HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
would not be able to function as well, if it were handed over to an electorate largely composed of people drawn from that race. Sir, I would like to mention that no matter how difficult the situation may be, no matter how many mistakes the new public bodies are likely to make, yet as Mr. Li Yiu-bor has aptly pointed out, it is likely to be composed of dedicated citizens who are more in keeping with the aspirations of the man in the street. That is the point that has to be made. And, the lesson of history must be learned here as elsewhere.
Sir, may I say that we are not dealing in abstract terms. We are dealing with human beings. And, it is in keeping with the dignity of man that he should have a say in how he should be governed.
I take pride particularly in the Foreword because it crystallizes the sentiment of the Committee, and, I believe, the sentiments also of the Unofficial Members of this Council, when I endeavoured to capture their sense. Whether you agree with the contents of the Report or not, you cannot deny the fact that in the Foreword there are time-honoured truths-whatever race or creed we may have as our yardstick.
Sir, I have exercised my right of reply and I hope that I have clarified the broad principles. This is no more than an outline for study. Let it be examined carefully. Let it be accepted or rejected. But all I ask is that it be considered fairly in the interest of the people of Hong Kong. (Applause).
The question was put.
The motion was carried, with 16 votes for, 1 against and five abstentions.
(2) MR. LI YIU-BOR, Chairman of the Resettlement Management Select Committee, moved the following motion:-
RESOLVED under section 60(1), as clarified by section 60(4) of the Urban Council Ordinance, 1955, that under the powers conferred upon it by the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, 1960, the Urban Council does hereby delegate the powers contained in subsection (1) of section 23 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, 1960 to the additional public officers scheduled below:---- Resettlement in respect of the areas within the Assistants boundaries of resettlement estates.
MR. LI:-Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name as item 4(2) on the agenda.
The purpose of this motion has already been explained in a paper sent to Members, but I would like to refer to it again very briefly.
Page 168 of 279
310
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
311
In October 1961 the Council delegated the powers contained in subsection (1) of section 23 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, 1960 to Assistant Resettlement Officers and Area Officers of the Resettlement Department. The purpose of delegating these powers to these officers was to allow them to take action against any person who contravenes any of the provisions of subsection (1), (2) or (3) of section 3, or subsection (1) of section 4 of the Summary Offences Ordinance. These provisions relate to nuisances such as dumping of rubbish, indiscriminate spitting, etc. This was thought necessary to assist the one Health Inspector who was seconded to resettlement estates to deal with the abatement of sanitary nuisances in resettlement estates at the time. There are now no Health Inspectors seconded to resettlement estates and it becomes more important that Resettlement Department staff should be given the authority to take action when they see people committing these sanitary nuisances.
A new grade, to be entitled Resettlement Assistant, has now been created in the Resettlement Department. This grade will replace Area Officers as existing Area Officers become eligible for regrading as Resettlement Assistants. It is therefore necessary to extend to the new grade of Resettlement Assistants the same authority as is extended to Area Officers. With these few words Mr. Chairman I beg to move.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, Mr. Li has given all of us a very clear explanation for this motion with very correct legal references. When the paper, which Mr. Li refers to having been sent to members, was discussed at a joint meeting of the Resettlement Policy and Management Select Committees last week, the Commissioner for Resettlement explained that in fact the only thing new about the present motion is a new grade of officers known as Resettlement Assistants who are to be appointed with the present Area Officers, being gradually regraded as Resettlement Assistants and it is necessary to specifically mention that these gentlemen have the same powers under their new name that they have had since 1961 to deal with sanitary nuisances-he added that it really was a case of "a rose by any other name".
He failed however to complete this quotation and at that I am not surprised because the present sanitary state of the Resettlement areas, particularly the older estates leaves very much to be desired-in fact for the most part it is appalling, drainage channels all blocked with rubbish and filled with slimy smelly water and rubbish all over the place in the streets, courtyards and open spaces, indiscriminately discarded by residents and others and by hawkers, licensed and unlicensed, who have invaded these areas. In fact I understand that the ghastly stink which hangs around the Kai Tak airport area is due to the blockage of drains caused by the improper dumping of rubbish as far away as Tung Tau and Wong Tai Sin Estates and that serious and expensive action will have to be taken in consequence. So I would express the hope, Mr.
Page 169 of 279
312