Page 48 of 498
Page 48 of 498
ΤΟ ΟΙ 498
48
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
When we talk of commitment for our future livelihood, we should have a forward looking plan of vision for future development. A macro and comprehensive view is required in order to meet social needs of our development and the challenges of the future. As the Vice-Chairman of the Capital Works Select Committee, I am very concerned about delays of some of our works which affect land usage as planned by the Council and certain disputes concerning town planning. These problems show that we do not have a set of forward looking strategy. When an unanticipated problem surfaced, we simply reacted to it and took a passive stand.
I am glad to see that, as moved by Miss Ada WONG Ying-kay not long ago, we are drawing up a Five Year Plan. Our Select Committees are now busy drafting plans. When these plans are in place, I am sure we will have a lot of proposals for additional municipal facilities to meet the requirements of the community. However, how are we going to ensure we have sufficient land for use to realise the plans? How are we going to put up adequate justification to compete with other departments for land use? How are we going to ensure that our future facilities will be in keeping with community needs instead of lagging behind community aspirations? These questions will not be answered with a rigid Five or Ten Year Plan. What we need is a forward looking Ten Year Plan of Vision as soon as possible, so that we can assess municipal facilities in the next decade more accurately, ensure the acquisition of land for development use, look at community needs for the next decade with forward vision and ensure that our facilities when in place will face up to the aspirations of our people. I think it is now timely and necessary for us to devise Ten Year Capital Work Plan. My reasons are as follows:
(1) At present, UC prepares an annual Five Year Estimate as the basis of estimated financial resources required for the coming year. It helps the Council to devise plans, especially in regard to capital works expenditure and non-recurrent expenditure, so as to ensure that the Council will be able to check itself when mapping out its work. We estimate that we will be spending $4.581 billion in the next five years. I think looking at the picture purely from the financial side is incomplete, nor is it pro-active. Since we have different Select Committees to draw their respective Five Year Plans, we should make our land resources as the basis for drawing up plans. As there is a Five Year Plan for capital works, we should seek how to fight for ample usable land to meet development needs. The planning and implementation of capital works take time, so during the planning period, we should have forward looking vision and courage to take account of ten years of development. In doing so, we can ensure that the Five Year Plans of capital works can meet future needs and effectively utilise present resources.
(2) We can look to demographic projections when planning for the future of Hong Kong. This year offers a good opportunity for us because it is a year for bi-census. The Government will revise its population
of 498
Page 48 of 498
Page 48 of 498
ΤΟ ΟΙ 498
48
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
When we talk of commitment for our future livelihood, we should have a forward looking plan of vision for future development. A macro and comprehensive view is required in order to meet social needs of our development and the challenges of the future. As the Vice-Chairman of the Capital Works Select Committee, I am very concerned about delays of some of our works which affect land usage as planned by the Council and certain disputes concerning town planning. These problems show that we do not have a set of forward looking strategy. When an unanticipated problem surfaced, we simply reacted to it and took a passive stand.
I am glad to see that, as moved by Miss Ada WONG Ying-kay not long ago, we are drawing up a Five Year Plan. Our Select Committees are now busy drafting plans. When these plans are in place, I am sure we will have a lot of proposals for additional municipal facilities to meet the requirements of the community. However, how are we going to ensure we have sufficient land for use to realise the plans? How are we going to put up adequate justification to compete with other departments for land use? How are we going to ensure that our future facilities will be in keeping with community needs instead of lagging behind community aspirations? These questions will not be answered with a rigid Five or Ten Year Plan. What we need is a forward looking Ten Year Plan of Vision as soon as possible, so that we can assess municipal facilities in the next decade more accurately, ensure the acquisition of land for development use, look at community needs for the next decade with forward vision and ensure that our facilities when in place will face up to the aspirations of our people. I think it is now timely and necessary for us to devise Ten Year Capital Work Plan. My reasons are as follows:
up
(1) At present, UC prepares an annual Five Year Estimate as the basis of estimated financial resources required for the coming year. It helps the Council to devise plans, especially in regard to capital works expenditure and non-recurrent expenditure, so as to ensure that the Council will be able to check itself when mapping out its work. We estimate that we will be spending $4.581 billion in the next five years. I think looking at the picture purely from the financial side is incomplete, nor is it pro-active. Since we have different Select Committees to draw their respective Five Year Plans, we should make our land resources as the basis for drawing up plans. As there is a Five Year Plan for capital works, we should seek how to fight for ample usable land to meet development needs. The planning and implementation of capital works take time, so during the planning period, we should have forward looking vision and courage to take account of ten years of development. In doing so, we can ensure that the Five Year Plans of capital works can meet future needs and effectively utilise present resources. (2) We can look to demographic projections when planning for the future of Hong Kong. This year offers a good opportunity for us because it is a year for bi-census. The Government will revise its population
of 498
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