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over 1,000 tenants living in these buildings. As the Report of the Working Party on Squatter Resettlement and Low Cost Housing has already been considered by the Colonial Secretariat and by Executive Council, will the Chairman inquire from Government when the Report will be released to the public? Will it be possible for a debate on this Report to take place at the October meeting of this Council?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
I understand that a resolution will be moved shortly in the Legislative Council inviting acceptance of the White Paper setting out Government's Resettlement Policy and that the Working Party's Report will be published simultaneously. It is a matter for Council to decide whether or not to debate the Government's new Policy, but I suggest that Members may prefer to await the tabling of the White Paper in Legislative Council before deciding what they wish to do.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, I wonder if you would care to be more specific when you say that "a resolution will be moved shortly." Does that mean that it will be moved this month?
CHAIRMAN: - Sir, I have nothing to add to my reply.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: - Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of this Urban Council, you are also a member of the Legislative Council, surely it should be possible for you to give a more definite reply.
CHAIRMAN: - Sir, I regret that I have nothing to add to the answer which I have already given. I think "shortly" means just shortly. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, would it not be proper for the views of Executive Council and Government departments generally, first to be referred to the Urban Council before the matter is tabled in Legislative Council, which should concern itself with the financial implications of the problem. After all is said and done, Mr. Chairman, this Council instigated the setting up of the Working Party; this Council made some comments on the Report of the Working Party, the Working Party being composed, to a great extent, of Members of this Council, and I should have thought that the proper procedure would have been for these views to be referred back to us when we could discuss them in Standing Committee of the Whole Council before the matter is debated in another Council. It seems to me to be hardly fair to the Members of the Urban Council to debate the paper at second-hand.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: - Mr. Chairman, may I have a reply to my supplementary question?
CHAIRMAN: - I regret, Sir, that I cannot give you a reply, other than to repeat that a resolution will be moved shortly.
MR. SALES: - Mr. Chairman, may I have my views conveyed on what I consider to be the proper procedure. I take a very poor view of the fact that this Council has once again been set aside in this matter.
CHAIRMAN: - Sir, I do not think the Council has been set aside, but I will certainly be glad to convey your views to the Colonial Secretary.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: - Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, would you care to explain why you do not think the views of the Council have been set aside?
CHAIRMAN: - I think that the views of the Council were very strongly expressed to the Colonial Secretary and they have received careful consideration.
MR. BERNACCHI: - Mr. Chairman, a point has arisen and I now ask it as a supplementary during the supplementaries asked on this question, that is, whether your appointment to the Legislative Council is as Chairman of the Urban Council or as Director of the Urban Services Department?
CHAIRMAN: - Well, Sir, I can give you that answer: - it is as Director of Urban Services.
MR. SALES: - Then, Mr. Chairman, in the circumstances, could we ask the Chairman of the Urban Council to request the Director of the Urban Services Department (Laughter) that when this debate takes place in Legislative Council, at least my views, whether they be supported by my colleagues or not, should be made known, that I think that the views of Executive Council should have been sent to us for consideration in Standing Committee of the Whole Council before the matter is taken to Legislative Council?
CHAIRMAN: - Sir, your views will certainly be put forward to the Colonial Secretary.
MR. SALES: - Thank you.
(10) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
(a) Is the Chairman aware of the fact that between July 1 to August 17, 1964 106 labourers have "disappeared" or resigned from the Urban Services Department?
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