HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MRS. E. ELLIOTT, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARY SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
This question asks whether this Council can give consideration to instituting a "film library"-as part of the public library organization-with films of a documentary nature being shown on request to groups of students.
I would like to thank Mr. RAFEEK for this suggestion which will be put to the Library Select Committee for consideration.
(3) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
(a) Whether or not a ward councillor is permitted to enquire from another Department concerning a ward case?
(b) Whether Urban Council Ward Councillors have any "status" in dealing with Government departments?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
Before answering this question it may be helpful, particularly to newer Members, if I were to recall once again that Government approved the introduction of the Urban Council Ward System on the understanding that the scheme would be confined within the scope of the Urban Council's existing statutory powers. This limitation was accepted, although reluctantly, by the Standing Committee of this Council for a trial period of six months. However, within weeks of the introduction of the system, Government recognized that members of the public would bring problems to ward offices which were not confined to matters within the scope of the Council, and that it would be necessary to introduce arrangements for Ward Councillors to be able to refer such cases to the appropriate department. Heads of departments were, therefore, informed by the Secretariat that on receipt of complaints or requests from Urban Councillors on matters outside the scope of the Council, they should acknowledge the receipt of the complaint (or request) and inform the Councillor concerned that appropriate action would be taken; or reply direct to the complainant, at the same time sending a copy of the reply to the Urban Councillor under a complimentary slip or covering letter as appropriate. Members were informed of Government's action in this respect.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The answer to part (a) of the question is, therefore, that Urban Councillors are permitted to enquire with the Urban Services Department and Resettlement Department into cases which fall within the Council's jurisdiction, and are also permitted to refer cases to other departments where they can expect appropriate action to be taken.
The answer to part (b) of the question is that Ward Councillors in dealing with matters within their own jurisdiction (i.e. in dealing with U.S.D. and R.D.) have the status of members of the Urban Council which is the statutory authority for Parts IV & V of the Resettlement Ordinance and of which the U.S.D. is the executive arm in the urban areas. In their relationship in dealing with other Departments on matters outside their jurisdiction, they are still Urban Councillors for whom Government has made the special arrangements which I have already explained.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I would like, if you will allow me, to make one clarification and ask one question. The clarification is, I would like to make it clear that I have no complaints against Government departments which, generally speaking, answer very promptly. I said "generally speaking”, there are some slow ones, but I did have a problem with the Traffic Police who refused to give information to the wife of a victim of a traffic accident, and when she came to me they refused to give me any information on the grounds that I was a private person investigating. I would be very glad, therefore, if you would send a copy of this answer to Mr. GODBER of Traffic Department, because he was the one who did it.
CHAIRMAN-I shall do this.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Thank you.
(4) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
Have the Kwun Tong Factory owners occupying additional space been informed of the Council's decision concerning their tenancy? If not, why is it necessary to keep them waiting so long?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:
All the operators of 60 undertakings in the Kwun Tong Resettlement Factory Area who held special temporary tenancies on month to month terms for additional units since 1967-68 were each served separate letters on 31st
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