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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In fact, Chinese people living in Hong Kong should on one hand be prepared for the return to China, and on the other take up the mission of world peace. We should look further instead of emphasize on advantages in the short term. The so-called leftist and rightist attitudes as mentioned just now reflect that we are looking at things from an old angle. I call upon Members to broaden your outlook. Perhaps you can look down from the Peak. Or if you think that is not high enough, try the Himalayas in China. You will see from there that China is developing steadily. She is not going downhill like some European countries, or in warfare like Russia where the living of the people is getting worse every day.
China is going forward steadily, so the return of Hong Kong is a grand occasion that calls for celebration. For someone looking at this from an outdated angle and clinging on to the colonial style of democracy, celebrations could of course be called leftist acts. I do not share that feeling. Return to China is the wish of all Chinese people, including those in Hong Kong. It is the duty of the Urban Council to present the public with recreational and entertainment activities as well as to provide venues. I therefore find it a natural duty for the Council to provide venues for celebrations. Apart from co-sponsoring activities, I feel the Council should consider actively organizing celebrations. We can perhaps do so through our performing companies, sports organizations and cultural units to mark this historic occasion. I therefore support Mr. IP Kwok-chung's motion. Thank you.
Mr. KAM Nai-WAI (in Cantonese):—In fact, the Vice-Chairman of the Urban Council asked me last week how I felt about his motion. He told me that everyone understood the motion and there should be nothing special about it. I told him that I did not have strong views.
After that, I thought about the motion more. Following the information received at the Recreation Select Committee on Monday that there were many applications for booking venues for celebration activities, I know we have to handle this motion with care. You may ask me why. If you look at Mr. Ip's motion, it asks that the Council co-operate with government and the Association for the Celebration of the Return of Hong Kong as well as assist in organizing activities. In other words, the Council is about to co-sponsor some activities with the Association.
I trust that when we knew of the motion to be moved by Mr. IP, we did not have detailed information about the activities of the Association. If we vote in support of the motion just like that without any knowledge of what was to be organized, it would look like we are doing so as a matter of course.
If you vote for the motion, I will have to cite the example given by Mr. NG just now. The venues for activities organized by the Association may be leased or borrowed. We do not know whether the Association has to pay any fee. All we know is that the Victoria Park with all six hard surface pitches will be used
Page 492 of 498
Page 492 of 498
Page 492 of 498
$40
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In fact, Chinese people living in Hong Kong should on one hand be prepared for the return to China, and on the other take up the mission of world peace. We should look further instead of emphasize on advantages in the short term. The so-called leftist and rightist attitudes as mentioned just now reflect that we are looking at things from an old angle. I call upon Members to broaden your outlook. Perhaps you can look down from the Peak. Or if you think that is not high enough, try the Himalayas in China. You will see from there that China is developing steadily. She is not going downhill like some European countries, or in warfare like Russia where the living of the people is getting worse everyday.
China is going forward steadily, so the return of Hong Kong is a grand occasion that calls for celebration. For someone looking at this from an outdated angle and clinging on to the colonial style of democracy, celebrations could of course be called leftist acts. I do not share that feeling. Return to China is the wish of all Chinese people, including those in Hong Kong. It is the duty of the Urban Council to present the public with recreational and entertainment activities as well as to provide venues. I therefore find it a natural duty for the Council to provide venues for celebrations. Apart from co- sponsoring activities, I feel the Council should consider actively organizing celebrations. We can perhaps do so through our performing companies, sports organizations and cultural units to mark this historic occasion. I therefore support Mr. IP Kwok-chung's motion. Thank you.
Mr. Kam Nal-WAI (in Cantonese):—In fact, the Vice-Chairman of the Urban Council asked me last week how I felt about his motion. He told me that everyone understood the motion and there should be nothing special about it. I told him that I did not have strong views.
After that. I thought about the motion more. Following the information received at the Recreation Select Committee on Monday that there were many applications for booking venues for celebration activities, I know we have to handle this motion with care. You may ask me why. If you look at Mr. Ip's motion, it asks that the Council co-operate with government and the Association for the Celebration of the Return of Hong Kong as well as assist in organizing activities. In other words, the Council is about to co-sponsor some activities with the Association.
I trust that when we knew of the motion to be moved by Mr. IP, we did not have detailed information about the activities of the Association. If we vote in support of the motion just like that without any knowledge of what was to be organized, it would look like we are doing so as a matter of course.
If you vote for the motion, I will have to cite the example given by Mr. NG just now. The venues for activities organized by the Association may be leased or borrowed. We do not know whether the Association has to pay any fee. Ail we know is that the Victoria Park with all six hard surface pitches will be used
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