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and reputation of the Reform Club and the Civic Association in the eyes of the public has risen and stands as high now as it ever has. (Laughter).
To-day, of course, is a special occasion and I think perhaps we can accept a little lip service to demagogy, especially as next year is election year. I felt, however, that when Members were making their very modest appeals for more elected representation, they were making them more for the record than from conviction. If this is the price we have to pay for the valuable services of the Members across the table, we are very happy to pay it.
I have pleasure in supporting the motion. (Applause).
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, I think Members will at least have the consolation of knowing that mine is the last speech. I would like to start by saying how much we appreciate the remarks of our friends on the opposite side of the table, and I endorse the view that whatever our political differences may be we have been able to show that we can get down and work out together the many and varied problems that now arise on the Urban Council. I think that the somewhat histrionic expressions this afternoon have indeed come from Mr. WATSON rather than from us. (Laughter).
As regards the Council itself, my own activities during the past year have been largely centred on the City Hall, Resettlement and Hawking. Let me say at once that I am extremely thrilled by the fact that our appeal to the public of Hong Kong to use the City Hall and to feel that it really is their City Hall has received such a terrific response from Hong Kong citizens. It represents a wonderful improvement to the cultural side of our city. Naturally with all such structures there are some teething troubles. For myself, I think, and it has already been mentioned this afternoon, the catering could be improved but I think that this can probably be worked out amicably with the caterer. I feel as I have always felt that the space for the Museum and Art Gallery is insufficient and that there are insufficient storage rooms for exhibits not on display. This is particularly so, since it is the intention of the Museum and Art Gallery Sub-Committee to have fairly constantly changing exhibitions rather than static displays. But as I say these are only minor matters when compared with the advance that has been made in the creation of this City Hall and I would like once again to take this opportunity to congratulate the Architects, who have been able to do so much on, comparatively speaking, a small budget. Mr. WATSON in the course of (if I may say so) a great speech has said something which I totally disagree with, and that is the suggestion of a library charge. I think that the principle of a free Library is basic. It is a principle which has always been recognized, I think, throughout the Commonwealth and most other countries. The idea is that the citizens of all ages may go to the Library and may have the advantages of the Library as a community service that is paid for out of the general taxation to which presumably they contribute.
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I cannot express myself happy over the progress of Resettlement. As pointed out I think by Mr. WATSON last year, although we resettle every year a large number of people, nevertheless, the problem does not appear to get any smaller. I am also not entirely happy with the present priorities in the matter of clearance. I appreciate the overall principle that squatters must first be cleared from land which is required for other building purposes, but not all that land is used for low cost housing or other Resettlement Estates, and I am not convinced that land required for other Government Offices and far less so, land required for sale by public auction should receive any high priority. We have promised the ultimate resettlement of roof top squatters and there remain a very large number of people squatting on the streets. The Council of Social Services have recently called attention to, mainly I think on the ground that there is hardly anything so demoralizing and likely to break up the whole family unit as living on the street, not for a few days or weeks but year in and year out. I would like to suggest that authority be given to a special Select Committee to recommend priorities in the matter of clearance and to draw up a new long-term policy for squatter clearance.
Finally on this aspect of my speech I want to say a word about Hawking and Hawkers. The gradual extension of the Hawker Control Force into areas both in Hong Kong and Kowloon and the resulting control of a situation which was previously chaotic can hardly be described as a popular move amongst the hawkers themselves. Whilst this was to be expected, it is a situation that calls for a high degree not only of discipline but also of understanding in the Hawker Control Force constables themselves. This matter has already been touched on by several speakers to-day and as Dr. Woo says, the Force comes under the control of this Council through its various Select Committees which is far far removed from any military organization. The constables although disciplined are the representatives of the Council amongst the people with whom they are connected and the order out of chaos which we ask them to restore should be done with the greatest of patience and tactful persuasion. The power to seize goods and issue summonses is something to be used only in the last resort. I would ask the officers in direct control of these men in the streets to ensure that this position is fully understood by those men. I would also like the personnel of the Hawker Control Force to fully acquaint themselves with the tasks and difficulties of the people with whom they have to deal. Hawker stall holders possess licences and have to display their authorized fixed photographs at the stall. On the other hand I hear that in some cases
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