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the promoters of these policies, facilitating and providing for the development of an enabling environment. However, I consider that the district councils need not be the providers or managers of the services. What I mean is that for management and delivery of the services, we can consider hiring contractors and using civil bodies, so as to bring about services of a better quality. As to the executive departments, that is, the civil service, the number of staff should be kept to the minimum.
4. I hope that the new structure will be streamlined as far as practicable to reduce the cumbersomeness and degree of duplication.
5. I very much hope that operation will be cost-effective and that market forces and competition will be brought into play.
6. I very much hope that the review will be carried out for the sake of social development and well-being of the public rather than cater to the needs of those organizations whose powers or status might be jeopardized.
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Joseph Chan's motion has given us a chance to speak on the topic. As Mr. CHAN said, the motion is neither instructional nor directional. I fully support the motion and I hope that a formal mechanism for review will be in place very soon so that open discussions may be made. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): Good. Does Mr. Joseph CHAN want to exercise his right of reply? Mr. CHAN, please.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, all the political parties and Members present today support the motion that a constructive review of district organizations should be carried out. Unfortunately, one of the political parties, the DAB, is absent today and cannot take part in the debate.
It is the general view of all the Members and representatives of the political parties who have spoken that the review must be carried out with great care and that the Government must not rush it. There should also be ample time for public participation and preparation.
On the review of district organizations, Members who have spoken are all of the view that the 3-tier structure should be retained and that the review, instead of being confined to district organizations, should cover the overall constitutional system. As to the possibility of having a single municipal council, the political parties and some independent Members consider that it can be explored. However, the major consideration is that there should be no curtailment of power, no retrogression in democracy and no lowering of the living standard of the general public. Furthermore, the future direction for development should be one towards the creation of a fully elected municipal council.
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the promoters of these policies, facilitating and providing for the development of an enabling environment. However, I consider that the district councils need not be the providers or managers of the services. What I mean is that for management and delivery of the services, we can consider hiring contractors and using civil bodies, so as to bring about services of a better quality. As to the executive departments, that is, the civil service, the number of staff should be kept to the minimum. 4. I hope that the new structure will be streamlined as far as practicable to
reduce the cumbersomeness and degree of duplication.
5. I very much hope that operation will be cost-effective and that market
forces and competition will be brought into play.
6. I very much hope that the review will be carried out for the sake of social development and well-being of the public rather than cater to the needs of those organizations whose powers or status might be jeopardized.
Mr. Chairman, Mr. Joseph Chan's motion has given us a chance to speak on the topic. As Mr. CHAN said, the motion is neither instructional nor directional. I fully support the motion and I hope that a formal mechanism for review will be in place very soon so that open discussions may be made. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): Good. Does Mr. Joseph CHAN want to exercise his right of reply? Mr. CHAN, please.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUt (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, all the political parties and Members present today support the motion that a constructive review of district organizations should be carried out. Unfortunately, one of the political parties, the DAB, is absent today and cannot take part in the debate.
It is the general view of all the Members and representatives of the political parties who have spoken that the review must be carried out with great care and that the Government must not rush it. There should also be ample time for public participation and preparation.
On the review of district organizations, Members who have spoken are all of the view that the 3-tier structure should be retained and that the review, instead of being confined to district organizations, should cover the overall constitutional system. As to the possibility of having a single municipal council, the political parties and some independent Members consider that it can be explored. However, the major consideration is that there should be no curtailment of power, no retrogression in democracy and no lowering of the living standard of the general public. Furthermore, the future direction for development should be one towards the creation of a fully elected municipal council.
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