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whole-hearted support to this measure. Let the name of "The Island of Fragrant Streams" be not said in jest as being associated with the smell which emanate from nightsoil collection.
On final word on the subject of basements. I have aired my views on the existing Basements Policy often enough in the past with little or no effect. I have not served on this particular Select Committee for a year and do not therefore know what changes, if any, have been brought about. I observe that once again this subject does not come in even for honourable mention in your Statement. If I am to take that as meaning that this Council is well satisfied as to the conditions in which basements are occupied particularly as domestic dwellings I cannot with respect agree. From my daily observations I find no evidence of any improvement in the condition. Some of the districts which I have visited are just as bad as they were when I first raised the question, about 18 months ago.
Subject to these remarks, Sir, I have much pleasure in supporting the Motion. (Applause).
MR. A. DE O. SALES: -The change in procedure which was made last year when it was agreed that this Council would in effect speak to a Statement of Progress and Policy is an improvement for it gives substance to what was then no more than a convention.
If the new procedure helps you, Mr. Chairman, to confine Members' statements to the multifarious functions of this Council, it should not prevent us, at the same time, from digressing if, in our opinion, rightly or wrongly, the public interest so indicates.
Administration: There has been some reference in this Council to the incivility experienced by the public in their contacts with our otherwise civil and obedient servants.
To my knowledge, no specific instances have been cited. Nevertheless, it is in the Council's interest for the Urban Services Department to take stock of the position and determine how better service can be given by all those who deal with the public.
In this connexion, Mr. Chairman, I don't think that your department can do better than to emulate your vast courtesy and great patience. Each year, particularly at this time, you are subjected to great pressure when the heat is on, as it were, and your infinite patience has withstood all tests. (Laughter).
Of course, we cannot expect to change overnight the pattern of human behaviour. First, there must be a painstaking research best left to a budding local Dr. Kinsey. No doubt in time we may hope to read some such paper as "The Social Behaviour of the Human Male in the Civil Service". (Laughter).
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Anyway, in fairness, we must always look at the other side of the coin. Possibly, Civil Servants are more sinned against than sinning. Even though there is no smoke without fire, far too often such accusations serve only to undermine public confidence as well as to create the impression that we are encouraging all and sundry to prey on those who work for us as if it were open season.
There are the misfits, of course, and it is perhaps they who create a bad impression with the public. Also, there are others who are stupid enough to think that to command respect they have to be gruff and rude.
It may be said that it is axiomatic that in a place such as Hong Kong the success of any venture, enterprise or undertaking depends on the ability of its leaders or sponsors not only to inspire respect and confidence but also to promote genuine co-operation and ensure keen team-work among all elements. The same applies by extension to the public administration. Consequently, Government cannot afford to have the goodwill so deservedly enjoyed by the top leaders undermined by the unwillingness or the incapacity of some subordinates to work with the public.
Whatever may be the practical considerations of these allegations of incivility, there is an even more important principle involved. In the same way as the public can rightly expect courtesy, honesty, efficiency and impartiality from the Civil Service, the latter must also be protected at all times against malicious charges, if the public interest is to be well and properly served, and also from coercion and pressure by lobbies and special interests, perhaps far-fetched now but certainly even more important a consideration in the long run.
Cemeteries: At the last Annual Debate I advocated the need to review our policy so as to do away with discriminatory practices and to remove the causes of discontent. My plea was passed over. Consequently, I introduced a motion in the following month which in the clearest terms represented a positive approach in that it requests Government to assume full responsibility for development of the Cape Collinson Cemetery and so to spread the unit cost evenly over all burial plots, which would certainly not have been the case otherwise. While not depriving religious bodies of control over their respective sections, under the new scheme the Council charges a flat rate for burial and maintains the whole cemetery out of revenue.
The Select Committee entrusted with the implementation of the new policy has not found the Department altogether on our side as one might well expect it to be. This raises a question of principle which is deserving of attention. The Chairman of the Select Committee fortunately appreciates the awkwardness of the situation. In the event, we the Unofficials can well depend on him to change the tack.
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