1998 — Page 16

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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

He said (in Cantonese):~Mr. Chairman, 1 just listened very carefully to the speech of the mover of the original motion. Mr. Joseph CHAN Yuek-sut. I shall respond later on.

First of all, I want to inform Members on some data I have prepared. At the meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on Keep Hong Kong Clean on 20.1.98. the mover of the original motion, Mr. Chan, referred to the Chies Executive's remark on overall environmental hygiene in Hong Kong made at the Chief Executive's Question and Answer Session of the Provisional Legislative Council. Actually, that remark is the first phrase of my amendment, namely 'since the cleanliness and environmental hygiene of Hong Kong is deteriorating'. Those are the words of the Chief Executive, not mine. I have merely quoted him. At the Joint Steering Committee, Mr. Chan said he was aware of this opinion of the Chief Executive and suggested to send the new year picture and other posters of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign to him. We have these comments recorded clearly in the minutes.

I hope today's debate stays rational. I am not trying to project anything. I just want improvement in the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign. I did hear complaints on street cleanliness by the public at radio phone-in programmes.

1 differ from the original motion mostly on how it begins, namely 'To respond to and support the suggestion of the Chief Executive Mr. Tung Chee- hwa. Firstly, I do not know what suggestion Mr. TUNG made. Neither did the mover of the original motion mention it. How are we supposed to respond? He only commented that Hong Kong's overall environment was not as clean as before. He did not give any suggestion. He only made an observation. There is nothing wrong with responding to the feeling and doing something about the problem. However, to urge at the forum of the Provisional Urban Council for us to respond and support sounds too much like calling for enthusiastic support. I do not think there is need to highlight such a call.

The public has opinions, so does the Chief Executive. We should not act only in response to the Chief Executive's words. The Provisional Urban Council is an independent statutory body. If we do not do the job well, we should review ourselves and accept criticisms. Our job is not to respond to and support Mr. TUNG. I think by doing so, we may be considered trying to butter up somebody. I therefore think my amendment is more practical and it can pinpoint the problem.

Mr. CHAN thinks present communication between the two Municipal Councils is inadequate and there is need to strengthen them. I do not think the problem is with communication. In fact, members of the Education Department, Housing Department, the two Municipal Services Departments, the Police Force, Fire Services Department, Department of Health, Home Affairs Department, Marine Department, Agriculture and Fisheries Department and Information Services Department are represented on the Joint Steering Committee. In other words, Government departments are

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