PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
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Chairman (in Cantonese): -The motion is moved and there is a seconder. In accordance with Section 21(12A) of the Standing Orders, I now call upon Mr. Joseph CHAN Yuck-sut to propose an amendment to the original motion by Mr. CHAN Kwok-leung. Mr. Joseph CHAN Yuck-sut please.
(5)(b) MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUI proposed the following amendment motion in accordance with Section 21(12A) of the Standing Orders:-
'The 'Review of District Organisations Consultation Report' indicates that the outbreaks of ‘avian flu' and other hygiene incidents have caused concern over municipal services, and the Government is exploiting this as a pretext for dissolving the two Municipal Councils and taking back powers, RESOLVED that the Council express deep regret about this.'
He said (in Cantonese)- Mr. Chairman, I am moving an amendment mainly because of 'Government will introduce administrative dictatorship'. Apart from that, my amendment motion is the same as the original motion in pointing out that Government exploits the avian flu and other hygiene incidents in putting political responsibility on the Municipal Councils and using them as the pretext to dissolve the Municipal Councils. The situation is most regrettable.
Is Government actually practising administrative dictatorship? Dictator carries the meaning of absolute power and control. If the Chief Executive enjoys absolute power to decide in a single-minded way and holds the power to life and death, he may be called a 'dictator'. Mr. Chairman, that term is very serious because such a situation never occurred in Hong Kong.
To be fair, in the process leading up to dissolving the two Municipal Councils, Government started with the proposal to recall power over food safety and environmental hygiene, went on to reverting to central the power over culture, entertainment and recreation and in the end the proposal of dissolution. Government published the report on Review of District Organizations for public consultation and set two months as the consultation period. Afterwards, a compilation of public opinion was published and submitted to the Legislative Council for consultation and report. On 7th October, the Chief Executive Mr. Tung Chee-hwa delivered his Policy Address at Legco and formally put forth the proposal to dissolve the two Municipal Councils. Formal legislative procedure would be commenced and it was made clear that the presently enjoyed powers of the two Councils would be transferred upon dissolution. In case there is need to put up bills, they would take effect with the approval of the Legislature. If it is necessary to go through all those procedures, there is no reason for us to accuse Government of its present day administrative dictatorship.
After dissolution of the two Municipal Councils, the powers of the Municipal Councils will revert to central. A policy bureau will be established
Page 291 of 606
Page 291 of 606
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
285
Chairman (in Cantonese); -The motion is moved and there is a seconder. In ordinance with Section 21(12A) of the Standing Orders, I now call upon Mr. Joseph CHAN Yuck-sut to propose an amendment to the original motion by Mr. CHAN Kwok-leung. Mr. Joseph CHAN Yuck-sut please.
(5)(b) MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUI proposed the following amendment motion in accordance with Section 21(12A) of the Standing Orders:-
'The 'Review of District Orgabnisations Consultation Report' indicates that the outbreaks of ‘avian flu' and other hygiene incidents have caused concern over municipal services, and the Government is exploiting this as a pretext for dissolving the two Muncipal Councils and taking back powers, RESOLVED that the Council express deep regret about this.'
He said (in Cantonese)-Mr. Chairman, I am moving an amendment mainly because of 'Government will introduce administrative dictatorship'. Apart from that, my amendment motion is the same as the original motion in pointing out that Government exploits the avian flu and other hygiene incidents in putting political responsibility on the Municipal Councils and using them as the pretext to dissolve the Municipal Councils. The situation is most regrettable.
Is Government actually practising administrative dictatorship? Dictator carries the meaning of absolute power and control. If the Chief Executive enjoys absolute power to decide in a single-minded way and holds the power to life and death, he may be called a 'dictator'. Mr. Chairman, that term is very serious because such a situation never occurred in Hong Kong.
To be fair, in the process leading up to dissolving the two Municipal Councils, Government started with the proposal to recall power over food safety and environmental hygiene, went on to reverting to central the power over culture, entertainment and recreation and in the end the proposal of dissolution. Government published the report on Review of District Organizations for public consultation and set two months as the consultation period. Afterwards, a compilation of public opinion was published and submitted to the Legislative Council for consultation and report. On 7th October, the Chief Executive Mr. Tung Chec-hwa delivered his Policy Address at Legco and formally put forth the proposal to dissolve the two Municipal Councils. Formal legislative procedure would be commenced and it was made clear that the presently enjoyed powers of the two Councils would be transferred upon dissolution. In case there is need to put up bills, they would take effect with the approval of the Legislature. If it is necessary to go through all those procedures, there is no reason for us to accuse Government of its present day administrative dictatorship.
After dissolution of the two Municipal Councils, the powers of the Municipal Councils will revert to central. A policy bureau will be established
Page 291 of 606
Page 291 of 6
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