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transferred to various bodies and committees. Eventually, the "Municipal Councils" will formally be "scrapped". Will these proposed amendments be supported? I think the outcome will depend on the position of the DAB, the party of Mr. IP Kwok-chung, our Vice-Chairman. I am quite worried because the leader of DAB has never indicated his standpoint at the LegCo meetings. When questions relating to the Environment and Food Bureau and the dissolution of the Municipal Councils were put to Mr. Michael SUEN, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, at the meeting of the Panel on Constitutional Affairs of the LegCo, the DAB leader simply remained silent. He rarely expressed his opinions. Even when the District Councils Bill is being scrutinized now, he has not expressed any opinions either. In fact, I am quite worried. Have you changed your stand? In the end will you resort to evasion and support the Government?
The Democratic Party has always been firm in its stand. From the beginning to the end, we oppose the dissolution of the Municipal Councils and support the principle of "One Council One Department". The District Councils Bill, which is being scrutinized, should receive our attention. There is a special part in this Bill concerning the functions of the District Councils. This part is in fact a duplicate of those functions set out in the past years and involve no major changes. Since some of our colleagues here are also District Board Chairmen, I believe they should have a good understanding of what those functions are.
Section 1* of the Bill stipulates that a District Council should “advise the Government on matters affecting the well-being of the people in the District." This section incorporates more than ten words stating that the well-being of the people in the District involve matters relating to food and environmental hygiene. What is the reason for adding this clause to the functions of the District Councils? The reason is very clear. As the Chinese saying goes, "Sima Zhao's motive is obvious to every man in the street.” As the Municipal Councils will be axed, it is better to add matters relating to food safety and environmental hygiene to the functions of the District Councils, so that the District Councils can offer advice on these matters. If the proposed amendments on such functions are endorsed by the LegCo, the Government will be able to announce justifiably that these functions have been taken over by the District Councils. As the functions of the Municipal Councils will be taken over by the District Councils, the Municipal Councils can be scrapped. Is it reasonable? Definitely not. We all know that District Councils are merely advisory bodies. Therefore, I would like to appeal to your relatives, friends and party members who are at the LegCo to strike out the so-called functions in relation to food safety and environmental hygiene. Otherwise, we will fall into the Government's trap.
The second issue I wish to raise is also somehow related to the scrapping of the Municipal Councils. Besides the abolition of elected councils, it is now also suggested that a provision be added to the District Councils Bill to the effect that one quarter of District Board Members should be appointed. On Saturday, when members of the Democratic Party met Mr. TUNG Chee-hwa, I explained to Mr. TUNG clearly why there was no need for appointees in
Page 364 of 606
Page 364 of 606
504 01 606
352
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
transferred to various bodies and committees. Eventually, the "Municipal Councils" will formally be "scrapped". Will these proposed amendments be supported? I think the outcome will depend on the position of the DAB, the party of Mr. IP Kwok-chung, our Vice-Chairman. I am quite worried because the leader of DAB has never indicated his standpoint at the LegCo meetings. When questions relating to the Environment and Food Bureau and the dissolution of the Municipal Councils were put to Mr. Michael SUEN, Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, at the meeting of the Panel on Constitutional Affairs of the LegCo, the DAB leader simply remained silent. He rarely expressed his opinions. Even when the District Councils Bill is being scrutinized now, he has not expressed any opinions either. In fact, I am quite worried. Have you changed your stand? In the end will you resort to evasion and support the Government? The Democratic Party has always been firm in its stand. From the beginning to the end, we oppose the dissolution of the Municipal Councils and support the principle of "One Council One Department". The District Councils Bill, which is being scrutinized, should receive our attention. There is a special part in this Bill concerning the functions of the District Councils. This part is in fact a duplicate of those functions set out in the past years and involve no major changes. Since some of our colleagues here are also District Board Chairmen, I believe they should have a good understanding of what those functions are. Section 1* of the Bill stipulates that a District Council should “advise the Government on matters affecting the well-being of the people in the District." This section incorporates more than ten words stating that the well-being of the people in the District involve matters relating to food and environmental hygiene. What is the reason for adding this clause to the functions of the District Councils? The reason is very clear. As the Chinese saying goes, "Sima Zhao's motive is obvious to every man in the street.” As the Municipal Councils will be axed, it is better to add matters relating to food safety and environmental hygiene to the functions of the District Councils, so that the District Councils can offer advice on these matters. If the proposed amendments on such functions are endorsed by the LegCo, the Government will be able to announce justifiably that these functions have been taken over by the District Councils. As the functions of the Municipal Councils will be taken over by the District Councils, the Municipal Councils can be scrapped. Is it reasonable? Definitely not. We all know that District Councils are merely advisory bodies. Therefore, I would like to appeal to your relatives, friends and party members who are at the LegCo to strike out the so-called functions in relation to food safety and environmental hygiene. Otherwise, we will fall into the Government's trap.
The second issue I wish to raise is also somehow related to the scrapping of the Municipal Councils. Besides the abolition of elected councils, it is now also suggested that a provision be added to the District Councils Bill to the effect that one quarter of District Board Members should be appointed. On Saturday, when members of the Democratic Party met Mr. TUNG Chee-hwa. I explained to Mr. TUNG clearly why there was no need for appointees in
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