Page 352 of 606
340
The Way Forward
PROVISIONAL Urban COUNCIL
Despite the Council's stringent financial situation in the coming year and the uncertainty of the Council's future after 1999, we will continue to do our best to serve the community and to ensure the delivery of quality services to the public.
The Council operated very smoothly in the past year. This would not have been possible without the valuable contributions of our fellow Councillors and the hard work and unfailing support of staff of the Urban Services Department, the Council Secretariat and other Government departments concerned. My sincere thanks go to you all.
With these remarks, I propose adoption of the motion standing in my name. Thank you.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG, VICE CHAIRMAN, PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman,
1999 will be the most important year for the Urban Council. With a history of more than a century, the Council will face two totally different developments. It will either enter the new century under the new structure of "One Council One Department”, or render its service till the very last moment of the twentieth century and be marked with the "finis" sign on 31 December 1999 and then bid a historic farewell to all the people of Hong Kong.
Being perhaps the last Vice-Chairman of the Council and probably speaking at its last Annual Conventional Debate, I am quite unhappy. I hope the Government's choice of scrapping the two Municipal Councils will not disrupt the stability and harmony of the community, and the provision of municipal services to the people of Hong Kong will not be reduced as a result. Let history testify whether the Urban Council should continue to exist!
Leaving the unhappiness behind, I recall that at the last Annual Conventional Debate, I said, "It is not that we are blindly optimistic. We do not underestimate the difficulties and problems that lie ahead in building for the future of the Special Administrative Region. Nevertheless, we have the courage and confidence to surmount these difficulties and obstacles.” In fact, just in the second year after the reunification, Hong Kong encountered some terrible storms. The Asian financial turbulence in early 1998 has brought about an abrupt downturn in our economy, rising unemployment rate, and serious impacts on all business sectors. Indeed, the territory is experiencing a difficult time, and the SAR Government as well as its people have to face and bear many tests. It is my earnest hope that with our wisdom, vitality, resilience and diligence (our fine traditional attributes), Hong Kong will be the first city in Asia to come out of the economic trough.
At the last Annual Conventional Debate, before I concluded I said that the Government tried to get rid of the Municipal Councils on the pretext of the
Page 352 of 606
Page 352 of 606
Page 352 of 606
340
The Way Forward
PROVISIONAL Urban COUNCIL
Despite the Council's stringent financial situation in the coming year and the uncertainty of the Council's future after 1999, we will continue to do our best to serve the community and to ensure the delivery of quality services to the public.
The Council operated very smoothly in the past year. This would not have been possible without the valuable contributions of our fellow Councillors and the hard work and unfailing support of staff of the Urban Services Department, the Council Secretariat and other Government departments concerned. My sincere thanks go to you all.
With these remarks, I propose adoption of the motion standing in my name. Thank you.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG, VICE CHAIRMAN, PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman,
1999 will be the most important year for the Urban Council. With a history of more than a century, the Council will face two totally different developments. It will either enter the new century under the new structure of "One Council One Department”, or render its service till the very last moment of the twentieth century and be marked with the "finis" sign on 31 December 1999 and then bid a historic farewell to all the people of Hong Kong.
Being perhaps the last Vice-Chairman of the Council and probably speaking at its last Annual Conventional Debate, I am quite unhappy. I hope the Government's choice of scrapping the two Municipal Councils will not disrupt the stability and harmony of the community, and the provision of municipal services to the people of Hong Kong will not be reduced as a result. Let history testify whether the Urban Council should continue to exist!
Leaving the unhappiness behind, I recall that at the last Annual Conventional Debate, I said, "It is not that we are blindly optimistic. We do not underestimate the difficulties and problems that lie ahead in building for the future of the Special Administrative Region. Nevertheless, we have the courage and confidence to surmount these difficulties and obstacles.” In fact, just in the second year after the reunification, Hong Kong encountered some terrible storms. The Asian financial turbulence in early 1998 has brought about an abrupt downturn in our economy, rising unemployment rate, and serious impacts on all business sectors. Indeed, the territory is experiencing a difficult time, and the SAR Government as well as its people have to face and bear many tests. It is my carnest hope that with our wisdom, vitality, resilience and diligence ( our fine traditional attributes, Hong Kong will be the first city in Asia to come out of the economic trough.
At the last Annual Conventional Debate, before I concluded I said that the Government tried to get rid of the Municipal Councils on the pretext of the
Page 352 of 606
of 606.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.