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work or backing to the voluntary management of sub-divided multi-storey buildings. This Council will be kept in touch with progress and development in this field, and will of course be consulted when its own statutory responsibilities are affected, for example in the very important aspects of this matter which concern public health. Having said this I must add that there are considerable legal and other complexities which have to be dealt with, and I am not able to give any assurance either that the matter will be dealt with in exactly the way indicated or suggested by Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in, nor am I able to say at what date it may be possible to publish firm proposals for public consideration and comment.
Mr. FORSGATE raised the question of the number of licenced bars in the southern part of Kowloon. Opinions similar to those which he expressed have recently been put forward formally to the Board of Licencing Justices both by representatives of the Police Force and also by individuals and by representatives of associations in Kowloon. As a result the Board of Justices has examined the matter and their intention is to make a public statement on this subject in the very near future. Whilst the exact form of the statement has not yet been agreed, it is likely to be to the effect that prospective openers of new bars in this area should not continue to assume that licences will be granted automatically provided that the normal practical conditions are complied with. The Licencing Justices have a good deal of sympathy with the views expressed by Mr. FORSGATE and I know they will bear them fully in mind in dealing with future applications of this kind.
Finally, Sir, I turn to the observations of my Honourable colleague, Mrs. Ellen Li about the preservation of historical landmarks. I fully agree with Mrs. Li that formal measures to preserve buildings and other objects of historical interest are needed. I do not, however, think that such measures should necessarily be incorporated together with measures to preserve the countryside as such or to set aside reservations for the purpose of recreation. Both these objectives are already being pursued separately by the Government and it is likely that proposals in both these fields will shortly be made public.
With these remarks, Sir, I have pleasure in supporting the motion. (Applause).
MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG:--Mr. Chairman, mainly on a point of clarification about my remarks on fire-crackers, I was aiming at the higher cost of commercial advertisements. I would be the last one to aim at the higher cost of marriage. (Laughter).
DR. P. F. Woo:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification. I made a protest on acupuncture at the first Exhibition of the Kaifongs and was told to speak to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. I did not as I could not think why I should. I presumed that the Secretary for Chinese Affairs had something to do with the Kaifong's Exhibition. This might be assumption.
SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS: -Well, Sir, I am afraid I am not familiar with the historical background, and I can only repeat that any question of dictating or giving directions as to what should or should not have been included in this kind of Exhibition, is not a proper part of my duties. If, however, I can assist in bringing the Kaifong organizations together with the appropriate Select Committee of this Council, or its Chairman, or any of its individual member, this is a thing which I would be glad to do. Rather than leave this in any sense of uncertainty, perhaps I could give an undertaking to have a discussion with Dr. P. F. Woo about the general question of liaison which at present seems to be lacking. As regards the other point of clarification, I will bear in mind the possibility of making a distinction between commercial and marital celebrations. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: --Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope you will forgive me if my speech is matter-of-fact, and to some extent superficial. It is inevitable, when so many topics are raised by Members, that they will receive only a brief reference today. But that does not mean that they are forgotten. All matters which lie within the statutory functions of this Council and require action will be examined by my officers and myself in the months ahead. Other matters have been referred to the Colonial Secretary and the heads of departments concerned.
I must not omit to refer to that item of the Statement of Aims for 1967 which, under the heading GENERAL POLICY, reads: "To press more vigorously for the enlargement of the Council's scope in the spirit of the Ad Hoc Committee's Report on the Future Scope and Operation of the Urban Council." It is clear that I and the other Official Members must reserve our position on this particular aim, at the same time as we vote for the motion as a whole.
This gives me the opportunity to refer to the Ad Hoc Committee's Report, which was mentioned by several Members and on which Dr. Woo asked for my frank opinion. I can appreciate the very natural wish of Members to have an early indication of the Government's intentions. I must, however, disappoint you, and emphasize that we cannot expect any decision or views on a matter as important as this at this stage. I would draw Members' attention to the Governor's address to the Legislative Council on the 24th of February this year when, whilst he clearly indicated that the time had come for the existing structure of local administration to be subjected to a critical review, he emphasized the undesirability of adopting any "precipitate or over-ambitious" solution. Moreover, in the outline of his plans for conducting a review, His Excellency pointed out that the plans included the preparation of proposals which might be submitted for considera-
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