Page 413 of 654
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
409
council. Management and control should be the role of the USD and the costs should be paid by the HD. If this arrangement can be followed, the situation will improve. We can then thoroughly enforce the Municipal Services Ordinance and ensure all municipal services are standardized, ideal and modernized.
Mr. Chairman, I think we can call for a change now. We cannot do more. The HD is at discretion to respond to our call favourably. Even if we step up supervision and prosecute more contractors, we only address the symptoms, not the root of the problem. Mr. Chairman, I think we should seek legal authority to implement work under the sphere of this Council. We should be given the authority to standardize and take over facilities in order to take full control. If not, we can only stay calling for cooperation or taking prosecutions from time to time.
The work of the HD used to be that of the Urban Council in the early days. Shortly after the separation, Urban Council Members were still invited to participate in the work of the Housing Authority. In other words, the close liaison between the two on municipal services used to be there. In recent years, that liaison has been getting thinner and thinner as our Members are no longer on their committees, or even if one or two Members still are, they are no longer influential.
At present, there are EMACs at each estate of the Housing Department. Some District Board Members are appointed to sit on EMACs for the betterment of the environment. They resent the idea of PUC Members being invited to sit on the committees. So, much as we may want to strengthen liaison, communication and coordination, we have little space to do so.
Mr. Chairman, I think we should urge central government to carry out a comprehensive review. What falls within the portfolio of the Provisional Urban Council should be put under full charge of the Council instead of splitting the work bit by bit to different set-ups. This broken scene of things does Hong Kong no good.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
(Chairman (in Cantonese):—Will Mr. Fred Li exercise his right of reply?
Mr. Fred Li Wah-ming (in Cantonese):—There is nothing much I wish to add because Members have elaborated on their comments. I thank Members for their views. I hope this will be followed up at the Public Health Select Committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The question was put,
The motion was carried unanimously.
Page 413 of 654
113 of 654
Page 413 of 654
Page 413 of 654
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
409
council. Management and control should be the role of the USD and the costs should be paid by the HD. If this arrangement can be followed, the situation will improve. We can then thoroughly enforce the Municipal Services Ordinance and ensure all municipal services are standardized, ideal and modernized.
Mr. Chairman, I think we can call for a change now. We cannot do more. The HD is at discretion to respond to our call favourably. Even if we step up supervision and prosecute more contractors, we only address the symptoms, not the root of the problem. Mr. Chairman, I think we should seek legal authority to implement work under the sphere of this Council. We should be given the authority to standardize and take over facilities in order to take full control. If not, we can only stay calling for cooperation or taking prosecutions from time to time.
The work of the HD used to be that of the Urban Council in the early days. Shortly after the separation, Urban Council Members were still invited to participate in the work of the Housing Authority. In other words, the close liaison between the two on municipal services used to be there. In recent years, that liaison has been getting thinner and thinner as our Members are no longer on their committees, or even if one or two Members still are, they are no longer influential.
At present, there are EMACs at each estate of the Housing Department. Some District Board Members are appointed to sit on EMACS for the betterment of the environment. They resent the idea of PUC Members being invited to sit on the committees. So, much as we may want to strengthen liaison, communication and coordination, we have little space to do so.
Mr. Chairman, I think we should urge central government to carry out a comprehensive review. What falls within the portfolio of the Provisional Urban Council should be put under full charge of the Council instead of splitting the work bit by bit to different set-ups. This broken scene of things does Hong Kong no good.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
(Chairman (in Cantonese):—Will Mr. Fred Li exercise his right of reply?
Mr. Fred Li Wah-ming (in Cantonese):-There is nothing much I wish to add because Members have elaborated on their comments. I thank Members For their views. I hope this will be followed up at the Public Health Select Committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The question was put,
The motion was carried unanimously.
113 of 654
Page 413 of 654-
Page 413 of 65
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.