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# PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
party stand. But when dealing with Council business, we should first think of the Council's role and act in the best interest of the public.
The Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) is deeply concerned about the unclear division of functions and responsibilities and the difference in policies between the two Municipal Councils and the two Municipal Services Departments. To reduce the duplication of resources and inconsistency in policies, it has agreed to merge the existing two Councils so that there will be one Municipal Council and One Municipal Services Department for the whole territory i.e. "One Council One Department." The number of appointed members should then be reduced gradually so as to make way for a fully elected Council. To enhance administrative efficiency, it should be stipulated that the Urban Services Department shall be responsible to the Urban Council.
On the management of food safety, drawing on the experience of the bird flu incident which exposed the problems of fragmentation of responsibilities for the control of food safety, DAB agrees that the authority for the control of food safety should be reverted to the Government departments of the Special Administrative Region (SAR), so that efficiency in dealing with crises can be improved and food safety can be ensured through centralized control. Vesting the control of food safety in the Central Government is in line with the general practices of other places where measures on food safety and imports and exports are subsumed under the purview of a government body, which is responsible for handling these matters and communicating with the international organizations concerned. Our coordination and communication with other places can be improved as a result.
With regard to the long-term future, the DAB is of the view that constitutional development in Hong Kong should proceed step by step. When reviewing constitutional development, the SAR Government should also review, in due course, the present structure of the three-tier representative government and the way forward, so that it can meet the changing needs of our evolving community.
During the past year, although the Council's work was affected by the adverse economic conditions, problems were tackled pragmatically and with courage and commitment by fellow Members. Let me cite the example of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee of which I was Chairman. It attained achievements in the various areas of its work. The Committee thoroughly discussed and followed up in such areas as market viability studies, vacancy rates of market stalls, the layout of markets, modernization of facilities and improvements to the existing market facilities. Projects completed last year include the Ap Lei Chau Market Complex and the retro-fitting of air conditioning to the cooked food centre of Java Road Market Complex. Our aim is to continue retrofitting other old-typed markets with air-conditioning according to their conditions. Moreover, the new Sai Ying Pun Market, Sam
Page 251 of 606
Page 354 of 606
Tage 554 of 606
Page 354 of 606
342
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
party stand. But when dealing with Council business, we should first think of the Council's role and act in the best interest of the public.
The Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) is deeply concerned about the unclear division of functions and responsibilities and the difference in policies between the two Municipal Councils and the two Municipal Services Departments. To reduce the duplication of resources and inconsistency in policies, it has agreed to merge the existing two Councils so that there will be one Municipal Council and One Municipal Services Department for the whole territory i.e. "One Council One Department." The number of appointed members should then be reduced gradually so as to make way for a fully elected Council. To enhance administrative efficiency, it should be stipulated that the Urban Services Department shall be responsible to the Urban Council.
On the management of food safety, drawing on the experience of the bird flu incident which exposed the problems of fragmentation of responsibilities for the control of food safety, DAB agrees that the authority for the control of food safety should be reverted to the Government departments of the Special Administrative Region (SAR), so that efficiency in dealing with crises can be improved and food safety can be ensured through centralized control. Vesting the control of food safety in the Central Government is in line with the general practices of other places where measures on food safety and imports and exports are subsumed under the purview of a government body, which is responsible for handling these matters and communicating with the international organizations concerned. Our coordination and communication with other places can be improved as a result.
With regard to the long-term future, the DAB is of the view that constitutional development in Hong Kong should proceed step by step. When reviewing constitutional development, the SAR Government should also review, in due course, the present structure of the three-tier representative government and the way forward, so that it can meet the changing needs of our evolving community.
During the past year, although the Council's work was affected by the adverse economic conditions, problems were tackled pragmatically and with courage and commitment by fellow Members. Let me cite the example of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee of which I was Chairman. It attained achievements in the various areas of its work. The Committee thoroughly discussed and followed up in such areas as market viability studies, vacancy rates of market stalls, the layout of markets, modernization of facilities and improvements to the existing market facilities. Projects completed last year include the Ap Lei Chau Market Complex and the retro-fitting of air conditioning to the cooked food centre of Java Road Market Complex. Our aim is to continue retrofitting other old-typed markets with air-conditioning according to their conditions. Morcover, the new Sai Ying Pun Market, Sam
Page 251 of 606
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