1998 — Page 55

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed
Series Prev Next Source

Page 55 of 606

PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

77

staff, The reason is to prevent the civil service from expanding unnecessarily and becoming too cumbersome to be effective. Of course, it is something that warrants further study and planning by our colleagues.

As for the Council's capital works, phase-III and phase-IV projects have been shelved because of inadequate financial provision from the Central Government. For more than once, the Democratic Party has urged that the Council should seek adequate funding for the effective provision of quality municipal services and facilities. The Central Government has intentionally cut down on our resources and as a result, we are short of $3.8b to accomplish the objectives the Council laid down earlier. Because of the Central Government's cut on funding, it is inevitable that the Council has to resort to the measures of reducing expenditure and increasing revenue in respect of a number of its municipal services, particularly some of the capital works. As the budget has to be reduced from the original one of $4.4b to $3.5b, the funding for the next three years will only be $1,003m, $1.26b, and $1.3b. The USD envisages that projects which are under way as well as projects for which layout plans and estimates have been approved by the Council and for which expenses will be incurred in the next three years will be implemented as scheduled. As for the remaining capital works, the Council is forced to defer them until 2000/01.

I have read through some statistics and discovered that under the financial constraint, a total of 86 central and regional municipal building projects have been deferred. The scope involved is very extensive, ranging from cultural and recreational projects to civic complexes and markets and even some construction and improvement projects related to environmental hygiene. Consequently, the quality of municipal services would be severely undermined and the public would be deprived of the opportunity to enjoy a favourable and improved environment. For example, the Council endorsed in December 1996 that priority consideration be given to the installation of an air-conditioning system in the 14 markets under its management, but unfortunately, the plan has to be shelved completely. Furthermore, the construction of a number of facilities such as stadiums and refuse collection points has obviously been delayed.

The Democratic Party is extremely dissatisfied and considers it unacceptable that in spite of full fiscal reserves, the Central Government has not been able to provide adequate funding to the Council. We also doubt the Government's sincerity in improving the living standard of the people of Hong Kong.

As the economy and unemployment situation are aggravating, it is imperative that in these difficult times, the Central Government should allocate to the Council the funding it needs to enable it to implement phases III and IV of its municipal projects. This would not only bring about more job opportunities but also enable early completion of the municipal projects to allow the public to enjoy municipal facilities which are of a good quality and of a modern standard.

