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enterprise....Above all, we will be responsible for the management of our funds. Public money must be spent judiciously and seen by all to be done for the public good all the time.... How to put into practice within our means the many plans and programmes we all have for the well-being of the community will be left entirely to our own judgment....all proposals will have to be carefully considered from every angle and related to their costs, ....This means in effect that priorities will probably have to be set....For sure, firm control, good administration and a close watch on trends and tendencies will be the order of the day.' It is more than 20 years since then. Now we have a large establishment comprising tens of thousands of senior and junior officers, yet it seems that we have no supporting staff at all. Moreover, the Council Secretariat is not independent. How can we carry on the spirit in 1973 to make policy reforms, to monitor their implementation and to exercise control over the Department? Mr. Chairman, we need a strong and vigorous leader to steer the Council through the transition and to lead us to discuss our future role and functions with the SAR Government. What we need is a remedy that gets to the root of the problem and not one that merely suppresses the symptoms. We have to take the initiative, and we can no longer wait. The outside world is already making arrangements for the transition. Are we not resting on our laurels in our own kingdom and waiting for opportunities to fall into our laps? The opportunities may not appear.
Mr. Chairman, last year I did not give my support to the motion standing in your name. This year, those meaningless objectives remain unchanged and the five-year plans have not yet been completed. With these remarks. I will, once again, cast my abstention vote to the motion.
MS. JENNIFER CHOW KIT-BING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, entering the year 1997, we are all talking about the Urban Council's future development plans and ways to achieve the target of 'Enriching City Life'. On the provision of venues and facilities, I believe it is beyond doubt that the Council can proceed step by step to meet the needs and expectations of the public, However, as for the provision of entertainment services, perhaps the development of our society is too rapid, we may not be able to make an appropriate adjustment and take corresponding action in time, thus falling short of the public's expectations. Let me cite the noticeable example of vocal concerts development.
With the development of the society and the rise of iconic pop singers, the presentation of vocal concerts by pop singers has been a new trend. In 1996 alone, there have already been over 10 singers holding personal concerts. Vocal concerts have become popular gradually and are attended by increasingly younger audience. Usually, those who go to concerts are members of a whole family or young people in groups. As a result, young people have already become a regular audience. Nevertheless, at a few concerts held last year, the singers' daring and glaring performance had drawn a great deal of response
Page 350 of 498
£498
Page 350
Page 351
Page 350 of 498
394
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
enterprise....Above all, we will be responsible for the management of our funds. Public money must be spent judiciously and seen by all to be done for the public good all the time.... How to put into practice within our means the many plans and programmes we all have for the well-being of the community will be left entirely to our own judgment....all proposals will have to be carefully considered from every angle and related to their costs, ....This means in effect that priorities will probably have to be set....For sure, firm control, good administration and a close watch on trends and tendencies will be the order of the day.' It is more than 20 years since then. Now we have a large establishment comprising tens of thousands of senior and junior officers, yet it seems that we have no supporting staff at all. Moreover, the Council Secretariat is not independent. How can we carry on the spirit in 1973 to make policy reforms, to monitor their implementation and to exercise control over the Department? Mr. Chairman, we need a strong and vigorous leader to steer the Council through the transition and to lead us to discuss our future role and functions with the SAR Government. What we need is a remedy that gets to the root of the problem and not one that merely suppresses the symptoms. We have to take the initiative, and we can no longer wait. The outside world is already making arrangements for the transition. Are we not resting on our laurels in our own kingdom and waiting for opportunities to fall into our laps? The opportunities may not appear.
Mr. Chairman, last year I did not give my support to the motion standing in your name. This year, those meaningless objectives remain unchanged and the five-year plans have not yet been completed. With these remarks. I will, once again, cast my abstention vote to the motion.
MS. JENNIFER CHOW KIT-BING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, entering the year 1997, we are all talking about the Urban Council's future development plans and ways to achieve the target of 'Enriching City Life'. On the provision of venues and facilities, I believe it is beyond doubt that the Council can proceed step by step to meet the needs and expectations of the public, However, as for the provision of entertainment services, perhaps the development of our society is too rapid, we may not be able to make an appropriate adjustment and take corresponding action in time, thus falling short of the public's expectations. Let me cite the noticeable example of vocal concerts development.
With the development of the society and the rise of iconic pop singers, the presentation of vocal concerts by pop singers has been a new trend. In 1996 alone, there have already been over 10 singers holding personal concerts. Vocal concerts have become popular gradually and are attended by increasingly younger audience. Usually, those who go to concerts are members of a whole family or young people in groups. As a result, young people have already become a regular audience. Nevertheless, at a few concerts held fast year, the singers' daring and glaring performance had drawn a great deal of response
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£498
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