1997 — Page 204

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 204

HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

205

:someone wants to dissolve the Urban Council, or to trim its powers bit by bit so that it becomes useless and functionless, or to make it a rubber stamp or puppet of the SAR government? If not, what is the purpose? Could it be that :someone is seeking change for the sake of change in order to catch the attention of the media? I don't think the motion is written from a pragmatic point of view.

Some examples were cited just now when worries about health education were stressed. When the Culture, Health and Municipal Services Branch was revamped, I objected to putting food hygiene under the Health Department and insisted that the Urban Council should have its health education section. You can see the achievement of this section today. There is a health education centre established at Kowloon Park. As for the central health education section in smaller scope which is located at Gloucester Road, it does not have the resources and manpower that we have so that the activities organized are smaller in scale and less successful when compared to those organized by us.

This motion before us today may be macro, but it is empty with no details. There is a proposal, but one has yet to see the content of the proposal. Even if the motion is carried today for a review of the existing relationship, its result will be a big question. I cannot answer it.

By setting up the Regional Urban Council, Environmental Protection Department, Sports Development Board and Art Development Council one after the other, government has not stopped to trim our powers. Am I saying that we want to win back resettlement work, planning, transport, medical services and put them under the Urban Council? No, we don't have that vain hope. We have no chance in winning them back. Honestly, is enlargement of our powers our target and can that target be achieved?

Going over to the accounting system used in government departments, everyone knows that for many years, we have been adopting the cash accounting practice. The Urban Services Department is the executive arm of this Council and a government department. If we ask that the Department adopt a completely different accounting system, aren't we being impractical? Will the SAR government accept it? This may be a new era, but I don't think the SAR government will go along with anything impractical.

The MAA has all along been endorsed by experienced Members who look to it as a blueprint for our relationship with central government. I distributed copies of this blueprint to all newcomers to this Council because it is an important document and it would be best if newcomers could read through it first. It spells out the circumstances of our financial autonomy and our power to decide the priority of expenditure items. There may be imperfections (such as 16% surcharge), but times have changed and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has introduced the trading fund concept of management. At present, the Urban Council can contract out projects to outside contractors. I was advised by former Members that the best policy should be...

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Page 204 HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 205 :someone wants to dissolve the Urban Council, or to trim its powers bit by bit so that it becomes useless and functionless, or to make it a rubber stamp or puppet of the SAR government? If not, what is the purpose? Could it be that :someone is seeking change for the sake of change in order to catch the attention of the media? I don't think the motion is written from a pragmatic point of view. Some examples were cited just now when worries about health education were stressed. When the Culture, Health and Municipal Services Branch was revamped, I objected to putting food hygiene under the Health Department and insisted that the Urban Council should have its health education section. You can see the achievement of this section today. There is a health education centre established at Kowloon Park. As for the central health education section in smaller scope which is located at Gloucester Road, it does not have the resources and manpower that we have so that the activities organized are smaller in scale and less successful when compared to those organized by us. This motion before us today may be macro, but it is empty with no details. There is a proposal, but one has yet to see the content of the proposal. Even if the motion is carried today for a review of the existing relationship, its result will be a big question. I cannot answer it. By setting up the Regional Urban Council, Environmental Protection Department, Sports Development Board and Art Development Council one after the other, government has not stopped to trim our powers. Am I saying that we want to win back resettlement work, planning, transport, medical services and put them under the Urban Council? No, we don't have that vain hope. We have no chance in winning them back. Honestly, is enlargement of our powers our target and can that target be achieved? Going over to the accounting system used in government departments, everyone knows that for many years, we have been adopting the cash accounting practice. The Urban Services Department is the executive arm of this Council and a government department. If we ask that the Department adopt a completely different accounting system, aren't we being impractical? Will the SAR government accept it? This may be a new era, but I don't think the SAR government will go along with anything impractical. The MAA has all along been endorsed by experienced Members who look to it as a blueprint for our relationship with central government. I distributed copies of this blueprint to all newcomers to this Council because it is an important document and it would be best if newcomers could read through it first. It spells out the circumstances of our financial autonomy and our power to decide the priority of expenditure items. There may be imperfections (such as 16% surcharge), but times have changed and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department has introduced the trading fund concept of management. At present, the Urban Council can contract out projects to outside contractors. I was advised by former Members that the best policy should be... Page 204 of 654 Page 204 of 654 Page 204 of 654