Page 55 of 606

Page 55 of 606

Page 55 of

Page 55Page 56

Edit History

2026-05-16 05:56:57 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
Page 55 of 606 PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 77 staff, The reason is to prevent the civil service from expanding unnecessarily and becoming too cumbersome to be effective. Of course, it is something that warrants further study and planning by our colleagues. As for the Council's capital works, phase-III and phase-IV projects have been shelved because of inadequate financial provision from the Central Government. For more than once, the Democratic Party has urged that the Council should seek adequate funding for the effective provision of quality municipal services and facilities. The Central Government has intentionally cut down on our resources and as a result, we are short of $3.8b to accomplish the objectives the Council laid down earlier. Because of the Central Government's cut on funding, it is inevitable that the Council has to resort to the measures of reducing expenditure and increasing revenue in respect of a number of its municipal services, particularly some of the capital works. As the budget has to be reduced from the original one of $4.4b to $3.5b, the funding for the next three years will only be $1,003m, $1.26b, and $1.3b. The USD envisages that projects which are under way as well as projects for which layout plans and estimates have been approved by the Council and for which expenses will be incurred in the next three years will be implemented as scheduled. As for the remaining capital works, the Council is forced to defer them until 2000/01. I have read through some statistics and discovered that under the financial constraint, a total of 86 central and regional municipal building projects have been deferred. The scope involved is very extensive, ranging from cultural and recreational projects to civic complexes and markets and even some construction and improvement projects related to environmental hygiene. Consequently, the quality of municipal services would be severely undermined and the public would be deprived of the opportunity to enjoy a favourable and improved environment. For example, the Council endorsed in December 1996 that priority consideration be given to the installation of an air-conditioning system in the 14 markets under its management, but unfortunately, the plan has to be shelved completely. Furthermore, the construction of a number of facilities such as stadiums and refuse collection points has obviously been delayed. The Democratic Party is extremely dissatisfied and considers it unacceptable that in spite of full fiscal reserves, the Central Government has not been able to provide adequate funding to the Council. We also doubt the Government's sincerity in improving the living standard of the people of Hong Kong. As the economy and unemployment situation are aggravating, it is imperative that in these difficult times, the Central Government should allocate to the Council the funding it needs to enable it to implement phases III and IV of its municipal projects. This would not only bring about more job opportunities but also enable early completion of the municipal projects to allow the public to enjoy municipal facilities which are of a good quality and of a modern standard. Page 55 of 606 Page 55 of 606 Page 55 of Page 55Page 56
Baseline (Original)
Page 55 of 606 PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL 77 staff, The reason is to prevent the civil service from expanding unnecessarily and becoming too cumbersome to be effective. Of course, it is something that warrants further study and planning by our colleagues. As for the Council's capital works, phase-III and phase-IV projects have been shelved because of inadequate financial provision from the Central Government. For more than once, the Democratic Party has urged that the Council should seek adequate funding for the effective provision of quality municipal services and facilities. The Central Government has intentionally cut down on our resources and as a result, we are short of $3.8b to accomplish the objectives the Council laid down carlier. Because of the Central Government's cut on funding, it is inevitable that the Council has to resort to the measures of reducing expenditure and increasing revenue in respect of a number of its municipal services, particularly some of the capital works. As the budget has to be reduced from the original one of $4.4b to $3.5b. the funding for the next three years will only be $1,003m, $1.26 and $1.3b. The USD envisages that projects which are under way as well as projects for which layout plans and estimates have been approved by the Council and for which expenses will be incurred in the next three years will be implemented as scheduled. As for the remaining capital works, the Council is forced to defer them until 2000/01. I have read through some statistics and discovered that under the financial constraint, a total of 86 central and regional municipal building projects have been deferred. The scope involved is very extensive, ranging from cultural and recreational projects to civic complexes and markets and even some construction and improvement projects related to environmental hygiene. Consequently, the quality of municipal services would be severely undermined and the public would be deprived of the opportunity to enjoy a favourable and improved environment. For example, the Council endorsed in December 1996 that priority consideration be given to the installation of air-conditioning system in the 14 markets under its management, but unfortunately, the plan has to be shelved completcly. Furthermore, the construction of a number of facilities such as stadiums and refuse collection points has obviously been delayed. The Democratic Party is extremely dissatisfied and considers it unacceptable that in spite of full fiscal reserves, the Central Government has not been able to provide adequate funding to the Council. We also doubt the Government's sincerity in improving the living standard of the people of Hong Kong. As the economy and unemployment situation are aggravating, it is imperative that in these difficult times, the Central Government should allocate to the Council the funding it needs to enable it to implement phases III and IV of its municipal projects. This would not only bring about more job opportunities but also enable early completion of the municipal projects to allow the public to enjoy municipal facilities which are of a good quality and of the modern standard. Page 55 of 606 Page 55 of 606 Page 55 of Page 55Page 56
2026-05-16 05:56:57 · Baseline
View content

Page 55 of 606

PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

77

staff, The reason is to prevent the civil service from expanding unnecessarily and becoming too cumbersome to be effective. Of course, it is something that warrants further study and planning by our colleagues.

As for the Council's capital works, phase-III and phase-IV projects have been shelved because of inadequate financial provision from the Central Government. For more than once, the Democratic Party has urged that the Council should seek adequate funding for the effective provision of quality municipal services and facilities. The Central Government has intentionally cut down on our resources and as a result, we are short of $3.8b to accomplish the objectives the Council laid down carlier. Because of the Central Government's cut on funding, it is inevitable that the Council has to resort to the measures of reducing expenditure and increasing revenue in respect of a number of its municipal services, particularly some of the capital works. As the budget has to be reduced from the original one of $4.4b to $3.5b. the funding for the next three years will only be $1,003m, $1.26 and $1.3b. The USD envisages that projects which are under way as well as projects for which layout plans and estimates have been approved by the Council and for which expenses will be incurred in the next three years will be implemented as scheduled. As for the remaining capital works, the Council is forced to defer them until 2000/01.

I have read through some statistics and discovered that under the financial constraint, a total of 86 central and regional municipal building projects have been deferred. The scope involved is very extensive, ranging from cultural and recreational projects to civic complexes and markets and even some construction and improvement projects related to environmental hygiene. Consequently, the quality of municipal services would be severely undermined and the public would be deprived of the opportunity to enjoy a favourable and improved environment. For example, the Council endorsed in December 1996 that priority consideration be given to the installation of air-conditioning system in the 14 markets under its management, but unfortunately, the plan has to be shelved completcly. Furthermore, the construction of a number of facilities such as stadiums and refuse collection points has obviously been delayed.

The Democratic Party is extremely dissatisfied and considers it unacceptable that in spite of full fiscal reserves, the Central Government has not been able to provide adequate funding to the Council. We also doubt the Government's sincerity in improving the living standard of the people of Hong Kong.

As the economy and unemployment situation are aggravating, it is imperative that in these difficult times, the Central Government should allocate to the Council the funding it needs to enable it to implement phases III and IV of its municipal projects. This would not only bring about more job opportunities but also enable early completion of the municipal projects to allow the public to enjoy municipal facilities which are of a good quality and of the modern standard.

Page 55 of 606

Page 55 of 606

Page 55 of

Page 55Page 56

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.