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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
restore the appointment system. This is no longer a matter of taking a quick pace or a slow pace for democratization, as Mr. QIAN Qichen had said. It is a matter of whether democracy is needed, and whether we are turning back the wheel of history.
Why should the appointment system be restored? The purpose is to raise the 'control index', or the 'security index' as quoted from the Memoir of Mr. XU Jiatun. Some people would feel insecure without a firm control over the absolute majority. At present, in the two Municipal Councils and in individual District Boards, some people are feeling insecure with their authority because they cannot grasp a firm control over the absolute majority. With democratic election, they cannot get what they want, hence they urge for restoration of the appointment system. Through the appointment system, they can appoint whoever they like, and take into their hands the majority of seats in the two Municipal Councils and all District Boards, as a result they can bring the whole Council under their control. This is, in fact, a very good example to illustrate what 'one country, two systems' and 'high degree of autonomy' actually mean, and what exactly is putting oneself in the commanding position'. Once when this putting oneself in the commanding position approach was being widely and incisively criticised, someone explained that the 'oneself' included all people of Hong Kong. Let me further elaborate his explanation this way: the Hong Kong people included in this 'oneself' are only limited to those who are equipped with the same antenna. Recently, talks in the tone of 'oneself in the commanding position' have slightly abated. Why? That is because a main transmission station has been set up for the antenna and they no longer have to appear in the form of “oneself”.
Mr. Chairman, just now Mr. WEN Choy-bon mentioned about a manipulated election (i.e. the UC election). In fact, Mr. WEN himself has become a Member of this Council through this so-called manipulated election. I don't know whom Mr. WEN thinks had manipulated the election, but I don't think this election was a manipulated one. In his speech Mr. WEN quoted a line from a ci poem of the Song Dynasty, 'Deeply I sigh for the fallen flowers in vain', which is followed by the line 'The swallows that I seem to know vaguely have come back again'. I would like to modify the second line to 'The old batteries that I seem to know vaguely have come back again' to describe the Council after the restoration of the appointment system.
Mr. Chairman, these are my remarks.
MR. KWOK BIT-CHUN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, apart from focusing on cultural affairs, I would like to touch on the matter of promoting sex education in my speech today.
There is no doubt that the Urban Council plays a very important role in promoting arts and culture in Hong Kong. One of the key functions of the Council is to enhance the quality of Hong Kong people's cultural life under the
Page 378 of 498
Page 378 of 498
422
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
restore the appointment system. This is no longer a matter of taking a quic pace or a slow pace for democratization, as Mr. QIAN Qichen had said. It is a matter of whether democracy is needed, and whether we are turning back the wheel of history.
Why should the appointment system be restored? The purpose is to raise the 'control index', or the 'security index' as quoted from the Memoir of Mr. Xt Jiatun. Some people would feel insecure without a firm control over the absolute majority. At present, in the two Municipal Councils and in individua District Boards, some people are feeling insecure with their authority becaus they cannot grasp a firm control over the absolute majority. With democrati election, they cannot get what they want, hence they urge for restoration of the appointment system. Through the appointment system, they can appoir. whoever they like, and take into their hands the majority of seats in the tw Municipal Councils and all District Boards, as a result they can bring th whole Council under their control. This is, in fact, a very good example t illustrate what 'one country, two systems' and 'high degree of autonomy actually mean, and what exactly is putting oneself in the commandi position'. Once when this putting oneself in the commanding positio: approach was being widely and incisively criticised, someone explained the the 'oneself' included all people of Hong Kong. Let me further elaborate hi explanation this way: the Hong Kong people included in this 'oneself are on limited to those who are equipped with the same antenna. Recently, talks i the tone of 'oneself in the commanding position' have slightly abated. Why? That is because a main transmission station has been set up for the antenna and they no longer have to appear in the form of “oneself”.
Mr. Chairman, just now Mr. WEN Choy-bon mentioned about a manipulated election (i.e. the UC election). In fact, Mr. WEN himself h become a Member of this Council through this so-called manipulated electio: I don't know whom Mr. WEN thinks had manipulated the election, but I doo! think this election was a manipulated one. In his speech Mr. WEN quoted a lic from a ci poem of the Song Dynasty, 'Deeply I sigh for the fallen flowers t vain', which is followed by the line 'The swallows that I seem to know vague have come back again'. I would like to modify the second line to 'The o batteries that I seem to know vaguely have come back again' to describe th Council after the restoration of the appointment system.
Mr. Chairman, these are my remarks.
MR. KWOK BIT-CHUN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, apart from focusing e cultural affairs, I would like to touch on the matter of promoting sex educatio: in my speech today.
There is no doubt that the Urban Council plays a very important role promoting arts and culture in Hong Kong. One of the key functions of the Council is to enhance the quality of Hong Kong people's cultural life under the
Page 378 of 498
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