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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Page 82 of 312
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Before we proceed with the agenda, I wish to extend on behalf of all Members a warm welcome to Mr. Solomon RAFEEK, who takes his seat in the Council for the first time to-day. (Applause).
I am sure that Members will also wish me to congratulate Mrs. Ellen LI on her appointment by Her Majesty the Queen in the recent Honours List as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and also to congratulate Mr. WATSON and Mr. FUNG Hon-chu on their appointment to the Legislative Council. (Applause).
MR. RAFEEK:- Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for your cordial words of welcome, which I deeply appreciate. As a new member to this Council, I feel rather strange in this Chamber, but I am sure that I can count on the kind indulgence of you, ladies and gentlemen, whose advice I shall much value in the furtherance of my duties. However, I feel very lucky indeed because I am sitting between two charming ladies. (Laughter). Thank you so much.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 2nd June, 1964 were confirmed.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN.
At the last meeting of this Council several Members expressed concern over the fact that no decisions have as yet been taken on the recommendations contained in the Report of the Working Party on Housing. These views were conveyed to Government.
I can now say that Government has noted the points made by Members but has nothing to add to what was said by the Commissioner for Resettlement in his reply to Mrs. ELLIOTT's question at the last meeting concerning the resettlement or resiting of families made homeless by the demolition of old tenements. At that meeting the Commissioner for Resettlement said, and I quote part of his reply: "The Report of the Working Party is under active consideration and proposals on certain of the recommendations in the report which are considered to be particularly urgent will be submitted to the Governor in Council as soon as possible. It is not considered that any time would be saved by attempting to obtain an earlier decision on this single issue which can scarcely be resolved in isolation from other important recommendations in the report."
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of June 1964.
(2) Interim Report by the Standing Orders and Procedure Select Committee on the question of the
(i) Enlargement of the electorate at Urban Council Elections,
and the
(ii) Present system of registration of voters.
QUESTIONS.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
Is the Chairman able to say whether Government has accepted the proposal for the re-development of Statue Square and to vest its control and management in this Council?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Following recent discussions Government and the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation have agreed jointly to redevelop Statue Square as a public garden. It is intended that management of the new garden should be entrusted to the Urban Council which will also be invited to join in planning the layout. A further public statement about the project will be made very shortly.
MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, may I thank you for your courteous and succinct answer to my question, and with that remark I go on to the next question.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
(a) Will you please give this Council the attendance figures at the Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool since its opening?
(b) Is Government willing to expedite the construction of all other swimming pools proposed by the Urban Amenities Select Committee?
(c) Will Government approach the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club to find out whether that Club is also willing to contribute towards the cost of all the projected pools in addition to that planned for Cheung Sha Wan?