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ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and gentlemen, it's just 4 o'clock and I will call this meeting to order. Before we proceed with the business of today's meeting, I know Council will want me to place on record our deep regret at the passing of Mr. Dhun RUTTONJEE.
Mr. RUTTONJEE served with great distinction in this Council from 1950 to 1957. We have since expressed our condolences to his family and today we render tribute to his memory by placing on record our appreciation of his service and regret at his passing.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 9th July, 1974 were confirmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-A progressive review of policies, projects, activities and responsibilities has been made since the Council was re-constituted and became directly responsible for its own administration and finances on 1st April 1973. Indeed, in close consultation with the Urban Services Department, our select committees have reviewed previous policies, assessed the results of their programmes, examined the cost of their functions, studied the impact of their activities, and considered new ways to improve their services. Of course, such an exercise, by its very nature, can never come to an end.
It is not enough to despatch business as it arises and tackle problems as they develop; on the contrary, the initiative must be taken all the time. We must always search for new ways of serving the people within our jurisdiction and to put them into effect if practicable. Our Council must be ever ready to improve and innovate in the service of the community. Constant progress must be our aim.
There are frustrations, to be sure. And, there may be road-blocks put in our way, even unwittingly. But, we must probe for openings; when any is found, it must be used boldly as the means for a break-through to expand our services.
The Council, in its present form, is a new experience for Hong Kong. Hence, it must be expected that there would be a period of settling in with adjustments made in our relations with the Government generally and also with individual staff of other departments with whom we work. The Urban Services Department has been re-organized while having also to adjust to a new way of life and relationship with the Council. Our powers and functions are laid down in the Urban Council Ordinance; our working life is regulated by the Administrative Arrangements contracted with the Government. As must be expected in new situations, there are always questions raised on their application. Then, there is the need for scrupulously fair interpretation of the provisions. In the process, precedents are created in consequence of virtually all actions. So common sense must prevail and all decisions and measures must be taken with tact and tolerance.
We ourselves are governed in our relations with one another by Standing Orders in the formal sense. In practice, in every situation, we must be fair and reasonable. Indeed, we must help each other, particularly in our select committee work, and never take undue advantage of a difficult situation to score off our colleagues who are also genuinely working for the good of the people from their standpoint though possibly different from our own.
Let us play the game by the rules. It is only by fair play will we be able to move forward together in harmony, maintain the dignity and integrity of the Council, perform our functions justly and discharge our responsibilities with humanity.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
Reports to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of July, 1974.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I would, with your permission, like to point out, under Item 5-Ward Office Consultations, that although only 119 cases, which is less than a quarter of the whole, fell within the aegis of the Urban Council itself, nevertheless, the majority, 514, concerned housing problems, and that presumably is because we are directly connected with the Housing Authority on which there are 8 Urban Councillors appointed as such by the Governor. Although it is a separate body, I do not consider that it is entirely separate from the Council in practice.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Thank you, Mr. BERNACCHI.
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