588
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. WATSON: --Mr. Chairman, if there is no one else going to speak, I would like to end by saying that I think you have said your piece very nicely and I am not going to quarrel with any of it. I am happy to accept your assurance that in future the Estimates Select Committee will be allowed to discuss with a representative of the Establishment Branch any proposed cuts before they go to the Establishment Sub-Committee. I think to make assurance doubly assured, I shall try very hard to get myself on the Establishment Sub-Committee before next year. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:-The motion before the Council has been proposed by Mr. WATSON and seconded by Dr. LEE.
The question was put.
The motion was carried, with 14 for and 6 against.
MR. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, on a point of order and procedure, this Council has a right to know. Are the Official Members voting from their conscience or voting under Government orders?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I regret that I am not prepared to make any statement on that.
FAREWELL TO THE HONOURABLE K. A. WATSON, O.B.E. DEPARTURE ON LEAVE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT.
CHAIRMAN:-Before we adjourn there are two further matters. Members are aware, I think, that this is the last public meeting to be attended by Mr. WATSON as a member of this Council. Mr. WATSON was first appointed on 25th April, 1957 and served what appears to have been an apprenticeship of six months, until October 1957. He actually stood in for Colonel CLAGUE during that period. He was appointed again on 1st April, 1958 and has served as a member since then, a total of 71 years.
During that time he has earned our highest regard for his sound judgment, the steadiness and strength of his views, of which we have had a particularly good example this afternoon, (Laughter) and his loyalty to the Council, to which he has cheerfully given up so much of his time. He has, I know, done much to strengthen the good relations and mutual respect among all Members of the Council. I am sure that you will join me in thanking Mr. WATSON sincerely for his excellent work for the Council, and wishing him continued success in his public service.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
589
This also is the last meeting at which we will have the pleasure of Mr. BARTY'S company, as he is proceeding on vacation leave shortly. Mr. BARTY has been on this Council since December 1963 and I know that Members will wish me to express to him our appreciation of his services and help to the Council, and to wish him and Mrs. BARTY a pleasant holiday. Mr. BARTY is being succeeded in the post of Commissioner for Resettlement by Mr. J. T. WAKEFIELD.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the Unofficial Members, may I join you in your remarks. Mr. BARTY, throughout his time as Commissioner for Resettlement, has been most helpful and co-operative with the Unofficial Members of this Council and we wish him and Mrs. BARTY all happiness on their well-deserved leave. (Applause).
Mr. WATSON has been amongst us for a number of years now, and with his motion to-day he has proved himself, as always, to be a keen defender of this Council's rights and privileges in its endeavours to render service to the citizens of Hong Kong. Although we wish Ken well on the Legislative Council and, of course, no man who has to earn his living, can be on the Legislative Council and Urban Council together for any length of time, nevertheless, with all apologies to Ken I do hope that in future Government will not regard the Urban Council as a stepping stone to the Legislative Council. They are both Councils essential to Hong Kong's well-being, and Mr. WATSON during his time on the Urban Council has rendered very good service both in the Council itself and on the Housing Authority. His disappearance will be a blow to us all.
With this last dig at a man who can take and give with the utmost goodwill and wit, we wish him "Joy Kin"* and good hunting. (Laughter) (Applause).
MR. WATSON:-Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, ending any association is a painful business and this one, I think, perhaps more than usual, because it is in many ways unique. We have round this table so many different personalities and viewpoints and apart from the very genuine concern for the community, the main thing that we have in common is perhaps verbosity. (Laughter). I am going to miss the meetings very much; the verbal duels between Sonny and Hilton, (Laughter) Wilfred and his markets, (Laughter) Raymond and his monorails, Ellen and family planning-though this is perhaps outside the terms of reference of the Urban Council, but what good Councillor has ever let that stop him? (Laughter). Now one of the things I am going to miss very much is witnessing a refreshed and invigorated Alison Bell joining forces with our Elsie in speaking up for the poor and the downtrodden.
* (meaning "Good-bye”).