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ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Before taking the first item on to-day's Agenda, I would like to congratulate Mr. BARON on his appointment to act as Secretary for Chinese Affairs. One effect of this appointment, unfortunately, is to reduce the voting strength of the official side by one (Laughter) but at least Mr. BARON can speak with double-barrelled force. (Laughter)
MINUTES.
The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th July were confirmed.
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 July 1965.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st April, 1965 to 30th June, 1965.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st April, 1965 to 30th June, 1965.
(4) Report on "Keep Your District Clean” Campaign, Yau Ma Tei District.
(5) Report of the Ad Hoc Sub-Committee on Survey of New Territories Bathing Beaches.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, I would like to congratulate the Ad Hoc Committee on the thoroughness of their report and express the hope that the recommendations under paragraphs 3 and 4 of the report will be carried out. Whilst on my feet I would also like to congratulate the Commissioner for Resettlement on the excellent report that has been laid on the table vis à vis his Department.
DR. LEE: Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee I welcome this opportunity to speak on the report on "Keep Your District Clean" Campaign, Yau Ma Tei District. I am pleased that you have tabled this because there are, of course, contributors to a certain Chinese paper complaining of the fact that as soon as the word sanitary has been removed from the terminology of this Council's name, we have paid less attention to the hygiene aspect of the Council. I think this is totally untrue and I am sure you will agree with me that members have gone into this question more thoroughly than before; so much so, that campaigns are now run on a district basis and councillors now appear even before T.V. to expand our health campaign. To prove my point I would like to lay this paper which I clipped from the "Tin Tin Yat Po", which was published on as late as 24th June, and with this translation for your information. We all have a perfect image of our Council's work, but I think that we can improve that image if we can set up the Ward system as soon as possible. The paper as produced by the Ad Hoc Sub-Committee on this question was submitted to this Council as long as a month ago and this is the second time it has been carried over until another meeting could be convened, but as soon as we get this Ward system going, I am sure the public image of this Council will be improved. Sir, I hope you will expedite efforts in having this placed on the Council's next agenda and have it passed, so that we can put it forward to Government because after all the Ward system motion was passed some months ago and it is not the fault of the Ad Hoc Sub-Committee in not doing their job. Not only the elected side is represented but the appointed side and also the official side. I think all three sides have an equal share in its representation and have submitted this recommendation. I think it is only fair to say that we should give it a trial so that if we find that it does not work as we'd like it to work, we can by all means alter it. But our main object of the Ward system is for the people to call upon the representatives and the representatives do represent this Council and would like to serve the public. With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I welcome your report on the Yau Ma Tei Campaign.
MR. SALES: ---Sir, let me identify myself under Standing Orders. I am speaking as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee in connection with the 5th paper which you have laid before the Council which is the work of an Ad Hoc Sub-Committee set up by the Urban Amenities Select Committee. Sir, I suspect that the senior unofficial member, Mr. BERNACCHI, was also referring to this paper earlier on. Sir, in the circumstances, may I very respectfully, through you, draw his attention to the fact that he was completely out of order. (Laughter) Not being the Chairman of the relative Select Committee he could raise any matter relating to this report only by a substantive motion, so with these remarks, Sir, may I suggest that in the future elected members show more respect for Standing Orders and also that you do not attempt to increase your voting power now that it has been increased by Mr. BARON'S promotion, by currying favour with elected members and tolerating any breach of Standing Orders at all. With these preliminary remarks, Sir, can I say that the Urban Amenities Select Committee is very gratified with the work done by this Ad Hoc Sub-Committee. It is an excellent report. We are
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