1997 — Page 354

Page 354 of 654

Page 354 of 654

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4.

5.

HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

how to improve the efficiency in the delivery of quality municipal services to the public;

how to make better uses of resources and improve communication and cooperation with other councils.

For the long-term overall interest of Hong Kong, positive and practical moves should be adopted. We should initiate discussion with other councils and collect public opinions, so as to draw on collective wisdom and gather constructive and useful suggestions for reflection to the Chief Executive. Hence, I now call upon our colleagues to, for the benefit of the people of Hong Kong and for the overall interest of the territory, voice your opinions and ideas actively.

In his first policy address, Mr. TUNG Chee-hwa, the Chief Executive, said that we should take a fresh look at the regional organizations, so as to decide for ourselves whether the present structure of local representative government will continue to ensure the efficient and responsive delivery of services to our evolving community'. Today's motion is indeed a response to the call of the Chief Executive.

As I have only limited time to speak, I would like to concentrate my personal views on the unification of the municipal councils with the major premise that the three-tier government structure should be retained. As Hong Kong is so small in area, it is inappropriate for us to have too many district bodies. If two or more district bodies are vested with the power to make decisions and amend legislations over the same issue, it will result in duplication of duties, and diverged systems and legislations. It may also lead to unhealthy competition, jealousy, non-coordination and conflicts among the bodies concerned. As a result, the public may feel confused and do not know which to follow. The efficiency in delivery of services to the public will also be affected. The case now we have with the ‘2-councils and 2 or more departments structure' can best be described by the Chinese saying of ‘one more censer, one more ghost'. It not only results in duplication of duties and doubling of expenditure, but efficiency is reduced whilst double effort is made. It is indeed a big waste of public funds and resources.

Mr. Chairman, I remember that on 15 February 1984, ex-Chief Secretary Sir Philip Haddon-Cave put forward a proposal on political reform to further develop district administration in Hong Kong. One of his suggestions was to set up a second municipal council in the New Territories. A motion on this issue was debated by the Urban Council on 13 March 1984. The result of the debate was that the absolute majority of the Councillors were of the view that Hong Kong should have a single municipal council and a single municipal services department to serve the territory as a whole which would have the following advantages:

1. municipal policies will be unified;

2. municipal legislations and by-laws will be unified;