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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
MR. KWOK BIT-CHUN (on sick leave)
MR. STEVEN HUNG CHUNG-FUN
MR. CHOW KWOK-LEUNG (attended another official meeting)
MISS ANNIE WU SUK-CHING, JP.
DR. PATRICK HO CHI-PING
MR. CHAN BING-WOON, SBS, J.P.
SECRETARY, PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
(Mr. Gregory H. FU)
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—The Debate on the Statement of Aims for 1999/2000 which was adjourned on Tuesday is now resumed. I call on the first speaker, Mr. Ambrose CHEUNG Wing-sum.
The Hon. Ambrose CHEUNG Wing-sum (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman,
First of all, I would like to thank fellow colleagues for allowing me to be the first speaker today as I need to attend the Chief Executive's Q&A Session at the Legislative Council at 3 p.m..
1998 was an eventful year for Hong Kong; the financial and economic turmoil, public health and hygiene issues like the avian flu crisis and even the airport fiasco cropped up one after the other. All we may well say is that we have experienced a lot during the year. For the Provisional Urban Council, and even for both Municipal Councils, 1998 was especially crucial. Why so? This is because the Government has virtually sentenced the two Municipal Councils to death. To put an end to our 150-year history in 12 months is really no different from an immediate execution upon sentencing. I have been serving the Urban Council for about 10 years and I shall take this opportunity to share with fellow colleagues some personal feelings about the Urban Council, by looking back at some of its experience, especially that of 1998, at this Annual Convention Debate, which might be the very last one. To me, the Council is a body with a human touch, while its determination and enterprise are manifested in various ways.
Perhaps I shall begin with the Council's human touch, which was particularly impressive in 1998 when the whole economy was in a slump. Members may recall that we decided to freeze and then reduce by 30% all market stall rentals, licence fees and venue hire charges for one year for nearly 20,000 traders within the Council's jurisdiction. This shows that the Council is resolved to go through hard times with the public, particularly the low-income groups and the grass roots. Having given the power of policy-making and execution, coupled with financial autonomy, the Council is determined to implement the policy to relieve the hardship of the public. I think that no other Councils and executive structures in Hong Kong can make such a resolute decision in such an efficient manner as we do.
£606
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388
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
MR. KWOK BIT-CHUN (on sick leave)
MR. STEVEN HUNG CHUNG-FUN
MR. CHOW KWOK-LEUNG (attended another official meeting)
MISS ANNIE WU SUK-CHING, JP.
DR. PATRICK HO CHI-PING
MR CHAN BING-WOON, SBS, J.P.
SECRETARY, PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
(Mr. Gregory H FU)
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-The Debate on the Statement of Aims for 1999/2000 which was adjourned on Tuesday is now resumed. I call on the first speaker, Mr. Ambrose CHEUNG Wing-sum.
The Hon. Ambrose CHEUNG Wing-sum (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman,
First of all, I would like to thank fellow colleagues for allowing me to be the first speaker today as I need to attend the Chief Executive's Q&A Session at the Legislative Council at 3 p.m..
1998 was an eventful year for Hong Kong ( the financial and economic turmoil, public health and hygiene issues like the avian flu crisis and even the airport fiasco cropped up one after the other. All we may well say is that we have experienced a lot during the year. For the Provisional Urban Council, and even for both Municipal Councils. 1998 was especially crucial. Why so? This is because the Government has virtually sentenced the two Municipal Councils to death. To put an end to our 150-year history in 12 months is really no difference from an immediate execution upon sentencing. I have been serving the Urban Council for about 10 years and I shall take this opportunity to share with fellow colleagues some personal feelings about the Urban Council, by looking back at some of its experience, especially that of 1998, al this Annual Conventional Debate, which might be the very last one. To me the Council is a body with a human touch, while its determination and enterprise are manifested in various ways.
Perhaps I shall begin with the Council's human touch, which was particularly impressive in 1998 when the whole economy was in a slump. Members may recall that we decided to freeze and then reduce by 30% all market stall rentals, licence fees and venue hire charges for one year for nearly 20 000 traders within the Council's jurisdiction. This shows that the Council is resolved to go through hard times with the public, particularly the low income groups and the grass roots. Having given the power of policy making and execution, coupled with a financial autonomy, the Council is determined to implement the policy to relieve the hardship of the public. I think that no other Councils and executive structures in Hong Kong can make such a resolute decision in such an efficient manner as we do.
£606
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