1996 — Page 354

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 354 of 498

398

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Mr. Chairman, to support my argument today, please allow me to list the data of the Urban Council for the years of 1993/94 and 1995/96 though figures are always so boring. First of all, I would like to explain why I choose the data of these two years. This is because 1993/94 is the last year for the Council to have appointed members and 1995/96 is the second year following the formation of a fully-elected Urban Council and the information of that year is the latest full-year data now available.

In 1995-96, a total of 172 projects were completed or committed by the Council whereas in the final year with appointed membership, there were 101 projects, representing a rise of 70% in the former figure. As regards the Hong Kong Film Festival, the number of audiences reached 142,000 last year while it stood at 13,000 in the final year with appointed members. In other words, there was an increase of 25% in the number of audiences of the Festival. There were 270 performances staged at City Hall during the final year with appointed members whereas the figure for last year was 730, representing a rise of 70%. The number of people being served in the final year with appointed members was 137,000 while the figure for last year was 308,000, which was more than two times the former figure. In respect of the promotion activities of the Museum of Arts, the year with appointed members also fell behind that of the year with fully-elected members, and the latter was 2.6 times the former. For activities promoted by the Museum of History, the number for last year was 1.3 times that of the final year with appointed members. Regarding those of the Space Museum, the difference is 1.23 times. As for the volumes of library books, we see a growth of 1.11 times, and the number of books and periodicals being lent last year was also 1.33 times the former year. Mr. Chairman, these figures are all included in this table of statistics and I just quote them for reference. According to the information given to me by the Secretary of the Urban Council just now, the Council put forward 20 motions last year whereas during the final year with appointed members, there were only 3 motions, representing a ratio of 6.6 times. There were as many as 57 questions being raised last year while the number of questions raised during the final year with appointed members was only 34, representing a ratio of 1.7 times.

Mr. Chairman, the reason why I take the trouble to list all these figures is to prove that the efficiency of a fully-elected Urban Council is in no way lower than that of a council with appointed members. On the contrary, the efficiency of a council is proportional to its ratio of democratic elements. Many academics and even members of the public think that there is a natural relationship between democracy and poor efficiency. But such a view is totally ungrounded. Yesterday, one of our Members said that the fully-elected Urban Council was too political in its discussions and deliberations, spending too much time with too little efficiency. Such a remark is misleading to the public and may deal a blow to the credibility of the system of representative government. We can therefore use the above figures to nail his false statement.

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Page 354 of 498 398 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL Mr. Chairman, to support my argument today, please allow me to list the data of the Urban Council for the years of 1993/94 and 1995/96 though figures are always so boring. First of all, I would like to explain why I choose the data of these two years. This is because 1993/94 is the last year for the Council to have appointed members and 1995/96 is the second year following the formation of a fully-elected Urban Council and the information of that year is the latest full-year data now available. In 1995-96, a total of 172 projects were completed or committed by the Council whereas in the final year with appointed membership, there were 101 projects, representing a rise of 70% in the former figure. As regards the Hong Kong Film Festival, the number of audiences reached 142,000 last year while it stood at 13,000 in the final year with appointed members. In other words, there was an increase of 25% in the number of audiences of the Festival. There were 270 performances staged at City Hall during the final year with appointed members whereas the figure for last year was 730, representing a rise of 70%. The number of people being served in the final year with appointed members was 137,000 while the figure for last year was 308,000, which was more than two times the former figure. In respect of the promotion activities of the Museum of Arts, the year with appointed members also fell behind that of the year with fully-elected members, and the latter was 2.6 times the former. For activities promoted by the Museum of History, the number for last year was 1.3 times that of the final year with appointed members. Regarding those of the Space Museum, the difference is 1.23 times. As for the volumes of library books, we see a growth of 1.11 times, and the number of books and periodicals being lent last year was also 1.33 times the former year. Mr. Chairman, these figures are all included in this table of statistics and I just quote them for reference. According to the information given to me by the Secretary of the Urban Council just now, the Council put forward 20 motions last year whereas during the final year with appointed members, there were only 3 motions, representing a ratio of 6.6 times. There were as many as 57 questions being raised last year while the number of questions raised during the final year with appointed members was only 34, representing a ratio of 1.7 times. Mr. Chairman, the reason why I take the trouble to list all these figures is to prove that the efficiency of a fully-elected Urban Council is in no way lower than that of a council with appointed members. On the contrary, the efficiency of a council is proportional to its ratio of democratic elements. Many academics and even members of the public think that there is a natural relationship between democracy and poor efficiency. But such a view is totally ungrounded. Yesterday, one of our Members said that the fully-elected Urban Council was too political in its discussions and deliberations, spending too much time with too little efficiency. Such a remark is misleading to the public and may deal a blow to the credibility of the system of representative government. We can therefore use the above figures to nail his false statement. Page 354 of 498

