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# HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
expectation of their councillors. Hence the accountability and transparency of Members must also be increased to keep pace with this progress. This is, therefore, an opportune time to review the remuneration monitoring system of this Council so as to improve the transparency of the system and ensure that resources are well utilized, thereby establishing the Urban Council's credibility.
Mr. Chairman, I am sure that everyone will agree that the remuneration monitoring system of the Urban Council must conform to the principle of being open, fair and reasonable. Council Members have always received their remunerations and allowances according to two claiming methods. One is to apply for the full amount of salary and allowance each month without having to submit expense receipts, but half of the remuneration received is reportable for income tax purpose. The other method is to apply for reimbursement of actual expenditures each month. Members who choose the second method do not have to report the remuneration and allowances as income for tax purpose. However, these two methods do not have enough transparency to allow the public to monitor the remunerations of Members. Neither do they reflect the degree of responsibility that each Member assumes. For instance, let's say Member A, who operates two offices and employs two staff members, receives a remuneration and allowance of HK$50,000 while Member B, who does not have any office, also gets the same remuneration every month. The public will query why this can happen. Thus, if we can set up a sound monitoring system, the public will understand that while some Members do not employ any staff, they may have used the services of consultant firms to help them handle their documents or carry out their work. Some other Members may do absolutely nothing but get paid anyway. In this way, the public can get the right message and will know which candidate to vote for in the next election. In a society where democratic awareness is increasing, I think the public should be allowed to decide for themselves in these situations. Therefore, I urge the Urban Council to review its Members' remuneration monitoring system without delay.
Mr. Chairman, I suggest that the remunerations and allowances of Urban Council Members should consist of two parts. The first is Members' remunerations; the second is allowances for reimbursement of Members' monthly expenses incurred in carrying out duties related to the Council. Members of the public can find out from the Urban Council Secretariat the amount of expenses claimed by Members each month in their application for allowances, thereby achieving an effective monitoring. The first part of my suggestion, that is, Members' remunerations, is to encourage more Urban Council Members to become full-time Members and provide a better quality of service to the public. The second part, which is allowances for expenses, is based on the principle of reimbursing the actual amount spent. There should be a detailed guideline for reporting expenditure. Members should also be encouraged to set up offices where they can be consulted by the public, serve the public and improve the overall quality of the Urban Council. At the same
Page 452 of 654
Page 452 of 654
Page 452 of 654
Page 452 of 654
054
448
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
expectation of their councillors. Hence the accountability and transparency of Members must also be increased to keep pace with this progress. This is, therefore, an opportune time to review the remuneration monitoring system of this Council so as to improve the transparency of the system and ensure that resources are well utilized, thereby establishing the Urban Council's credibility.
Mr. Chairman, I am sure that everyone will agree that the remuneration monitoring system of the Urban Council must conform to the principle of being open, fair and reasonable. Council Members have always received their remunerations and allowances according to two claiming methods. One is to apply for the full amount of salary and allowance each month without having to submit expense receipts, but half of the remuncration received is reportable for income tax purpose. The other method is to apply for reimbursement of actual expenditures each month. Members who choose the second method do not have to report the remuneration and allowances as income for tax purpose. However, these two methods do not have enough transparency to allow the public to monitor the remunerations of Members. Neither do they reflect the degree of responsibility that each Member assumes. For instance, let's say Member A, who operates two offices and employs two staff members, receives a remuneration and allowance of HK$50,000 while Member B, who does not have any office, also gets the same remuneration every month. The public will query why this can happen. Thus, if we can set up a sound monitoring system, the public will understand that while some Members do not employ any staff, they may have used the services of consultant firms to help them handle their documents or carry out their work. Some other Members may do absolutely nothing but get paid anyway, In this way, the public can get the right message and will know which candidate to vole for in the next election. In a society where democratic awareness is increasing, I think the public should be allowed to decide for themselves in these situations. Therefore, I urge the Urban Council to review its Members' remuneration monitoring system without delay.
Mr. Chairman, I suggest that the remunerations and allowances of Urban Council Members should consist of two parts. The first is Members' remunerations; the second is allowances for reimbursement of Members' monthly expenses incurred in carrying out duties related to the Council. Members of the public can find out from the Urban Council Secretariat the amount of expenses claimed by Members each month in their application for allowances, thereby achieving an effective monitoring. The first part of my suggestion, that is. Members' remunerations, is to encourage more Urban Council Members to become full-time Members and provide a better quality of service to the public. The second part, which is allowances for expenses, is based on the principle of reimbursing the actual amount spent. There should be a detailed guideline for reporting expenditure. Members should also be encouraged to set up offices where they can be consulted by the public, serve the public and improve the overall quality of the Urban Council. At the same
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