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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (In English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, I would now call the meeting to order. It is 4 o'clock. I would like to welcome as our special guest Mr. David ALEXANDER, the Director of Urban Services. He will not be answering your questions or supplementary questions this afternoon. (Laughter).
Before we proceed with the business of today's meeting, I know you will want me to congratulate Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN, our Vice-Chairman, on his appointment to the Legislative Council (Applause) and also Mr. Kenneth T. C. Lo and Mr. H. M. G. FORSGATE on their temporary appointment to the Legislative Council (Applause).
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 10th April, 1973 were confirmed.
## STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (In English):-Since the Urban Council has been re-constituted and is now on its own, all will agree that it is in the public interest that a proper start be made. In consequence, I have reviewed our practices and procedures so that they may be adapted to the new circumstances.
I have always attached the greatest importance to our select committees, even more so now that direct responsibility devolves on them to ensure that their respective assignments are carried out adequately to best public advantage. For this reason, I have suggested that certain practices be introduced which have long been tried out and found eminently suited to our way of working. It is necessary to exercise close control over implementation of policies and decisions and to ensure that committee projects and programmes are carried out in the way intended by the Council. In other words, nothing should be overlooked or forgotten so that no worthwhile proposal is lost by default, so to speak.
(Mr. Henry H. L. HU arrived at this point.)
Each year the Council adopts a Statement of Aims. Evidently, it is not enough to do so. Far more important, the aims must be achieved, at least as far as it is practicable to do so. Thus, I have asked our Select Committees to examine their respective targets in detail so as to relate them to our resources in terms of both money and manpower. Their practicability has to be clearly established just as it is essential to determine the priority to be given to their attainment.
I said at the inauguration last month that much could be done in our select committees with drive and imagination. Inevitably, some will succeed more than others, perhaps because of varying scope and different circumstances. Nevertheless, I would like to see all make good progress within their terms of reference. You can rest assured that I will do all I can to assist you as much as possible in this endeavour. To this end, I have read all your committee papers and attended all committee meetings, numbering twelve in all since the Council met in mid April. It has been a very stimulating experience to see so much thought and action on the part of the select committees all working very earnestly in their respective spheres of responsibility. I will try to continue attending such meetings as far as possible. But, there are other aspects of Council work to be done and responsibility to be discharged. They will also require my attention. Therefore, a shift of emphasis may be necessary in time to come. Be that as it may, I am encouraged by the thought that the Chairmen of our Select Committees, whom you have so carefully selected, will be Council's pacemakers in fulfilling our aims in the service of the community.
## PAPERS
The following papers were laid on the table:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of April, 1973.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st January, 1973 to 31st March, 1973.
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu (In English): Mr. Chairman, as the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee, I would like to express the wish and determination of the Select Committee to solve the hawker problem. The following measures will be taken:-
First, the Committee will draw up a plan based on the present available finance and manpower to deal with this problem.
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