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Chairman (in Cantonese):—Yes, Mr. Mok Ying-fan, since you are the one who moved the motion, are you going to exercise the right of reply? Meanwhile I would remind you that since you have just now spoken for 9 minutes, under the Standing Orders, you may only speak for 6 more minutes. Would you now please exercise the right of reply?
MR. MOK YING-FAN (in Cantonese):—I wish to spend 5 minutes in making some responses.
Let me first of all thank the several Members who have spoken in support of the motion. Inevitably some of the views of the Members are different from the subject matter of my motion, because the issue concerning the review of the administrative structure of the two Councils is a constitutional matter. While I consider that it is more proper to leave this review to the Government, I believe that there is definitely a chance for us to take part in the discussion or debate in future. Nevertheless, it is a bit different from the subject matter of today's motion. In moving today's motion, my desire is to solve the existing problem pragmatically. It is not because our structure is going to be reviewed or changed, and these are not yet implemented.
The second point is that I wish to respond to what Mr. Kam Nai-wai has just said. In fact, the issue concerning sashimi and sushi exactly illustrates the fact that if there had been a communication mechanism, there would not have been 'one council, two systems', resulting in a month's difference in the effective dates. If there had been an agreement, the legislation of the Regional Council would have come into effect one month later. In this way, there would not have been effective dates in two different months, thereby giving rise to queries by outsiders and the press as to why there should be a 1-month difference in the effective dates of the same legislation of the Municipal Councils. This happened precisely because there were no communication channel and coordination mechanism.
The third point is that I appreciate the decision of the Democratic Party made in the Provisional Urban Council today giving support to the motion, because they previously amended the motion of Mr. YIM Tin-sang in the Regional Council, claiming that telephone dialogues between the Chairmen of the two Councils would do.
I deeply appreciate the pragmatic attitude everyone has shown today. I will not keep you any longer. Allow me to thank you all once more for your support of my motion.
Chairman (in Cantonese):—Good. Let us vote now. Would Members please vote with the computer?
The question was put.
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Chairman (in Cantonese);—Yes, Mr. Mox Ying-fan, since you are the one who moved the motion, are you going to exercise the right of reply? Meanwhile I would remind you that since you have just now spoken for 9 minutes, under the Standing Orders, you may only speak for 6 more minutes. Would you now please exercise the right of reply?
MR. MOK YING-FAN (in Cantonese):—I wish to spend 5 minutes in making some responses.
Let me first of all thank the several Members who have spoken in support of the motion. Inevitably some of the views of the Members are different from the subject matter of my motion, because the issue concerning the review of the administrative structure of the two Councils is a constitutional matter. While I consider that it is more proper to leave this review to the Government, I believe that there is definitely a chance for us to take part in the discussion or debate in future. Nevertheless, it is a bit different from the subject matter of today's motion. In moving today's motion, my desire is to solve the existing problem pragmatically. It is not because our structure is going to be reviewed or changed, and these are not yet implemented.
The second point is that I wish to respond to what Mr. Kam Nai-wai has just said. In fact, the issue concerning sashimi and sushi exactly illustrates the fact that if there had been a communication mechanism, there would not have been one council, two systems', resulting in a month's difference in the effective dates. If there had been an agreement, the legislation of the Regional Council would have come into effect one month later. In this way, there would not have been effective dates in two different months, thereby giving rise to queries by outsiders and the press as to why there should be a 1-month difference in the effective dates of the same legislation of the Municipal Councils. This happened precisely because there were no communication channel and coordination mechanism.
The third point is that I appreciate the decision of the Democratic Party made in the Provisional Urban Council today giving support to the motion, because they previously amended the motion of Mr. YIM Tin-sang in the Regional Council, claiming that telephone dialogues between the Chairmen of the two Councils would do.
I deeply appreciate the pragmatic attitude everyone has shown today. I will not keep you any longer. Allow me to thank you all once more for your support of my motion.
Chairman (in Cantonese):—Good. Let us vote now. Would Members please vote with the computer?
The question was put.
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