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in their submissions mentioned anything about supporting the dissolution of the Municipal Councils. The Government has turned a deaf ear to these submissions. It has cited only the four views mentioned above which were in favour of the dissolution, thereby distorting the fact. What in fact is the Government up to in the way it handles public views and behaves throughout the consultation?
First and foremost, the responsibilities for food safety and environmental hygiene are resumed by the central government prior to any consultation. No consultation has been made. In fact, the Government made clear and stressed this point as early as July this year when the first consultation paper was released, declaring that the Government would take over the responsibilities for food safety and environmental hygiene. Under such a premise, the way for the demise of the Councils has been paved. With the responsibilities for livelihood resumed by the central government, thereby stripping the Councils of their major functions, coupled with the indication that their functions overlap those of the Arts Development Council and Sports Development Board, their very existence is doomed.
I hope my colleagues will be patient with me because I will soon finish my speech. Although there are still a lot of things I want to say, I will leave it to Members to express their views. Please come forward with any view and I will explain further when responding. We consider that the Government's consultation is 'sham' and 'ominous'. Thank you.
Mr. Kam Nai-wat (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second Mr. Li Wah-ming's motion.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese): --One of the Government's pretexts for dissolving the Councils is the avian flu incident. The creation of such a public comment has indeed brought about a misleading effect. There was an editorial in a newspaper last Saturday which carried the caption of 'the avian flu claiming the lives of the two Councils'. The last paragraph described,
*In killing the hundreds of chickens, the two Municipal Councils proclaimed their doomsday. This ending is irreversible.'
Because of this, I did not intend to speak. I have prepared a 'thousand word letter' but these thousand words are no match for one sentence. So, what's the point of saying anymore? I did not intend to speak, but after reading the editorial, I felt I should clarify this while there was still a chance. I consider that not only is there a need, but as the Vice-chairman of the Public Health Select Committee of the Provisional Urban Council, I am also obliged to clarify the issue. I consider that such a comment is exactly the result of the Government's move to mislead public perception, which after being spread, will be passed on as a rumour from one person to another, leaving the Council
Page 251 of 606
Page 251 of 606
246
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
in their submissions mentioned anything about supporting the dissolution of the Municipal Councils. The Government has turned a deaf ear to these submissions. It has cited only the four views mentioned above which were in favour of the dissolution, thereby distorting the fact. What in fact is the Government up to in the way it handles public views and behaves throughout the consultation?
First and foremost, the responsibilities for food safety and environmental hygiene are resumed by the central government prior to any consultation. No consultation has been made. In fact, the Government made clear and stressed this point as early as July this year when the first consultation paper was released, declaring that the Government would take over the responsibilities for food safety and environmental hygiene. Under such a premise, the way for the demise of the Councils has been paved. With the responsibilities for livelihood resumed by the central government, thereby stripping the Councils of their major functions, coupled with the indication that their functions overlap those of the Arts Development Council and Sports Development Board, their very existence is doomed.
I hope my colleagues will be patient with me because I will soon finish my speech. Although there are still a lot of things I want to say, I will leave it to Members to express their views. Please come forward with any view and I will explain further when responding. We consider that the Government's consultation is 'sham' and 'ominous'. Thank you.
Mr. Kam Nal-wat (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second Mr. Li Wah- ming's motion.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese): --One of the Government's pretexts for dissolving the Councils is the avian flu incident. The creation of such a public comment has indeed brought about a misleading effect. There was an editorial in a newspaper last Saturday which carried the caption of 'the avian flu claiming the lives of the two Councils'. The last paragraph described,
*In killing the hundreds of chickens, the two Municipal Councils proclaimed their doomsday. This ending is irreversible.'
Because of this, I did not intend to speak. I have prepared a 'thousand word letter' but these thousand words are no match for one sentence. So, what's point of saying anymore? I did not intend to speak, but after reading the editorial, I felt I should clarify this while there was still a chance. I consider that not only is there a need, but as the Vice-chairman of the Public Health Select Committee of the Provisional Urban Council, I am also obliged to clarify the issue. I consider that such a comment is exactly the result of the Government's move to mislead public perception, which after being spread, will be passed on as a rumour from one person to another, leaving the Council
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