"RECHTEN TI ITUNGKUNG BY PAULAWESIĄ
four appointed Unofficials in Legco shuffle
A leading industrialist, a businessman, an educationist and a social welfare representative have been appointed as Unofficials in the Legislative Council in a minor reshuffle the first since the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, arrived last October.
The appointments were announced yesterday at the same time as the retirement of three Unofficials.
Two additional seats have been created on Legislative Council at the same time - one Official and the other Unofficial - bringing the total membership to 28.
The new members are:
Mr James Wu Man-hon. who in private life is Managing Director of China Cold Storage and Engineering Co Ltd, which makes
air conditioning equipment:
Mr Peter G. Williams, Director of Dodwell and Co Ltd and new Chairman of the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce:
⚫ Mrs Joyce Symons. Headmistress of Hongkong's leading girls schools. Diocesan Girls School;
Lobo.
Mr R.
H. Chairman of P. H. Lobo and Company, and a prominent member of social welfare and youth organisations.
On the official side. Mr George Rowe. Director of the
Department of Social Welfare. already on Executive Council. joins Legco.
Mrs Symons, Mr Lobo and Mr Wu have been appointed for two years. Mr Williams and Mr Rowe for one year.
It was announced that the senior Unofficials Sir Yuet keung Kan. Mr G. M. B. Salmon and Mr K. S. Lo have retired from Legco.
the
The new appointments broaden the scope of Legislative Councillors 10 3 small extent. increase degree of specialisation among members and build up women's representation from one to two.
Observers point out that among those re-appointed, five have been given a one-year term. This could mean that more new blood could be introduced into the Council in a year's time.
Two of these members are definitely known to be retiring before then.
CHINA REVALUES
FOR THIRD TIME
The People Bank of China in Peking yesterday revalued the RMB yuan against the Hongkong dollar for the third time in two days.
The latest rate is 37.30 RMB yuan for every HK$100. However, the rate of 37.48 RMB yuan for every HK$100 was quoted in settlement of trading bills.
On Thursday, the rate was 38.19 RMB yuan for HK$100, against the pre-revaluation rate of 40.20. Minutes before the opening of the banks yesterday. however, Peking ordered the quotation changed to 37.62 and then to 37.30.
The new steady throughout the day but a senior executive of a left-wing bank said further changes would depend on sterling rates on the world market as well as the fiscal policy in Hongkong in handling the relation between sterling and the Hongkong dollar.
rate remained
Meetings
Most China product dealers said during the day they had not received any instruction on price changes. Late last night. however, several of them were summoned to meetings.
Wholesale prices for livestock. especially pigs, went up by seven per cent and the retail price for pork is expected to go up very soon.
Price tags for all goods in China product stores remained unchanged yesterday and customers still enjoyed a 10 per cent discount in summer sales which ended last night.
Nevertheless, small grocery stores selling Chinese tinned food put up prices by 10 per cent and a few stores were reluctant
to sell in large quantities.
Trade sources disclosed that many officials of China's State trading agencies had been mobilised to gather opinions from dealers, retailers and selected customers on the level of price increases and its effects. The decision. however. would be made in China and not here, the sources added.
The пси line up of Unofficials in the Legislative Council is as follows:
One year appointments: Mr P. C. Woo. Mr Szeto Wai. Mr Wilfred S. B. Wong, Mrs Ellen Li Shu pui and Mr H. J. C. Browne.
Two-year appointments:
Dr S. Y. Chung. Mr Wilson Wang. Mr Q. W. Lee. Mr Oswald Cheung and Mr T K. Ann.
Eight nominated Official members of the Legislative Council have been re-appointed for two years. They are:
Mr D. R. W. Alexander, Mr J. J. Robson, Mr J. Canning. Dr G. H. Choa. Mr J. Cater. Mr D. C. Bray, Mr Paul Tsui and Mr I. M. Lightbody.
In Executive Council four new appointments have been made. They are: Mr P. C. Woo. Mr Szeto Wai. Dr S. Y. Chung and Mr G. R. Ross.
The Unofficial members also include: Sir Albert Rodrigues. Sir Douglas Clague. Sir Sidney Gordon and Sir Yuet keung Kan.
Mr Rowe
Is time on her side?
