HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
253
œera in the provision of municipal services. After we have determined our position, we should work towards the role and objectives identified in line with the few general and unsubstantial slogans I proposed in my earlier debate speech the main purpose of which too was to attract Members' views on improvement. These slogans were that we should work in a reformatory, enterprising and open way.
The Five-year Plan is our starting point. The two debates and motions today represent a great stride forward and reference is made to the Annual Report just available. Mr. Chairman, I can see that the Foreword has given a long list of the work of the Council in the past year. Mr. Chairman, what I am going to say is meant to be recommendations rather than criticisms.
I consider that if as a public service provider, we were praised when we have done well, it would be so much the better, but if we were not praised, it should not matter. However, we will definitely be criticized if we do not do well. Accordingly, I suggest that in the Annual Report, in particular the Foreword, there should be some self-scrutiny because members of the public might consider the Council somewhat complacent. In the ensuing paragraphs, the issue of the Central Library could be mentioned because I think the Central Library might become something that the public is proud of.
In my opinion, we should consider covering both good and bad news in our Annual Report. For the bad news, we witnessed in the financial year the fruitless financial negotiations with the central government, which cut down on our request for the finances for the triennium by several billion dollars; the few troubles associated with the 1973 Memorandum on Administrative Arrangements and the difficulties consistently presented to us over the five-year development plan. I consider that the problems we are facing should be reflected in the part concerning the entire operation of the Council, including the Chairman's future outlook in the Annual Report, so that members of the public may fully know whether our current $7b annual budget does represent the municipal work we intend to carry out.
Mr. Chairman, about this proposal, I hope the worries and difficulties we are faced with can be reflected in the next Annual Report, so that the truth will be made known to the public. I consider that as far as this is concerned, it will be of absolutely substantial help to the future image of the Council.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support Mr. Szeto Wah's motion.
MISS ANNIE WU Suk-ching (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I am one of the new Members. First of all, I am in great support of and agreement with Mr. SZETO Wah's motion.
I too wish to point out that from one of the pages of the Annual Report issued by the Chairman today—Members may turn to paragraph 2 on Page 22—in line with the development of an open government—I learn that our
Page 254 of 654
Page 254 of 654
Page 254 of 654
Page 254 of 654
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
253
œera in the provision of municipal services. After we have determined our Iposition, we should work towards the role and objectives identified in line with the few general and unsubstantial slogans I proposed in my earlier debate speech the main purpose of which too was to attract Members' views on iimprovement. These slogans were that we should work in a reformatory,
enterprising and open way.
The Five-year Plan is our starting point. The two debates and motions today represent a great stride forward and reference is made to the Annual Report just available. Mr. Chairman, I can see that the Foreword has given a long list of the work of the Council in the past year. Mr. Chairman, what I am going to say is meant to be recommendations rather than criticisms.
I consider that if as a public service provider, we were praised when we have done well, it would be so much the better, but if we were not praised, it should not matter. However, we will definitely be criticized if we do not do well. Accordingly, I suggest that in the Annual Report, in particular the Foreword. there should be some self-scrutiny because members of the public might consider the Council somewhat complacent. In the ensuing paragraphs, the issue of the Central Library could be mentioned because I think the Central Library might become something that the public is proud of.
In my opinion, we should consider covering both good and bad news in our Annual Report. For the bad news, we witnessed in the financial year the fruitless financial negotiations with the central government, which cut down on our request for the finances for the triennium by several billion dollars; the few troubles associated with the 1973 Memorandum on Administrative Arrangements and the difficulties consistently presented to us over the live year development plan. I consider that the problems we are facing should be reflected in the part concerning the entire operation of the Council, including the Chairman's future outlook in the Annual Report, so that members of the public may fully know whether our current $7b annual budget does represent the municipal work we intend to carry out.
Mr. Chairman, about this proposal, I hope the worries and difficulties we are faced with can be reflected in the next Annual Report, so that the truth will be made known to the public. I consider that as far as this is concerned, it will be of absolutely substantial help to the future image of the Council.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support Mr. Szeto Wah's motion.
MISS ANNIE WỤ Suk-ching (in Cantonese);--Mr. Chairman, I am one of the new Members. First of all, I am in great support of and agreement with Mr. SZETO Wah's motion.
I too wish to point out that from one of the pages of the Annual Report issued by the Chairman today-Members may turn to paragraph 2 on Page 22—in line with the development of an open government—l learn that our
Page 254 of 654
Page 254 of 654
Page 254 of 6542
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.