1997 — Page 364

Page 364 of 654

Page 364 of 654

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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

The first point is about timing. I would ask whether the issue is so pressing that an overall review must be carried out now. My answer is that it is not necessarily so, because since the handover, there have been a lot of more pressing problems that need to be addressed, such as housing, education, welfare and finances. Has something gone wrong in the operation of the Urban Council within the brief span since the handover, so much so that if no redress was made immediately, the mistake would deteriorate? The answer is in the negative. To force changes for the sake of changes in such a hurry would be generally regarded as retrogression in democracy and a victory of the executive-led approach. I consider that the most opportune time is after the election of the next councils/boards in 1999. It is more desirable to have adequate time and space for consideration of the future structure.

The second point I wish to raise is the roles of the 3-tier councils/boards. The District Boards were set up in different months in 1982. As advisory bodies, they conduct extensive consultation on territory-wide issues and matters specific to individual districts. Full public consultation is made through Mutual Aid Committees and Area Committees. As the second tier, the Urban Council and Regional Council are policy-makers and executors of administrative functions in three major areas (namely, public health, culture and entertainment, as well as recreation and sports). At the top of the 3-tier structure with elected members, the Legislative Council is responsible for monitoring government operations, approving public expenditure as well as establishing and drafting major legislative procedures. It can therefore be seen that each tier has its own role. This has been so for a long time, or at least since 1982, when the 3-tier structure of representative government was set up.

The Urban Council is the first council with elected members and it has a history of more than a century. Its electoral basis has since broadened and representation has gradually widened. It can be said to be the forerunner of democratic government and has been operating well. I strongly believe that so far the Urban Council has been operating well in its three areas of work. No mistake whatsoever has been committed.

The functions of the Urban Council can be classified into two major categories, one of which is locally oriented, covering issues concerning cleanliness, environmental hygiene, entertainment activities and cultural centres of individual districts. In some cases, management at the district level already meets the desired standard. However, there are some centrally oriented functions which cannot be spread out to a number of councils. Examples are food hygiene, examination of contaminated vegetables, inspection and management of slaughter-houses, management of cultural venues such as the Museum of Arts, Science Museum, History Museum, as well as the Cultural Centre, City Hall, Hong Kong Coliseum and Queen Elizabeth Stadium. I don't think efficiency would be achieved if these central venues were managed separately by a number of different councils.