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Page 204 01 654 HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 205 :someone wants to dissolve the Urban Council, or to trim its powers bit by bit so that it becomes useless and functionless, or to make it a rubber stamp or ¡puppet of the SAR government? If not, what is the purpose? Could it be that :someone is seeking change for the sake of change in order to catch the attention of the media? I don't think the motion is written from a pragmatic Ipoint of view. Some examples were cited just now when worries about health education "were stressed. When the Culture, Health and Municipal Services Branch was irevamped, I objected to putting food hygiene under the Health Department and insisted that the Urban Council should have its health education section. 'You can see the achievement of this section today. There is a health education centre established at Kowloon Park. As for the central health education ssection in smaller scope which is located at Gloucester Road, it does not have the resources and manpower that we have so that the activities organized are smaller in scale and mess successful when compared to those organized by us. This motion before us today may be macro, but it is empty with no details. There is a proposal, but one has yet to see the content of the proposal. Even if the motion is carried today for a review of the existing relationship, its result will be a big question. I cannot answer it. By setting up the Regional Urban Council, Environmental Protection IDepartment, Sports Development Board and Art Development Council one after the other, government has not stopped to trim our powers. Am I saying that we want to win back resettlement work, planning, transport, medical services and put them under the Urban Council? No, we don't have that vain thope. We have no chance in winning them back. Honestly, is enlargement of cour powers our target and can that target be achieved? Going over to the accounting system used in government departments, everyone knows that for many years, we have been adopting the cash accounting practice. The Urban Services Department is the executive arm of this Council and a government department. If we ask that the Department adopt a completely different accounting system, aren't we being impractical? "Will the SAR government accept it? This may be a new era, but I don't think the SAR government will go along with anything impractical. The MAA has all along been endorsed by experienced Members who look to iit as a blueprint for our relationship with central government. I distributed copies of this blueprint to all newcomers to this Council because it is an iimportant document and it would be best if newcomers could read through it Ifirst. It spells out the circumstances of our financial autonomy and our power Ito decide the priority of expenditure items. There may be imperfections (such as 16% surcharge), but times have changed and the Electrical and Mechanical *Services Department has introduced the trading fund concept of management. present, the Urban Council can contract out projects to outside contractors. I was advised by former Members that the best policy should be .At Page 204 of 654 Page 204 of 65+ Page 204 of 654

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Page 204 01 654

HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

205

:someone wants to dissolve the Urban Council, or to trim its powers bit by bit so that it becomes useless and functionless, or to make it a rubber stamp or ¡puppet of the SAR government? If not, what is the purpose? Could it be that :someone is seeking change for the sake of change in order to catch the attention of the media? I don't think the motion is written from a pragmatic Ipoint of view.

Some examples were cited just now when worries about health education "were stressed. When the Culture, Health and Municipal Services Branch was irevamped, I objected to putting food hygiene under the Health Department and insisted that the Urban Council should have its health education section. 'You can see the achievement of this section today. There is a health education centre established at Kowloon Park. As for the central health education ssection in smaller scope which is located at Gloucester Road, it does not have the resources and manpower that we have so that the activities organized are smaller in scale and mess successful when compared to those organized by us.

By setting up the Regional Urban Council, Environmental Protection IDepartment, Sports Development Board and Art Development Council one after the other, government has not stopped to trim our powers. Am I saying that we want to win back resettlement work, planning, transport, medical services and put them under the Urban Council? No, we don't have that vain thope. We have no chance in winning them back. Honestly, is enlargement of cour powers our target and can that target be achieved?

Going over to the accounting system used in government departments, everyone knows that for many years, we have been adopting the cash accounting practice. The Urban Services Department is the executive arm of this Council and a government department. If we ask that the Department adopt a completely different accounting system, aren't we being impractical? "Will the SAR government accept it? This may be a new era, but I don't think the SAR government will go along with anything impractical.

The MAA has all along been endorsed by experienced Members who look to iit as a blueprint for our relationship with central government. I distributed copies of this blueprint to all newcomers to this Council because it is an iimportant document and it would be best if newcomers could read through it Ifirst. It spells out the circumstances of our financial autonomy and our power Ito decide the priority of expenditure items. There may be imperfections (such as 16% surcharge), but times have changed and the Electrical and Mechanical *Services Department has introduced the trading fund concept of management. present, the Urban Council can contract out projects to outside contractors. I was advised by former Members that the best policy should be

.At

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