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while ago, the machinery does exist where cases can be reviewed through the assistance of the Social Welfare Department in considering the grounds of compassionate need or of any other condition of need, and I believe that if this is discussed in the Policy Select Committee, particularly with regard to what is the definition of need in the present context, then we will come to some clearer understanding of how many people are in need of resettlement, people who are referred to in this Motion. I therefore would be in favour of our approving this Motion as it is in Council, and not having to approve an amendment that it be referred.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, the old argument, I think the Motion is also a matter of principle. Should those people who are injured and who are killed during the disturbances be given resettlement or not? But in this Motion it is said "if they are in need of resettlement" we should give them resettlement. That is a question of principle, so that if we accept this principle then details could be discussed in Select Committee, either in the Resettlement Policy Select Committee or Management Select Committee, whichever you like, but we should adopt this principle first. So this is the first point which I ask the Appointed Members to support.
Secondly, I would like to point out to my colleagues on the other side of the table that this Council can do no business without their support, because you will see to-day they occupy more seats than the elected members. (Laughter). So, I very strongly urge your support. You know that whenever Mr. SALES proposes any Motion I give it my very strong support.
The third point I would like to make is that if you refer the Motion to a Select Committee you will apply the same thing as Standing Order 10(17)(j). It only refers to a Select Committee, it does not refer to two Select Committees, as Mr. SALES said, the quota must be discussed by joint Select Committees. It cannot be settled by either the Resettlement Policy Committee or the Resettlement Management Committee. Of course, that is only a technical question, but he refers only to a Select Committee. I do not know what Select Committee Mr. Lo referred to.
MR. LO: May I rise on a point of clarification? I definitely said the Resettlement Policy Select Committee.
MR. HU: ---Then the quota question cannot be discussed there, because if there is a quota still left it will be a matter for the Management Select Committee. Anyway, (Laughter), this Motion does not refer to the question of quota, it concerns a principle. So that if you support this principle, I urge you to vote for it. I think this is a very good Motion indeed, so at least let the Motion be carried and let the details be discussed in various Select Committees.
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MR. WANG:--Mr. Chairman, I am afraid I have to support the Motion to refer the matter to the Select Committee, not just because the proposer is sitting on this side of the bench, nor do I take advantage of the majority of Nominated Members. On the other hand, by referring, we shall then be discussing the matter at another meeting where the majority of Members present might be elected. I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear to Mr. BERNACCHI, in particular, that when I support a Motion to refer a matter to the Standing Committee or a Select Committee, I have no intention of letting the matter drop. Indeed, I think it is a pity that these matters are not brought up through the proper procedure in Select Committee where the case can be fully discussed, and a good presentation of the case can be made where we can count on a bigger chance of success.
DR. Woo:-Mr. Chairman, I did not intend to speak, but I think this is a very good Motion, and we should all support it. I do not see the reason for taking the matter a step further by referring it to a Select Committee. I do not like to refer anything to any particular Committee, as I said just a few minutes ago. I think we should decide here, this is a matter of principle which we ought to support. I will not support the amending Motion.
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT: -Mr. Chairman, I do not think that any Member of this Council disagrees with the sentiments and the motives which have prompted the proposer and seconder of the second Motion on the Order Paper. I certainly do not. At the same time, I have found myself a little confused by the discussion which has taken place on this Motion. Even if the decision is not in favour of the amending Motion to refer this matter to the Resettlement Policy Select Committee, I have a feeling that, as the Executive Head of the Resettlement Department, I would be compelled to ask for a discussion in the Resettlement Policy Select Committee to clarify the details and, in fact, to get a sufficiently clear mandate in order to put the case to Government for an Executive Council decision which, as Mr. BERNACCHI pointed out, is necessary if a new priority category for resettlement is to be introduced. My feeling, therefore, is to abstain from voting on the amendment, but I must make it clear to Members in advance that even if the amendment were not carried, I feel that discussion of the details, as other members have said, in the Resettlement Policy Select Committee would be extremely useful and might be an easier forum in which to arrive at a sorting out of the details which must necessarily arise. Unfortunately, the Chairman of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee is not here to-day, but I feel sure that she, in the light of what Dr. Woo said earlier this afternoon, would be only too happy to report back the Policy Select Committee's conclusions to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council.
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