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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
399
Mr. Chairman, I have perused the latest Urban Council Annual Report which gives a full account of the difficult democratization process of the Council starting from 1935 when the Council was formally set up. In 1935, there were 13 appointed Members and only 3 of them were Chinese. Later in 1953, there were 15 Members and 4 of them were elected. They were the earliest elected Members which accounted for 26% of the total membership. 1973 is an important year for the Urban Council. In that year, the Council became financially autonomous and its Chairman was no longer appointed but was elected among the Members instead. The appointed and elected Members each took up half of the seats, raising the Council's democratic element to 50%. In 1988, the Urban Council comprised 15 appointed Members and 15 elected Members with another 10 Members from representatives of the District Boards (this figure subsequently changed to 9 following the amalgamation of the Yau Ma Tei and Tsim Sha Tsui District Boards). In other words, the democratic element rose to 62% at that time. In 1995, that is the year before last, we were very lucky to have an Urban Council formed by 32 directly elected Members from geographical constituencies and 9 indirectly elected Members from District Boards, giving birth to a fully-elected council.
Mr. Chairman, starting from 44 years ago in 1953 when the Council only had an elected element of 26%, it took 20 years for the elected element to rise to 50% in 1973, i.e., 24 years ago. With the lapse of another 15 years undergoing all kinds of difficulties, the democratic element rose to 62% nine years ago in 1988. Measured by the scoring standard of a schoolchild, such an achievement can only be regarded as bare pass. During the 7 years from 1988 to 1995, the Urban Council went through a difficult process in its pursuit of a fully-elected membership through general election. During the process, the Council made strenuous effort to cast off the fetters of appointed membership, just like the old cow of a broken cart saving up its last breath for a fatal attempt as depicted by Mr. Lu Xun. Finally, its holy mission of returning the power of metropolitan services to the people was completed. Mr. Chairman and honourable Members, after reviewing the history, can we remain so daring as to make the shameless remarks that the Urban Council should ‘act progressively', 'strive to converge' and 'should not be engaged in any activity that associates with the three violations'? Our hard work for nearly half a century only brings us democracy and freedom for a short period of two years and three months. This miserable fate of the democratic Urban Council can really drive people to heartbreaking tears!
Mr. Chairman, I remember you said more than once, and in fact on a number of occasions that you were proud to be the first Chairman of the fully-elected Urban Council. However, many of your close friends and close colleagues in the Council who become UC Members through direct election as you do (even if some are indirectly elected by the District Boards, they still come from direct election) agree to the idea of stepping down and be re-appointed. They also agree to pledge loyalty to the SAR government instead of
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Page 355 of 498
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
399
Mr. Chairman, I have perused the latest Urban Council Annual Report which gives a full account of the difficult democratization process of the Council starting from 1935 when the Council was formally set up. In 1935. there were 13 appointed Members and only 3 of them were Chinese. Later in 1953, there were 15 Members and 4 of them were elected. They were the earliest elected Members which accounted for 26% of the total membership. 1973 is an important year for the Urban Council. In that year, the Council became financially autonomous and its Chairman was no longer appointed but was elected among the Members instead. The appointed and elected Members each took up half of the seats, raising the Council's democratic element to 50%. In 1988, the Urban Council comprised 15 appointed Members and 15 elected Members with another 10 Members from representatives of the District Boards (this figure subsequently changed to 9 following the amalgamation of the Yaumatei and Tsimshatsui District Boards). In other words, the democratic element rose to 62% at that time. In 1995, that is the year before last, we were very lucky to have an Urban Council formed by 32 directly elected Members from geographical constituencies and 9 indirectly elected Members from District Boards, giving birth to a fully-elected council.
Mr. Chairman, starting from 44 years ago in 1953 when the Council only had an elected element of 26%, it took 20 years for the elected element to rise to 50% in 1973, i.e. 24 years ago. With the lapse of another 15 years undergoing all kinds of difficulties, the democratic element rose to 62% nine years ago in 1988. Measured by the scoring standard of a schoolchild, such an achievement can only be regarded as bare pass. During the 7 years from 1988 to 1995, the Urban Council went through a difficult process in its pursuit of a fully-elected membership through general election. During the process, the Council made strenuous effort to cast off the fetters of appointed membership, just like the old cow of a broken cart saving up its last breath for a fatal ¡attempt as depicted by Mr. Lu Xun. Finally, its holy mission of returning the [power of metropolitan services to the people was completed. Mr. Chairman and honourable Members, after reviewing the history, can we remain so daring as to make the shameless remarks that the Urban Council should ‘act progressively', 'strive to converge' and 'should not be engaged in any activity that associates with the three violations"? Our hard work for nearly half a century only brings us democracy and freedom for a short period of two years. and three months. This miserable fate of the democratic Urban Council can really drive people to heartbreaking tears!
Mr. Chairman, I remember you said more than once, and in fact on a mumber of occasions that you were proud to be the first Chairman of the fully- elected Urban Council. However, many of your close friends and close colleagues in the Council who become UC Members through direct election as you do (even if some are indirectly elected by the District Boards, they still c:ome from direct election) agree to the idea of stepping down and be re- appointed. They also agree to pledge loyalty to the SAR government instead of
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