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Moreover, in the next century, there is a dire need for preserving such a valuable asset left over by the Council which is a people's representative body. What the future development will be is not so significant, but it is significant that the above asset be preserved so that the voices of the people and the elected Members can be heard again in the institutions set up under a new structure in the future.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks, I support the motion.
MR. LEE KWOK-KEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman,
As the 21st century is around the corner, I believe many countries and regions are expecting the new era. Globally, people all have high hopes for the new millennium, wishing for a fresh start and new changes. Hong Kong has recently experienced a financial turmoil which to a certain extent has left a trail of destruction in its aftermath. In fact, quite a number of people in Hong Kong wish for a personage who can lead Hong Kong out of the economic dungeon towards a new pasture, away from the present difficulties. To our regret, such a personage has yet to arise. What is more regrettable is that someone thinks he himself is that personage. Frankly speaking, the Chief Executive Mr. TUNG Chee-hwa is simply not the right stuff. Since he assumed office, his performance has come into full view of the Hong Kong people. Does he have the capability to lead Hong Kong out of the dungeon? Everyone knows the answer. On the other hand, dissolving the two Municipal Councils is one of the major “achievements” of Mr. TUNG after he assumed office. He has run the whole show of dissolving the two elected Councils which are vested with real authority. In future, the Central Government will take complete care of the provision of municipal services and the citizens will have even lesser opportunity to monitor the Government.
At this point, I can't help asking: what sort of government are the Hong Kong people expecting after all? Facing the 21st century, what sort of government are we on earth looking forward to? Is it a centralized government that is dictatorial and totally lacking in democracy? Or a government directly elected by universal suffrage which takes the interest of the majority in Hong Kong as its guiding principle? Why are we left with no choice? Anyhow, let us put aside such restrictions as the Basic Law etc. and ask: is it because the Hong Kong people are not so knowledgeable or are so apathetic to politics? Or is democracy not suitable for the Chinese? The answers to these questions are all negative. Look at the Legislative Council election in May 1998 and the elections in Taiwan, the "bird-cage" type of democracy development in Hong Kong is really shameful! The most deplorable is that Hong Kong people have recently been misled into thinking that democracy runs counter to economy. A super tycoon said he had forsaken an investment of $10 billions because the investment environment is very unfavourable at present. He seemed to repeat the view of the eighties: "Where there is democracy, there is poor economy". Why did he say so? The fact remains that an undemocratic society
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Page 418 of 606
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Page 418 of 606
406
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Moreover, in the next century, there is a dire need for preserving such a valuable asset left over by the Council which is a people's representative body. What the future development will be is not so significant, but it is significant that the above asset be preserved so that the voices of the people and the elected Members can be heard again in the institutions set up under a new structure in the future.
Mr. Chairman, with these remarks. I support the motion.
MR. LEE KWOK-KEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman,
As the 21st century is around the corner. I believe many countries and regions are expecting the new era. Globally, people all have high hopes for the new millennium, wishing for a fresh start and new changes. Hong Kong has recently experienced a financial turmoil which to a certain extent has left a trail of destruction in its aftermath. In fact, quite a number of people in Hong Kong wish for a personage who can lead Hong Kong out of the economic dungeon towards a new pasture, away from the present difficulties. To our regret, such a personage has yet to arise. What is more regrettable is that someone thinks he himself is that personage. Frankly speaking, the Chief Executive Mr. TUNG Chee-hwa is simply not the right stuff. Since he assumed office, his performance has come into full view of the Hong Kong people. Does he have The capability to lead Hong Kong out of the dungeon? Everyone knows the answer. On the other hand, dissolving the two Municipal Councils is one of the major “achievements" of Mr. TUNG after he assumed office. He has run the whole show of dissolving the two elected Councils which are vested with real authority. In future, the Central Government will take complete care of the provision of municipal services and the citizens will have even lesser opportunity to monitor the Government.
At this point. I can't help asking : what sort of government are the Hong Kong people expecting after all? Facing the 21st century, what sort of government are we on earth looking forward to? Is it a centralized government that is dictatorial and totally lacking in democracy? Or a government directly clected by universal suffrage which takes the interest of the majority in Hong Kong as its guiding principle? Why are we left with no choice? Anyhow, let us put aside such restrictions as the Basic Law etc. and ask : is it because the Hong Kong people are not so knowledgeable or are so apathetic to politics? Or is democracy not suitable for the Chinese? The answers to these questions are all negative. Look at the Legislative Council election in May 1998 and the elections in Taiwan, the "bird-cage" type of democracy development in Hong Kong is really shameful! The most deplorable is that Hong Kong people have recently been misled into thinking that democracy runs counter to economy. A super tycoon said he had forsaken from an investment of $10 billions because the investment environment is very unfavourable at present. He seemed to repeat the view of the eighties: "Where there is democracy, there is poor economy". Why did he say so? The fact remains that an undemocratic society
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