Page 375 of 498
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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processed in accordance with the relevant civil service conditions. As a result, we have not been able to recruit the most suitable candidates for the posts. Under the library service setup, only 18% of the staff possess the relevant professional qualifications. Within the next few years, the newly completed central libraries, district libraries and even small libraries coming on stream will require a large number of library personnel who have received professional training. However, the Urban Services Department insists that open recruitment is infeasible and thus we can only make use of the human resources available in the existing setup. This example clearly illustrates the fact that the Council is not a fully independent and autonomous public body. As this is the case, its performance is not only subject to public monitoring but has to be overseen by the Central Government also.
Regarding the various disturbing cases of the past year including firstly, the public misunderstanding that our study visits are in fact travel tours, and subsequently, the stock subscription affair and Samuel CHAN incident, the response of the Council clearly shows that it cannot accept the new political environment and is just following the traditional attitude of minimizing major problems and overlooking minor ones. As a Council composed of elected Members only, its transparency and accountability are the most important concerns of the public. In handling the stock subscription affair, the Council's failure to seize the opportunity to look into the matter by setting up an independent inquiry committee has led to ICAC's recent action to question our Members again, besmirching the public image of the Council. As for the Samuel CHAN affair, the removal of Mr. CHAN from the Chairmanship of the Working Party on Urban Council Allowances has also opened up to unnecessary associations. Are there any better options to deal with the above cases? All colleagues of the Council should learn a lesson from these cases and conduct a self-examination. In view that these Urban Council affairs of yesterday have led people to cast doubts on the integrity of the government like the Laurence LEUNG affair of today, we cannot be ignorant of the responsibility and moral conduct that an elected member is expected to have,
The fact that the Central Government substantially cuts down the funding provision of the Urban Council through the Finance Branch reflects that the Central Government is not satisfied with the Council's failure to optimize the use of resources. During the past years, the reserve of the Council has been increasing continuously mainly because the surging property market has brought up the amount of rates actually received by the Council. But it was not until the meeting of 7 January did we learn of the arrangement that the rates in excess could be freely deployed and used by the Council. Yet, we have not made use of the chance nor have we discussed the ways to handle the rates in excess. This prompts the Finance Branch to query our ability in monitoring the performance of our executive arm. No wonder the Finance Branch casts doubts on the Council's budget for the coming year and substantially cuts down our provision. Moreover, the fact that the Council draws up a saving
Page 375 of 498.
Page 375 of 498
Page 375 of 498
Page 375Page 376
Page 375 of 498
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
419
processed in accordance with the relevant civil service conditions. As a result, we have not been able to recruit the most suitable candidates for the posts. Under the library service setup, only 18% of the staff possess the relevant professional qualifications. Within the next few years, the newly completed central libraries, district libraries and even small libraries coming on stream will require a large number of library personnel who have received professional training. However, the Urban Services Department insists that open recruitment is infeasible and thus we can only make use of the human resources available in the existing setup. This example clearly illustrates the fact that the Council is not a fully independent and autonomous public body. As this is the case, its performance is not only subject to public monitoring but has to be overseen by the Central Government also.
Regarding the various disturbing cases of the past year including firstly, the public misunderstanding that our study visits are in fact travel tours, and subsequently, the stock subscription affair and Samuel CHAN incident, the response of the Council clearly shows that it cannot accept the new political environment and is just following the traditional attitude of minimizing major problems and overlooking minor ones. As a Council composed of elected Members only, its transparency and accountability are the most important concerns of the public. In handling the stock subscription affair, the Council's failure to seize the opportunity to look into the matter by setting up an independent inquiry committee has led to ICAC's recent action to question our Members again, besmirching the public image of the Council. As for the Samuel CHAN affair, the removal of Mr. CHAN from the Chairmanship of the Working Party on Urban Council Allowances has also opened up to unnecessary associations. Are there any better options to deal with the above cases? All colleagues of the Council should learn a lesson from these cases and conduct a self-examination. In view that these Urban Council affairs of yesterday have led people to cast doubts on the integrity of the government like the Laurence LEUNG affair of today, we cannot be ignorant of the responsibility and moral conduct that an elected member is expected to have,
The fact that the Central Government substantially cuts down the funding provision of the Urban Council through the Finance Branch reflects that the Central Government is not satisfied with the Council's failure to optimize the use of resources. During the past years, the reserve of the Council has been increasing continuously mainly because the surging property market has brought up the amount of rates actually received by the Council. But it was not until the meeting of 7 January did we learn of the arrangement that the rates in excess could be freely deployed and used by the Council. Yet, we have not made use of the chance nor have we discussed the ways to handle the rates in excess. This prompts the Finance Branch to query our ability in monitoring the performance of our executive arm. No wonder the Finance Branch casts doubts on the Council's budget for the coming year and substantially cuts down our provision. Moreover, the fact that the Council draws up a saving
Page 375 of 498.
Page 375 of 498
Page 375 of 498
Page 375Page 376
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