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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Perhaps I should be a little more specific. When I was a member of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee, that was in the time of Mr. BARTY's predecessor, I often raised questions on resettlement matters in the New Territories, and in Select Committee these answers were readily given. Now, would the Chairman of the Urban Council be prepared to give his blessing to this practice being continued?
CHAIRMAN:- Sir, it is scarcely for me to tell a Select Committee chairman how to run his Select Committee and what questions to admit or to exclude. I must refer the question to my friend the Commissioner for Resettlement.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, I ask this question of you as Chairman of the entire Urban Council.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: - Mr. Chairman, I think it is correct to say that there have been questions either in Select Committee or in writing from Members of the Urban Council in connexion with matters affecting resettlement estates or resettlement matters generally in the New Territories, and as a matter of courtesy, I have always made a point of answering such questions, without considering whether they were addressed to me by a Member with his or her Urban Council hat on or not.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, I must press for a reply from you as Chairman of the Urban Council. I have not had that answer yet. I have only had the reply from Mr. Barty.
CHAIRMAN:- Well, Sir, I will say that I have always regarded Members of this Council as thoroughly adult and responsible people, and, as I have said before in this Council, my inclination (and maybe it is the wrong inclination) is always to answer questions asked in good faith. Need I say more on that? Whether they are questions asked in Select Committee is not important to me.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- I think, Mr. Chairman, that sums up the gist of my reply.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your affirmative reply.
CHAIRMAN:- It is a cautious affirmative. (Laughter).
MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, I will not, with your permission, limit myself to any quota for supplementary questions. My supplementary questions are innocuous, as you will see. First, Mr. Chairman, dis-
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counting the distinction which is being made between urban areas by legislation and urban areas in administrative practice, are you prepared, Sir, to represent to Government that it is my view at least,—it may be shared by my colleagues in this Council—that in the public interest planning should take into account the whole area, at least the New Territories in the mainland if not the New Territories in the islands?
CHAIRMAN:- Yes, Sir. I would be glad to convey your views to Government.
MR. SALES: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My second supplementary. Would you please inform Government that because of great population pressure there is a move in Japan to consider the urbanization of the entire country as distinguished from rural and urban development, because in my view that example could be followed with advantage here in Hong Kong?
CHAIRMAN:
It is a horrifying prospect that the entire Colony should be urbanized, but I am prepared to advance your views to Government.
MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, may I clarify that point? I am glad you give me the opportunity to do so by a statement rather than by supplementary questions. By such urbanization, of course, is meant the most progressive thinking on the subject, which includes vast open spaces, plenty of recreational facilities, and all the ancillary services which make for good living in a modern community.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Would the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee be in favour of changing the name of the Hawker Control Force to "Urban Services Control Force" or some other more appropriate name?
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, CHAIRMAN, HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
As you are aware, Sir, the question of a more appropriate name for the Hawker Control Force is to be discussed shortly by the Hawkers Select Committee. I do not myself care much for the present name and I would prefer to have another name if another appropriate one could be found. The name has been translated into Chinese as 小販管理隊 ("Siu Fan Kwun Lei Deoi"). "Siu Fan" means hawkers,
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