1972

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. SALES:—Mr. Chairman, might I add that it is our understanding that we would not pay any rent to the Government except for these central offices, and that is why we are trying to move out to the City Hall as quickly as we can.

MR. LO TAK-SHING: —Mr. Chairman, it says in sub-para. (iv) of the answer “the restrictions recently imposed do not constitute a hindrance" May I ask a supplementary relating to that paragraph? It is hinted this, that whether you will agree to consider the effect of the restrictions and report in due course to the Standing Committee so that the matter can be discussed and analysed as to whether or not the view of the Department is correct, namely, whether or not the restrictions imposed do not constitute a hindrance to the development of football.

CHAIRMAN:—As Mr. SALES has pointed out, we have to reach a solution which is suitable to all parties concerned—and including the grounds themselves. Certainly, once the Select Committee has considered this matter, we will be happy to inform the Standing Committee of the position.

MR. LO TAK-SHING : —You mean the matter will merely be that of handing an information paper to the Standing Committee?

CHAIRMAN: —No doubt they will issue many information papers, and, just as doubtless, many of them will be raised in Standing Committee, even though they are information papers.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:—Mr. Chairman, have these specific complaints referred to by Mr. Peter NG in his first supplementary a little while ago been brought to the attention, either in writing or otherwise, of the Recreation Select Committee?

MR. SALES: —Mr. Chairman, the matter is in the hands of the Urban Services Department, and I would like to table this sheaf of papers which include information on the subject and statistics and other very valuable particulars. Your letter of 7th September, addressed to the Chairman of the Hong Kong Football Association, as far as I know, has not yet attracted a reply, and you have stated the position to them and it is up to the Football Association to make representations to the Director of Urban Services, after which the matter would be brought to the full attention of the Select Committee for a final decision.

(Dr. J. K. CRAIG left the meeting at this point.)

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REPORT BY CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES SELECT COMMITTEE ON A CHANGE OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE SELECT COMMITTEE

MR. BERNACCHI:—Mr. Chairman, in accordance with the proviso to the resolution adopted by this Council at the meeting on 4th April, I wish to report that Mr. A. de O. SALES and Mr. P. K. NG have been accepted as Members of the Finance and General Purposes Select Committee. Both Members are Chairman of extremely important Select Committees, and my Select Committee will no doubt benefit from their experience and drive, and I should add, and where Mr. SALES can make known the views as expressed to-day to that Select Committee.

MOTIONS

(1) DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved:—

"RESOLVED under By-law 10(1) of the Public Cemeteries By-laws, that the Director of Urban Services be empowered to exhume and remove the human remains of persons from the graves specified in the following public cemeteries and to dispose of the same by burial, cremation or otherwise as the Director may think fit.

Cemetery Section Year of Burial (i) Wo Hop Shek Cemetery, Fanling, New Territories. All graves in Sections A and B and including those in private lots. 1966 (ii) Sandy Ridge Cemetery, Lo Wu, New Territories. (a) Section T. (b) Roman Catholic Private Lot. 1966 1966 (iii) Sandy Ridge (Urn) Cemetery, Lo Wu, New Territories. All graves in the Government Urn Section. 1970 (iv) Prison Cemetery, Stanley. All graves in the coffin section. 1966

He said: The purpose of the motion is to empower the Director of Urban Services to carry out a routine exhumation programme for 1973 in order to provide space for future burials in the cemeteries concerned. If the motion is passed, notice of the intended exhumation will be published in the usual way in the Government Gazette and in the Chinese press, so that any person who wishes to arrange for private exhumation, may do so.

MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE:—Mr. Chairman, I beg to second.

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