London, June 30, Wendy Williams. 14. has written to the British Military Hospital in Hongkong to find out what time of day she was born there in 1957.
It's important. Unless it was early morning, she cannot leave school and go to work for two more years.
British law says children born after September 1, 1957. must stay in school until they are 16.
It was September 1, 1957, in Hongkong when Wendy was born. But, her parents tell her, it was so early in the morning it probably was still August 31 in Britain. Hongkong time is nine hours ahead of British time.
UPI.
First
appearance for 4 months
Chairman Mao Tse-tung greeting the visiting Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Mrs Sin Bandaru baik, when Mrs Bandaranaike called on him at his Chungnanhai residence in Peking on Wednesday. This was Chairman Mao's first appearance since he greeted President Nixon on February 21. - (Radiopicture).
Air Wa
Me- Symens
Mr Lobu
Appointees enthusiastic,
eager to start work
Two of the new Unofficial members of the Legislative Council last night voiced enthusiasm at their appointment and said they were eager to begin work in their new posts.
Reaction from several elected Urban Councillors, meanwhile, was restrained and members were disappointed that no elected members were named to the expanded Council.
The prominent industrialist, Mr James M. H. Wu, said he regarded his appointment as "a great honour for me.
"Being a Hongkong-born citizen, 1 welcome the opportunity to be of service to the people of Hongkong." he said.
Mr Wu, 52, served as an appointed Urban Councillor from 1968.
He said the Legislative Council offered a much wider field" than the Urban Council.
"I shall work in the Council towards the Colony's industrial development and the expansion of technical education.
"In addition, I will want to feel my way around a bit. By participating in the discussions and deliberations of the
Council, I can find out also in what other fields I can be of service.
"I shall look into things and ask questions.
He said Legco's enlarged membership would be welcomed by the people and the Councillors themselves.
Complex
"The Legislative Council is getting more busy with the affairs and administration of Hongkong and becoming increasingly complex every day."
Asked whether he would pursue the aims of his former colleagues in the Urban Council, he replied: “If it is within my ability. I would of course offer my services.
"But I think the scope of the Urban Council has been very much covered by the White Paper which will come into
BURIAL RACKET EXPOSED
Racketeers are using tourist buses to smuggle bodies into the Ha Tsuen area for burial in the villagers' ancestral graveyards.
A village representative reported to the Ha Tsuen Rural Committee yesterday that he had seen the buses, each carrying two coffins, being driven into the firing range area.
The "burial ring" produces lucrative profits by arranging such burials for families who would have to pay much more for graves in public cemeterics.
But the practice has angered villagers who feel that such "expatriate burials" upset their fung shui and their ancestral graves.
The racket has been operating for some time and complaints have been lodged with the
District Office, according to the Chairman of the Rural Committee, Mr Tang Chai-on.
In the past, coffins were openly driven in hearses to Sha Kiu and Tsim Bei Tsui for burial.
"This greatly upset the villagers because they looked on it as a jinx to have hearses shuttling past the ancestral temple every day." Mr Tang said.
The Rural Committee lodged a complaint with the District Office and the racket appeared to cease operating for a time.
"But now they are coming back with corpses in tourist buses.
"Two buses. each carrying two coffins, have been spotted going to the firing range area in the past eight days." Mr Tang said.
effect on April 1, next year.
"The Council will than have more members, elected as well as appointed.
"It (the White Paper) has been adopted by the Legislative Council and approved with some reservations by the Urban Councillors."
The well known educationist, Mrs C. J. Symons, said her first task in her new post would be to spend a "great deal of time learning my new job."
"I feel privileged to be asked to serve on the Council and to take on new responsibilities. As a teacher, my main interest will be education."
Mrs Symons is Headmistress of the Diocesan Girls' School and also an appointed Urban Councillor.
Mrs Symons said she did not know "exactly why I have been asked to serve on the Legislative Council.
"But definitely I am not going 10 the Council representing any organisation or group. I have a free hand and I shall concern myself with the problems of the citizens, which are important to them.
"I believe the sheer volume of the work of the Council has increased over the years.
"It needs more people to do the job. And I would hope the Council would be better all round with the increased mernbership," she said.
Mr R. H. Lobo was not available for comment last night. He is currently on a business and holiday tour and is expected to return in two weeks.
(Cont'd on Back Page, Col. 3)