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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
for the Select Committees of the Council to meet with the frequency that they do to-day. Growing old as I am, Mr. Chairman I view with increasing concern the need to appear in this room at 8.45 in the morning and I would, with this Council's indulgence, commend this thought to the Council that Select Committees should be concerned solely with policy matters, leaving to the Department the implementation of policy decisions in accordance with paragraph 55 of the Urban Council Ordinance. This vote of confidence on the part of the Council in the Department would in fact enable Councillors to turn their attention to policy matters more and more and deal less and less with administrative matters, as it should be in fact.
MR. BERNACCHI:- I rise to the bait, Mr. Chairman, and exercise my right of final reply. Although I have complete confidence in your Department as Director of the Urban Services Department, I could not disagree more with what my friend Mr. SALES has just said. The circulation of presumption papers I consider to be an evil, particularly so among Members whose job is not only to deal with Urban Council work, but who are very busy with other work, and therefore sometimes a presumption paper gets overlooked until after the time set for replying by way of objection. The work of this Council was almost entirely carried on by presumption papers until about 1952 and the work of this Council to-day is what it is, and this Council has come the way that it has come from 1952, because Councillors are willing to devote the time and attention to attending Select Committee meetings even at 8.45 in the morning.
MR. SALES: --On a point of clarification, Mr. Chairman, "punctually at 8.45 in the morning." (Laughter).
The question was put.
The motion was carried.
ADJOURNMENT.
CHAIRMAN:- That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 5th May, 1964.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
SCHEDULE.
LIST OF SELECT COMMITTEES AS FROM 7TH APRIL, 1964.
TITLE AND MEMBERSHIP
1. Air Conditioning.
Mr. Wilfred S. B. WONG (Chairman).
The Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services. Mr. B. A. BERNACCHI, Q.C. Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in. Mrs. Ellen Li Shu-pui, M.B.E. The Industrial Health Officer. The Senior Electrical Engineer (Architectural Office).
2. Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours.
Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in (Chairman).
The Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services. The Secretary for Chinese Affairs. Mr. CHAN Shu-woon. Dr. P. F. Woo. Mr. FUNG Hon-chu. Mr. K. S. Lo.
3. City Hall.
Mr. B. A. BERNACCHI, Q.C. (Chairman).
The Chairman, Urban Council. Dr. R. H. S. LEE, O.B.E. Dr. P. F. Woo. Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN. Mr. A. de O. SALES, O.B.E. Mr. K. A. WATSON, O.B.E. Mr. J. L. MARDEN. Mr. Wilson T. S. WANG. Mrs. Ellen Li Shu-pui, M.B.E.
POWERS
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To advise the Council on matters affecting air conditioning in relation to public health and to exercise the powers and functions of the Council under By-law 4 (in regard to mechanical ventilation) of the Ventilation By-laws, 1961.
To exercise the powers and functions of the Council relating to Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours.
To exercise the powers and functions of the Council relating to management of the City Hall, excluding those appertaining to the Library and Museum and Gallery Select Committees.
Art
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