PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
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The second anomaly is “unduly underestimating ourselves". I trust that Members still remember as soon as it was reported in newspapers that some Councillors had bought shares, some of us could hardly wait to admit having committed a blunder. I cannot figure out what was so wrong about it. On the other hand, others resolutely denied having bought any shares. How did it turn out anyway? I am not going into the details now as all of you had been there. This is just another self-destructive brawl. Inevitably, this made the public find the Councillors incompetent whom they can easily do without.
As for the third anomaly, I call it "overrating our own authority”. The prolonged delay of the reconstruction of the Central Market and the various conditions imposed by the Urban Council have finally strained the patience of the Central Government to the utmost. In fact, it is crystal clear that the Urban Council is only empowered to manage the building while the Government undoubtedly has the right to resume it for development. If practicality was our basic aim, why should we have recklessly imposed so many conditions? We asked for a swimming pool. We asked for an opera house. And eventually, the issue had laid ourselves open to ridicule.
The fourth anomaly can be said to be “starting off with a bang but ending up with a whimper". The redevelopment of Victoria Park had been discussed for more than two years, and at last, the so-called open design competition strongly recommended by some people was given up. Without making any progress, we eventually adopted the original option provided by the Architectural Services Department, which led to an increase in the cost of the improvement works by more than 50 million dollars at the minimum, an amount sufficient for building a primary school. In fact, I am so surprised that those who supported the organization of an open design competition before have changed their attitude within such a short time. I think taxpayers, including me, would like to ask if these people feel no qualms about their actions in this controversy. After reviewing these anomalies, we can fully understand why the Government, aiming to eradicate all these anomalies at one go, resolved to take this drastic action. Finally, with your kind permission, Mr. Chairman, I would like to dedicate a song to my colleagues of the Urban Council (excerpts from the song "Love without End-New Version")
Mr. Chairman, these are my remarks. Thank you.
Mr. Chiang Sai-cheong (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman,
As Chairman of the Finance Select Committee, I am much concerned about the means to increase the Council's revenue and cut down expenditure.
At last year's Annual Convention Debate, I made a number of suggestions, which include setting up flea markets at PUC venues, introducing commercial advertisements in the "City News” and putting up advertisements on the walls of the Council buildings.
Page 361 of 606
Page 361 of 606
Page 361 of 606
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
349
The second anomaly is “unduly underestimating ourselves". I trust that Members still remember as soon as it was reported in newspapers that some 'Councillors had bought shares, some of us could hardly wait to admit having committed a blunder. I cannot figure out what was so wrong about it. On the other hand, others resolutely denied having bought any shares. How did it turn out anyway? I am not going into the details now as all of you had been there. This is just another self-destructive brawl. Inevitably, this made the public sind the Councillors incompetent whom they can easily do without.
As for the third anomaly, I call it "overrating our own authority”. The prolonged delay of the reconstruction of the Central Market and the various conditions imposed by the Urban Council have finally strained the patience of the Central Government to the utmost. In fact, it is crystal clear that the Urban Council is only empowered to manage the building while the Government undoubtedly has the right to resume it for development. If practicality was our basic aim, why should we have recklessly imposed so many conditions? We asked for a swimming pool. We asked for an opera house. And eventually, the issue had laid ourselves open to ridicule.
The fourth anomaly can be said to be “starting off with a bang but ending up with a whimper". The redevelopment of Victoria Park had been discussed for more than two years, and at last, the so called open design competition strongly recommended by some people was given up. Without making any progress, we eventually adopted the original option provided by the Architectural Services Department, which led to an increase in the cost of the improvement works by more than 50 million dollars at the minimum, an amount sufficient for building a primary school. In fact, I am so surprised that those who supported the organization of an open design competition before have changed their attitude within such a short time. I think taxpayers, including me, would like to ask if these people feel no qualms about their actions in this controversy. After reviewing these anomalies, we can fully understand why the Government, aiming to eradicate all these anomalies at one go, resolved to take this drastic action. Finally, with your kind permission, Mr. Chairman, I would like to dedicate a song to my colleagues of the Urban Council (excerpts from the song "Love without End-New Version")
Mr. Chairman, these are my remarks. Thank you.
Mr. Chiang Sai-cheong (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman,
As Chairman of the Finance Select Committee, I am much concerned about the means to increase the Council's revenue and cut down expenditure.
At last year's Annual Conventional Debate, I made a number of suggestions, which include setting up flea markets at PUC venues, introducing commercial advertisements in the "City News” and putting up advertisements on the walls of the Council buildings.
Page 361 of 606
Page 361 of 606
Page 361 of 606
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