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Page 348 of 606
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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
(2) The Chairman, Provisional Urban Council moved the following motion:-
'That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1999/2000.'
He said (in Cantonese):-As Chairman of the Provisional Urban Council, I rise to move the motion standing in my name: "That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1999/2000."
During the past 12 months, the Council has attained certain achievements and improved various services to enhance the quality of life in Hong Kong. According to our records, 23 debate motions were moved and carried by the Council, and 28 questions were raised by Members and answered by the Chairmen of the respective Select Committees. All these motions and questions were related to matters of considerable public concern and covered a wide range of issues with far-reaching implications. This shows that Members take heed of and care for the needs of the public and are concerned with ways to further improve their health and living environment.
In 1998, this Council focused its attention on four main areas. In the first five months, we concentrated our efforts to handle a series of food-related diseases and food contamination incidents which affected the health or even caused the death of a number of people in the territory, and endeavoured to make improvements within our terms of reference. In June, the Government published the consultation document on the Review of District Organizations, and since then our attention and much of the media's coverage have focused on the proposed dissolution of the two Municipal Councils and related issues. Thirdly, our economic and employment figures indicated that there was an economic downturn in Hong Kong last year and this also affected this Council. This led to the fourth area which is the adoption of more prudent financial management measures by this Council following a review of its income and expenditure. This is illuminated in the first motion that Members have just passed.
What we have done for the People's livelihood
To assist the economy, the Government adopted various measures, including a rates rebate for one quarter to rates payers. With the interest of the community in mind and to care for the livelihood of those operators and their staff whose licences or franchises concerned are within the Council's sphere of administration, this Council responded readily by freezing various charges for one year resulting in a revenue loss of about $80m. Besides, we also reduced all market stall rentals and the fees of hawker licence, restaurant licence and other licences by 30% for one year which will lead to a projected reduction of some $154 million in revenue.
Moreover, we also passed a motion last year to voluntarily freeze Members' allowances at the present level and urged the Urban Services Department to
Page 348 of 606
Page 348 of 606
Page 348 of 606
336
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
(2) The Chairman, Provisional Urban Council moved the following motion:-
'That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1999/2000.'
He said (in Cantonese):-As Chairman of the Provisional Urban Council, I rise to move the motion standing in my name: "That this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1999/2000.“
During the past 12 months, the Council has attained certain achievements and improved various services to enhance the quality of life in Hong Kong. According to our records, 23 debate motions were moved and carried by the Council, and 28 questions were raised by Members and answered by the Chairmen of the respective Select Committees. All these motions and questions were related to matters of considerable public concern and covered a wide-range of issues with far-reaching implications. This shows that Members take heed of and care for the needs of the public and are concerned with ways to further improve their health and living environment.
In 1998, this Council focused its attention on four main areas. In the firs! five months, we concentrated our efforts to handle a series of food related diseases and food contamination incidents which affected the health or even caused the death of a number of people in the territory, and endeavoured to make improvements within our terms of reference. In June, the Government published the consultation document on the Review of District Organizations, and since then our attention and much of the media's coverage have focused on the proposed dissolution of the two Municipal Councils and related issues. Thirdly, our economic and employment figures indicated that there was an economic downturn in Hong Kong last year and this also affected this Council. This led to the fourth area which is the adoption of more prudent financial management measures by this Council following a review of its income and expenditure. This is illuminated in the first motion that Members have just passed.
What we have done for the People's livelihood
To assist the economy, the Government adopted various measures, including a rates rebate for one quarter to rates payers. With the interest of the community in mind and to care for the livelihood of those operators and their staff whose licences or franchises concerned are within the Council's sphere of administration, this Council responded readily by freezing various charges for one year resulting in a revenue loss of about $80m. Besides, we also reduced all market stall rentals and the fees of hawker licence, restaurant licence and other licences by 30% for one year which will lead to a projected reduction of some $154 million in revenue.
Morcover, we also passed a motion last year to voluntarily freeze Members' allowances at the present level and urged the Urban Services Department to
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