1969

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CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.

As members are probably aware, Mr. John WHITEHEAD, the Principal Amenities Officer, died on Saturday night and is being cremated this afternoon. Mr. WHITEHEAD has been with the Department since 1965. He was a quiet, unassuming and good man, who was dedicated to his profession and who had done much during his few years with us to help beautify Hong Kong. I am sure that all members will wish me to convey to his family our deepest sympathy.

Before proceeding with the agenda, I would like to congratulate Mr. BERNACCHI, in his absence, and Mr. Hu on their re-election to the Council. I would also like to welcome our new Unofficial Members, Mrs. SYMONS, who has been appointed to take the place of Mrs. Li, Mr. Raymond KAN, Mr. Peter CHAN and Mr. Henry WONG, who are taking their elected seats for the first time this afternoon.

I am very pleased to see from the motion which I shall be moving later at this meeting, concerning the composition of Select Committees, that all these new members intend to play an active part in the Council's affairs. Despite the views of certain people, the Council does have a very important function to perform, as I have no doubt new members will soon find out. As always, I hope that they will find their work with us rewarding and stimulating, and I express to all of them our very best wishes for a long and happy association with us.

I also intended to welcome our two new Official Members this afternoon, Mr. ROBSON and Mr. BISHOP, but only Mr. ROBSON is with us. Mr. ROBSON who succeeds Mr. WRIGHT, is no stranger to us, having twice deputized for Mr. WRIGHT in 1964 and 1966, and also contributed greatly to the work of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee in his capacity as Director of Engineering Development. Unfortunately, I learned only after lunch that Mr. BISHOP, who has taken over from Mr. ASERAPPA as Commissioner for Resettlement whilst Mr. ASERAPPA is on six weeks' leave, is, on doctor's orders, unable to be with us and sends his sincere apologies. He too is no stranger to most of us, particularly those Members who serve on the Resettlement Policy and Management Select Committees. I bid them both—Mr. ROBSON and Mr. BISHOP—welcome. In Mr. BISHOP's absence, I shall answer the various questions which are due for reply by him this afternoon; I trust that members will bear with me with regard to supplementary questions. (Applause).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 4th March, 1969, were confirmed.

(Mr. B. A. BERNACCHI arrived at this point).

MR. A. de O. SALES: --Mr. Chairman, before you proceed to the second item of the agenda, may I have your permission to support your remarks of welcome to the new Members of the Council, and, in particular, I would like to welcome back our two Members who have been re-elected. I did not wish to say so before Mr. BERNACCHI's late arrival, but I do so now with great pleasure, and I express the hope that, in the future, the newly re-elected Members of the Urban Council will bear in mind that the meeting starts at 4 p.m. (Laughter).

THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:

(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of March, 1969.

(2) Statement of Progress for 1968-69.

MR. A. de O. SALES: -Sir, it is a convention that when the Statement of Progress is laid on the table Unofficial Members of the Council who may wish to do so may speak on their respective assignments. Consequently, I would like to emphasize this afternoon, in relation to the report which has been made of the work of the City Hall, that in paragraph No. 48, the statement is made that the present usage of the City Hall reflects in reality the maximum possible use of these facilities. For this reason, Sir, I would not like to miss the opportunity to impress once more upon the Government the need to put up a Civic Centre in Kowloon with all the facilities which are so greatly in demand by the public, and I would very much like you to convey that remark, Sir, to the Colonial Secretariat, so that measures may be initiated even now to put into effect the wishes of this Council for a Civic Centre to be made available to the people of Hong Kong.

My second observation is in relation to the report in paragraph 8 about the development of recreational facilities and also the promotion of public entertainment by this Council. The statement is made that the Council is now embarking upon the promotion of indoor facilities for public recreation. Sir, this is a very old ambition of the Council's. It is only now that Government has begun to keep pace with the plans of the Council, not only in the provision of an indoor stadium, but we hope, more particularly, in the construction of many covered game areas which Hong Kong so badly needs. For this reason, Sir, I would urge upon the Government to start soon on the construction of the multi-purpose Sports Hall at Kai Tak East playground.

Thirdly, it is noteworthy that this Council has started a very ambitious programme of public entertainment, and I can only hope that we will be given both monetary and manpower support by the Government.

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