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Page 354 of 498 398 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL Mr. Chairman, to support my argument today, please allow me to list the data of the Urban Council for the years of 1993/94 and 1995/96 though figures are always so boring. First of all, I would like to explain why I choose the data of these two years. This is because 1993/94 is the last year for the Council to have appointed members and 1995/96 is the second year following the formation of a fully-elected Urban Council and the information of that year is the latest full- year data now available. In 1995-96, a total of 172 projects were completed or committed by the Council whereas in the final year with appointed membership, there were 101 projects, representing a rise of 70% in the former figure. As regards the Hong Kong Film Festival, the number of audiences reached 142 000 last year while it stood at 13 000 in the final year with appointed members. In other words, there was an increase of 25% in the number of audiences of the Festival. There were 270 performances staged at City Hall during the final year with appointed members whereas the figure for last year was 730, representing a rise of 70%. The number of people being served in the final year with appointed members was 137 000 while the figure for last year was 308 000, which was more than two times of the former figure. In respect of the promotion activities of the Museum of Arts, the year with appointed members also fell behind that of the year with fully-elected members, and the latter was 2.6 times of the former. For activities promoted by the Museum of History, the number for last year was 1.3 times of that of the final year with appointed members. Regarding those of the Space Museum, the difference is 1.23 times. As for the volumes of library books, we see a growth of 1.11 times, and the number of books and periodicals being lent last year was also 1.33 times of the former year. Mr. Chairman, these figures are all included in this table of statistics and I just quote them for reference. According to the information given to me by the Secretary of the Urban Council just now, the Council put forward 20 motions last year whereas during the final year with appointed members, there were only 3 motions. representing a ratio of 6.6 times. There were as many as 57 questions being raised last year while the number of questions raised during the final year with appointed members was only 34, representing a ratio of 1.7 times. Mr. Chairman, the reason why I take the troubles to list all these figures is to prove that the efficiency of a fully-elected Urban Council is in no way lower than that of a council with appointed members. On the contrary, the efficiency of a council is proportional to its ratio of democratic elements. Many academics and even members of the public think that there is a natural relationship between democracy and poor efficiency. But such a view is totally ungrounded. Yesterday, one of our Members said that the fully-elected Urban Council was too political in its discussions and deliberations, spending too much time with too little efficiency. Such a remark is misleading to the publ and may deal a blow to the creditability of the system of representative government. We can therefore use the above figures to nail his false statement. Page 354 of 498 £498

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Page 354 of 498

398

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

In 1995-96, a total of 172 projects were completed or committed by the Council whereas in the final year with appointed membership, there were 101 projects, representing a rise of 70% in the former figure. As regards the Hong Kong Film Festival, the number of audiences reached 142 000 last year while it stood at 13 000 in the final year with appointed members. In other words, there was an increase of 25% in the number of audiences of the Festival. There were 270 performances staged at City Hall during the final year with appointed members whereas the figure for last year was 730, representing a rise of 70%. The number of people being served in the final year with appointed members was 137 000 while the figure for last year was 308 000, which was more than two times of the former figure. In respect of the promotion activities of the Museum of Arts, the year with appointed members also fell behind that of the year with fully-elected members, and the latter was 2.6 times of the former. For activities promoted by the Museum of History, the number for last year was 1.3 times of that of the final year with appointed members. Regarding those of the Space Museum, the difference is 1.23 times. As for the volumes of library books, we see a growth of 1.11 times, and the number of books and periodicals being lent last year was also 1.33 times of the former year. Mr. Chairman, these figures are all included in this table of statistics and I just quote them for reference. According to the information given to me by the Secretary of the Urban Council just now, the Council put forward 20 motions last year whereas during the final year with appointed members, there were only 3 motions. representing a ratio of 6.6 times. There were as many as 57 questions being raised last year while the number of questions raised during the final year with appointed members was only 34, representing a ratio of 1.7 times.

Mr. Chairman, the reason why I take the troubles to list all these figures is to prove that the efficiency of a fully-elected Urban Council is in no way lower than that of a council with appointed members. On the contrary, the efficiency of a council is proportional to its ratio of democratic elements. Many academics and even members of the public think that there is a natural relationship between democracy and poor efficiency. But such a view is totally ungrounded. Yesterday, one of our Members said that the fully-elected Urban Council was too political in its discussions and deliberations, spending too much time with too little efficiency. Such a remark is misleading to the publ and may deal a blow to the creditability of the system of representative government. We can therefore use the above figures to nail his false statement.

1996 — Page 354

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