HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, my motion, as amended, referred it to the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee for consideration and for implementation if practicable. Why is it that voluntary factoring of multi-storey buildings affects the implementation of a motion that the Urban Services Department be empowered to enter multi-storey buildings?
CHAIRMAN:-I had hoped not to take up too much time with this question this afternoon when we are principally concerned with the Annual Conventional Debate. Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, if he requires to communicate with the Registered Owners and Tenants Association, might perhaps find some ammunition in the March Hansard of 1966, where my predecessor, Mr. KINGHORN, has a printed page on the subject I may not appear to be answering, Mr. BERNACCHI, but I am coming to it--he said "members of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee were recently told of a proposed scheme for voluntary management of sub-divided buildings, and proposals made by that Select Committee were forwarded to Government which is at present giving this matter very careful consideration. It would be inappropriate, in my opinion to introduce legislation to provide for a Government cleansing service for private buildings at the very time that it is intended to encourage owner occupiers of such buildings to put a scheme of voluntary management into operation. I do not think I need to expand at length upon the effects that such legislation if enacted would have in nullifying efforts to introduce a voluntary management scheme".
MR. BERNACCHI:-That I think was on an earlier motion, similar but not the same, and the later motion was for implementation if practicable. My question was, I am sorry to labour it because I appreciate that the Annual Conventional Debate follows, why is it that the implementation of the motion "be empowered to enter multi-storey buildings and to clean communal parts of buildings" be delayed by any bill providing for the voluntary factoring of multi-storey buildings?
CHAIRMAN: First, Sir, these remarks by Mr. KINGHORN referred to the second debate. The first motion concerned whether to enter and carry out cleansing work, and the second was the same, but with the addition "and to collect charges therefor". Secondly, the only answer I can give to your question, Sir, is that the Select Committee, having considered a departmental paper on the subject, decided that they had better wait until they knew more about a voluntary scheme.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, can this matter be referred to the Standing Committee?
CHAIRMAN:-I would prefer to refer it first to the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, which has not seen the subject for over a year and has a new Chairman. If the Chairman wishes it to go to the Standing Committee after that, I have no objection.
MR. BERNACCHI:-That is perfectly agreeable to me.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, may I say as Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, I am delighted for it to come to the Committee first. But may I also say, why would Mr. CHEONG-LEEN want ammunition? I hope he is not going to shoot anybody. (Laughter). May I also please, with your permission, enquire if I am correct in understanding that the Secretary for Chinese Affairs in the meantime has been making arrangements in these multi-storey buildings, trying to get tenants together to carry out this voluntary arrangement, and that when one gets a question in one's ward regarding this that the correct procedure is to refer it to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs?
CHAIRMAN: The two things are going on in parallel, and I think the Secretary for Chinese Affairs was originally ahead with his persuasions to form voluntary associations; but matters have moved to a stage now where it is seen best to have legislation concerning these voluntary associations.
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, could you answer the second bit? Right now, while we are waiting, what is the correct procedure with these cases if one is approached? I pointed out I do not like having ammunition, I do not want to shoot anybody. I would like to be able to tell them what they can do. Is it correct right now to refer them to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs?
SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS: Mr. Chairman, I do not think we have a commitment to undertake this job at all, but we shall try our best to educate the people in Hong Kong to help themselves, and offer such advice as might help to further their cause. I do not undertake to accept the responsibility for dealing with every case.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, in view of that reply, may I ask you to have a further paper submitted to the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee from the Secretary for Chinese Affairs to replace the paper that was put before us by the previous Secretary for Chinese Affairs, Mr. McDOUALL?
SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS:-Mr. Chairman, I shall try my best to help the Council's Committee on this matter.
CHAIRMAN: Mr. Tsui, does that mean you will study the paper to see whether it needs revising and bringing up-to-date?
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