in the UC Monthly Meeting for debate. Although the motion was vetoed due to various reasons, we are very pleased to note that in the Five-Year Plan of the Libraries Select Committee, our proposal has been incorporated in the Council's future development plan. However, as we have mentioned in the Debate, it often takes quite a long time for the Department to implement our policy. In the past year, I repeatedly received public requests for the extension of library opening hours, particularly on Sunday afternoon. I hope that all of us can work hand in hand to provide better municipal services in 1997. It is my wish to see the plan on the extension of library opening hours implemented within this year. Besides, monitoring the construction of the Hong Kong Central Library would also be one of our main tasks in the near future.

Now, I would like to respond to the speeches by some of the Urban Councillors. Just now a Councillor mentioned that 1996 was an inauspicious year for the Urban Council while another Councillor opined that the meetings held last year were rather lengthy. Is it a bad thing to have a long meeting? Last year, according to my record, we put forth some 20 motions for debate at

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Page 328 of 498 Page 328 of 498 498 370 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL so as to fulfill the pledge we made when we ran for election. Although aware of the Central Government's irresponsibility, the Council set up a Working Group on the Reprovisioning of Central Market and the Redevelopment of the Central Market Site last year to convey to the government our wish to redevelop the Central Market. However, when the representatives of the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch of the Central Government attended a UC meeting in September 1996 on our invitation, we were told that the government had no plan to develop the Central Market Site. In fact, when the Working Group first discussed the matter, the government departments concerned repeatedly canvassed our members, seeking support for the proposed relocation of the Central Market to the police quarters in Hollywood Road. The incoherence of the above proposals once again exposed the government's irresponsibility. The Central Government recently sent us another letter, expressing its interest in forming a joint working group on the matter with the Council. As such, a number of Councillors have been nominated as representatives of the Council, to form the joint working group with the Government. However, as this sunset government has gone back on its words several times before, how can we place our trust in it anymore? I therefore have reservations on this proposal. I now appeal to the Government to show its sincerity by sending its representatives to the Council to discuss with the Working Group on the Reprovisioning of Central Market and the Redevelopment of the Central Market Site, with a view to finalising the redevelopment of the market and resolving this issue which has dragged on since 1976. Furthermore, I would like to discuss briefly the Council's library services. The Democratic Party will, in the future, continue to strive for the extension of library opening hours. Last February, Urban Councillors from the Democratic Party moved this motion in the UC Monthly Meeting for debate. Although the motion was vetoed due to various reasons, we are very pleased to note that in the Five-Year Plan of the Libraries Select Committee, our proposal has been incorporated in the Council's future development plan. However, as we have mentioned in the Debate, it often takes quite a long time for the Department to implement our policy. In the past year, I repeatedly received public requests for the extension of library opening hours, particularly on Sunday afternoon. I hope that all of us can work hand in hand to provide better municipal services in 1997. It is my wish to see the plan on the extension of library opening hours implemented within this year. Besides, monitoring the construction of the Hong Kong Central Library would also be one of our main tasks in the near future. Now, I would like to respond to the speeches by some of the Urban Councillors. Just now a Councillor mentioned that 1996 was an inauspicious year for the Urban Council while another Councillor opined that the meetings held last year were rather lengthy. Is it a bad thing to have a long meeting? Last year, according to my record, we put forth some 20 motions for debate at

