ENG-1993 — Page 40

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

Councillors operate a redress system, under which members of the public can make representations on, or seek solutions to, problems arising from government policies, decisions and procedures. Every week, a number of councillors are on duty to oversee the system and to receive representations made by deputations.

A member is also on 'ward duty' for two hours a day, to meet complainants who wish to discuss their complaints with a councillor. Cases received are examined in the light of government policies and procedures. If members consider a complaint to be justified, they will ask the government department concerned to reconsider the decision or to re-examine the procedures that have given rise to the complaint. Where a change in policy or in law is considered necessary, members will make recommendations to the appropriate policy branch in the Government Secretariat. Cases involving matters of policy, or of particular importance, are put to the appropriate Legislative Council policy panels for further consideration by members. Members may also ask questions in the council on the problem itself, or the policy giving rise to it. During the 1992–93 session, more than 2250 new cases were handled under the Legislative Council Members' Redress System.

Pursuant to the Governor's announcement in October 1992 that the Legislative Council must have clear and separate management of its own affairs, members decided to merge OMLEGCO and the Office of the Clerk to the Legislative Council, to form an independent Legislative Council Secretariat with financial and managerial autonomy. The new secretariat will be put under the management of a statutory Legislative Council Commission. Preparatory work for its establishment is underway. It is envisaged that the commission and the new secretariat will be set up by April 1, 1994.

Urban Council

The Urban Council is a statutory council with responsibilities for the provision of municipal services to almost 3.2 million people in the urban areas. These services include street cleansing, refuse collection, control of environmental hygiene, and ensuring the hygienic handling and preparation of food in restaurants, shops, abattoirs and other places.

The Urban Council is also the authority for the control of hawkers and street traders, although some of this devolves to the police as the council does not have the manpower or finance to shoulder the whole burden.

Within the urban areas, the council provides and manages all public recreation and sporting facilities such as swimming pools, parks, playgrounds, indoor and outdoor stadia, tennis courts, football grounds, squash courts and basketball courts; and promotes a large number of sports at district level. Included among its facilities is the Hong Kong Stadium, which is undergoing redevelopment funded by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. Work will be completed by March 1994 and its seating capacity will increase to 40 000 for major sporting, entertainment and cultural events.

The council manages museums, public libraries and several major cultural venues and multi-purpose facilities, including the City Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Stadium, the Hong Kong Coliseum, the Hong Kong Science Museum and the Museum of Art. The City Hall, opened in 1962, is undergoing a $72 million renovation programme to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its infrastructure. The renovation work started in July and will take 15 months to complete in phases. The council promotes cultural performances and runs a comprehensive programme of public entertainment throughout the urban areas.

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