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actual implementation, must action be taken in such a hurry? In order not to arouse uneasy feelings among the public, stability should come first and everything should proceed step by step, while changes should be made gradually.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I beg to move.
Mr. Pao Ping-WING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
Ms. JENNIFER Chow Kit-bing (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, as the Urban Council has been in existence for more than a century while the District Boards are now in their 16th year, it is perhaps the right moment to conduct a review to keep pace with the development of Hong Kong, to respond to the needs of the community and to ensure maximum use of resources.
However, given the extensive scope of the review, it is advisable that the SAR Government should not make any decision too rashly and hastily. From what we see now, it seems that the SAR Government has already drawn up a timetable and framework for the review of and consultation on district organizations. Isn't it too hasty and moving too fast? I consider that it is more desirable for the SAR Government to be more long term in vision and planning. It should get hold of more necessary information to meet the needs arising from the future development of Hong Kong. This might be more readily acceptable to the public.
Nevertheless, a review is eventually needed. From the viewpoint of the Urban Council, to have two municipal councils operating at the same time has resulted in duplication of resources allocation. In a small place like Hong Kong, the existence of two different operational systems has not only created confusion for members of the public but has also given them a hard time in deciding what to follow in certain municipal affairs. Allocation of resources is duplicated and maximum use of resources is impossible.
Therefore, I consider that there is a need to study the functions, powers and organization of the Provisional Urban Council and its relationship with other provisional boards. In particular, the possibility of merging the two Municipal Councils should be examined. In fact, active efforts have already been made by the two Municipal Councils to standardize their practices in certain fields. For example, joint meetings are held on the issue of public hygiene and cooperation is being actively sought in respect of cultural activities. These are some of the examples.
With the urban population moving into the New Territories and the continuous creation of new towns, there is in fact no longer any geographical delineation between the New Territories and the urban area. The main thrust of the review should therefore be the feasibility of merging the two Municipal Councils.
Page 356 of 654
Page 356 of 654
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352
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
actual implementation, must action be taken in such a hurry? In order not to- arouse uneasy feelings among the public, stability should come first and everything should proceed step by step, while changes should be made- gradually.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks. I beg to move.
Mr. Pao Ping-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
Ms. JENNIFER Chow Kit-bing (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, as the Urban Council has been in existence for more than a century white the District Boards are now in their 16th year, it is perhaps the right moment to conduct a review to keep pace with the development of Hong Kong, to respond to the needs of the community and to ensure maximum use of resources.
However, given the extensive scope of the review, it is advisable that the SAR Government should not make any decision too rashly and hastily. From what we see now, it seems that the SAR Government has already drawn up a timetable and framework for the review of and consultation on district organizations. Isn't it too hasty and moving too fast? I consider that it is more desirable for the SAR Government to be more long term in vision and planning. It should get hold of more necessary information to meet the needs arising from the future development of Hong Kong. This might be more readily acceptable to the public.
Nevertheless, a review is eventually needed. From the viewpoint of the Urban Council, to have two municipal councils operating at the same time has resulted in duplication of resources allocation. In a small place like Hong Kong, the existence of two different operational systems has not only created confusion for members of the public but has also given them a hard time in deciding what to follow in certain municipal affairs. Allocation of resources is duplicated and maximum use of resources is impossible.
Therefore, I consider that there is a need to study the functions, powers
and organization of the Provisional Urban Council and its relationship with other provisional boards. In particular, the possibility of merging the two Municipal Councils should be examined. In fact, active efforts have already been made by the two Municipal Councils to standardize their practices in certain fields. For example, joint meetings are held on the issue of public hygiene and cooperation is being actively sought in respect of cultural activities. These are some of the examples.
With the urban population moving into the New Territories and the continuous creation of new towns, there is in fact no longer any geographical delineation between the New Territories and the urban area. The main thrust of the review should therefore be the feasibility of merging the two Municipal Councils.
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