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CHAIRMAN:-That is correct.
DR. BELL:--And therefore we were represented officially on that committee?
CHAIRMAN:-That is correct.
DR. BELL: Now we have no official representation whatsoever on any committee concerned with traffic or transport in this Colony?
CHAIRMAN:-I am not sure, Dr. BELL, but the Council has no official representative on the Transport Advisory Committee.
DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, I am sorry, but would you not say therefore that the corollary is that we have no official representative therefore on any of the Transport or Traffic Advisory Committees in this Colony?
CHAIRMAN: -I do not know of any other committees.
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, therefore would you not say that a step has been taken backwards rather than forwards with regard to the progress of this Council?
CHAIRMAN: --Dr. BELL, you are asking for an expression of opinion which I am forbidden to give. (Laughter).
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, not really—a statement of fact rather than opinion. After all, we had at one stage a representative on traffic, and now we have none.
CHAIRMAN:-Dr. BELL, as I understand it, it is simply that traffic, transport, and other aspects of these matters-roads, are so complex that the Governor has thought it best to form since last November an entirely new committee.
DR. BELL:---Mr. Chairman, in the old days on this Council it was possible to ask questions on traffic and on transport, but mainly on traffic, because members of this Council, having been elected by mem- bers of the public, were frequently approached to ask questions on these particular aspects of the Colony's everyday activity. Would you permit questions to be asked in a similar way?
CHAIRMAN: ----That would depend on whether it was the majority wish of the Council,
DR. BELL:-Could this question therefore be referred to the Stand- ing Committee of the Whole Council for consideration, that questions on traffic should be allowed, because now that the Transport Advisory Committee has been appointed it seems that there is no public forum
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where questions can be asked in public regarding traffic matters, and if I may make a clarification, Mr. Chairman, it seems that when questions are asked publicly action is taken very swiftly to correct the position where it is in error; but when questions are not asked in public, very little is done to correct such errors.
CHAIRMAN: The answer is, to the first part of the supplementary question, I would be prepared to have this referred to the Standing Committee.
The best answer I can give to the second part of the question is that in the Notes for Guidance of the Traffic Advisory Committee it is enjoined to receive and consider complaints and suggestions from the public.
DR. BELL:Mr. Chairman, may I ask if that is in public or in private?
CHAIRMAN: -I'm afraid I do not know.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-With your permission, Mr. Chairman, may I say by way of clarification to Dr. BELL's question, that the practice has been that when any questions concerning traffic matters have to do with the well-being of residents in Resettlement Estates, these questions were always allowed on the Agenda, and I see no reason why this could not be continued. But, Mr. Chairman, if you would be prepared to be just a little more flexible, I think the unofficial members can do even better. We would be prepared to ask any question on public transport or traffic matters, provided you co-operate with us. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: -Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, I do not think I would be a very good Chairman if I allowed complete over-lapping between the func- tions of the Transport Advisory Committee and this Council.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Well, assuming then, Mr. Chairman, that by being a good Chairman you will have to be slightly less flexible than we hoped, for the future guidance of members of this Council, would you be prepared to carry on with the practice that has been establish- ed, that when questions on traffic matters which have to do with the well-being of Resettlement Estates are asked, these questions could be put on the Agenda of this Council?
CHAIRMAN: -I will think about it Sir, when a case arises.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Sir, may I request that in doing so you do refer to what has happened at Council meetings during the past few years?
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