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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
of funds for the organization of cultural and recreational activities etc at the district level. Yet, the councils and the boards are not parallel.
Hence, I do not support their merger. These were my remarks. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Carlye Tsui Wai-ling (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, since Chief Executive Mr. TUNG Chee-hwa announced in his policy address that the existing district organizations would be reviewed, there has been strong reaction in the community. Views are coming from different quarters and there are bold headlines showing comments and speculations such as 'demolishing the 3-tier structure', 'streamlining the district structure', 'abolishing the two Municipal Councils', 'merging UC and RC', 'mission over the old councils', 'strengthening administrative management', 'to be executive-led' etc. Some even consider the move to be 'retrogression in democracy'.
Review is necessary, as the Chief Executive said, '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.' The Provisional Urban Council should welcome such a timely and far-sighted proposal, because it conforms exactly with the Council's style.
For more than a hundred years, the Council has been a forerunner in democratization responsible for the gradual development of Hong Kong's political heritage. But this is by no means immutable. In line with the progress of time, social development and pressing needs of the community, the Council, acting on the spirit of serving the public, has been working hard to introduce reforms and innovations to provide diversified municipal facilities and activities, such as modernized markets, greener and landscaped urban areas, ultra-modern science and space museums, new-typed swimming pools, up-to-date library networks. We have played an active role in promoting cultural programmes, in masterminding Hong Kong's changeover from a cultural desert to cultural diversification and in particular, in acting as a bridge between western and eastern cultures.
When we examine problems at meetings, it is inevitable that there are arguments, but they all stem from our objective of improving our services. We have various 5-year plans which will introduce computerized services making use of a lot of information technology. These and the comprehensive quality management study recently discussed have all gone through the reviewing process, as a result of which reforms are made to improve our services.
I consider that the existing system of district organizations should be reviewed in an active, objective, rational and logical way in line with the modern science of public administration. Accordingly, the Council's functions, powers, organization and relationship with other provisional boards should be systematically analyzed. The Urban Council's functions are to manage
Page 358 of 654
1 age 358 of 654
Page 358 of 654
354
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
of funds for the organization of cultural and recreational activities etc at th district level. Yet, the councils and the boards are not parallel.
Hence, I do not support their merger. These were my remarks. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Carlye Tsui Wai-ling (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, since Chie Executive Mr. TUNG Chee-hwa announced in his policy address that th existing district organizations would be reviewed, there has been stron reaction in the community. Views are coming from different quarters and ther are bold headlines showing comments and speculations such as 'demolishing the 3-tier structure', 'streamlining the district structure', ‘abolishing the twe Municipal Councils', 'merging UC and RC', 'mission over the old councils" *strengthening administrative management', 'to be executive-led' etc. Som even consider the move to be 'retrogression in democracy`.
Review is necessary, as the Chief Executive said, 'We should take a frest 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.' The Provisional Urban Council should welcome such a timely and far-sightec proposal, because it conforms exactly with the Council's style.
For more than a hundred years, the Council has been a forerunner ir democratization responsible for the gradual development of Hong Kong': political heritage. But this is by no means immutable. In line with the progres! of time, social development and pressing needs of the community, the Council acting on the spirit of serving the public, has been working hard to introduce reforms and innovations to provide diversified municipal facilities anc activities, such as modernized markets, greener and landscaped urban areas ultra-modern science and space museums, new-typed swimming pools, up-to date library networks. We have played an active role in promoting cultura programmes, in masterminding Hong Kong's changeover from a cultura desert to cultural diversification and in particular, in acting as a bridge between western and eastern cultures.
When we examine problems at meetings, it is inevitable that there ar arguments, but they all stem from our objective of improving our services. We have various 5-year plans which will introduce computerized services makinį use of a lot of information technology. These and the comprehensive quality management study recently discussed have all gone through the reviewing process, as a result of which reforms are made to improve our services.
I consider that the existing system of district organizations should be reviewed in an active, objective, rational and logical way in line with the modern science of public administration. Accordingly, the Council's functions powers, organization and relationship with other provisional boards should be systematically analyzed. The Urban Council's functions are to manage
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