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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I support the Motion.
The question was put.
The Motion was carried unanimously.
THE CHAIRMAN moved the following resolution :-
'(i) under Section 59 and 60(1) of the Urban Council Ordinance, and Standing Order 22(6), that the constitution, powers, functions and appointment of Chairman, of the Resettlement and Clearance (Policy) Select Committee, the Resettlement Estates Select Committee, and the Resettlement Areas Select Committee, as set out under the resolution of the Council dated 1st April, 1958 be revoked, with effect from 8th August, 1958.
(ii) under Section 59 of the Urban Council Ordinance, 1955, that the persons whose names are set out in the first column of the attached list shall be Members of the Select Committees detailed for the period 8th August, 1958 to 31st March, 1959.
(iii) under Standing Order 22(6), that the Chairman of each Select Committee shall be as set out in the first column of the attached list for the period 8th August, 1958 to 31st March, 1959.
(iv) under Section 5(1) of the Resettlement Ordinance, 1958, that the powers and functions of the Council as set out in the second column of the attached list be delegated to the Select Committees shown in the first column for the period 8th August, 1958 to 31st March, 1959.
(v) under Section 60(1) of the Urban Council Ordinance, 1955, that the power of the Council under Section 59 of the Ordinance to change by appointment or removal the personnel of each Select Committee be delegated to that Select Committee.
Provided that each such change shall be reported to the Council at its next meeting.'
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
He said: As Members are aware, the new Resettlement Ordinance, 1958, replaces in a more satisfactory form the temporary legislation which at present governs the operations of the Resettlement Department. The new Ordinance will be brought into force, by proclamation, on 8th August, 1958.
Members will be familiar with the Ordinance, which has been submitted to the Resettlement and Clearance (Policy) Select Committee and to the Council in Committee of the Whole Council, in turn. The amendments to the Select Committees to which this motion relates are purely consequential upon the legislative changes involved.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT seconded.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :----I should like only to say that having in mind Dr. Woo's few words about the new legislation on public health and urban services as being easily comprehensible to the layman, I am afraid the present motion has its disadvantages. We jump from the Urban Council Ordinance to the Resettlement Ordinance and then we jump back again to do something we cannot do under the Resettlement Ordinance. Having done that we jump back to the Resettlement Ordinance to do the rest. I think it is a little difficult for members to follow but the answer is, I think, that the Resettlement Ordinance does not in itself provide sufficient powers for the Select Committees and we must in certain respects look to the Urban Council Ordinance for that purpose. Having hopped around we have got there in the end but I would perhaps like to express the hope that during, shall we say, an off time, it might be possible to put in a few well chosen amendments to the Resettlement Ordinance so that we can on future occasions avoid this rather lengthy rigmarole.
The question was put.
The Motion was carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT.
CHAIRMAN: -That concludes the business for this meeting. Council stands adjourned to Tuesday, 2nd September, 1958 at 4 p.m.
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