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Page 328 of 498 Page 328 of 498 498 370 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL so as to fulfill the pledge we made when we ran for election. Although aware of the Central Government's irresponsibility, the Council set up a Working Group on the Reprovisioning of Central Market and the Redevelopment of the Central Market Site last year to convey to the government our wish to redevelop the Central Market. However, when the representatives of the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch of the Central Government attended a UC meeting in September 1996 on our invitation, we were told that the government had no plan to develop the Central Market Site. In fact, when the Working Group first discussed the matter, the government departments concerned repeatedly canvassed our members, seeking support to the proposed relocation of the Central Market to the police quarters in Hollywood Road. The incoherence of the above proposals once again exposed the government's irresponsibility. The Central Government recently sent us another letter, expressing its interest in forming a joint working group on the matter with the Council. As such, a number of Councillors have been nominated as representatives of the Council, to form the joint working group with the Government. However, as this sunset government has gone back on its words several times before, how can we place our trust in it anymore? I therefore have reservations on this: proposal. I now appeal to the Government to show its sincerity by sending its. representatives to the Council to discuss with the Working Group on the Reprovisioning of Central Market and the Redevelopment of the Central Market Site, with a view to finalising the redevelopment of the market and resolved this issue which has dragged on since 1976. Furthermore, I would like to discuss briefly the Council's library services. The Democratic Party will, in the future, continue to strive for the extension of library opening hours. Last February, Urban Councillors from the Democratic : party moved this motion in the UC Monthly Meeting for debate. Although the motion was vetoed due to various reasons, we are very pleased to note that in the Five-Year Plan of the Libraries Select Committee, our proposal has been incorporated in the Council's future development plan. However, as we have mentioned in the Debate, it often takes quite a long time for the Department to implement our policy. In the past year, I repeatedly received public requests for the extension of library opening hours, particularly on Sunday afternoon. I hope that all of us can work hand in hand to provide better municipal services in 1997. It is my wish to see the plan on the extension of library opening hours implemented within this year. Besides, monitoring the construction of the Hong Kong Central Library would also be one of our main tasks in the near future. Now, I would like to respond to the speeches by some of the Urban Councillors. Just now a Councillor mentioned that 1996 was an inauspicious year for the Urban Council while another Councillor opined that the meetings held last year were rather lengthy. Is it a bad thing to have a long meeting? Last year, according to my record, we put forth some 20 motions for debate at

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Page 328 of 498

498

370

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

so as to fulfill the pledge we made when we ran for election. Although aware of the Central Government's irresponsibility, the Council set up a Working Group on the Reprovisioning of Central Market and the Redevelopment of the Central Market Site last year to convey to the government our wish to redevelop the Central Market. However, when the representatives of the Planning, Environment and Lands Branch of the Central Government attended a UC meeting in September 1996 on our invitation, we were told that the government had no plan to develop the Central Market Site. In fact, when the Working Group first discussed the matter, the government departments concerned repeatedly canvassed our members, seeking support to the proposed relocation of the Central Market to the police quarters in Hollywood Road. The incoherence of the above proposals once again exposed the government's irresponsibility.

The Central Government recently sent us another letter, expressing its interest in forming a joint working group on the matter with the Council. As such, a number of Councillors have been nominated as representatives of the Council, to form the joint working group with the Government. However, as this sunset government has gone back on its words several times before, how can we place our trust in it anymore? I therefore have reservations on this: proposal. I now appeal to the Government to show its sincerity by sending its. representatives to the Council to discuss with the Working Group on the Reprovisioning of Central Market and the Redevelopment of the Central Market Site, with a view to finalising the redevelopment of the market and resolved this issue which has dragged on since 1976.

Furthermore, I would like to discuss briefly the Council's library services. The Democratic Party will, in the future, continue to strive for the extension of library opening hours. Last February, Urban Councillors from the Democratic : party moved this motion in the UC Monthly Meeting for debate. Although the motion was vetoed due to various reasons, we are very pleased to note that in the Five-Year Plan of the Libraries Select Committee, our proposal has been incorporated in the Council's future development plan. However, as we have mentioned in the Debate, it often takes quite a long time for the Department to implement our policy. In the past year, I repeatedly received public requests for the extension of library opening hours, particularly on Sunday afternoon. I hope that all of us can work hand in hand to provide better municipal services in 1997. It is my wish to see the plan on the extension of library opening hours implemented within this year. Besides, monitoring the construction of the Hong Kong Central Library would also be one of our main tasks in the near future.

1996 — Page 328

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