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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHAN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I appreciate very much Mr. BERNACCHI's short answer. Would Mr. BERNACCHI care to give us a longer answer, perhaps in giving us some details about this policy and what is the role played by our honorary advisers and experts?
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-The role played by our honorary advisers and experts is to advise us on acquisitions and to advise us generally on questions that expert advice is appreciated on.
The Urban Council does not have to accept the advice of the experts, but their advice is always given very great weight.
MR. CHAN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, there has been some rumours in town very recently concerning our recent acquisitions. Would the Chairman of the Museum and Art Gallery Select Committee care to make a statement this afternoon or in the near future time?
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-I would prefer to make a statement, if necessary, at some later date because the matter is coming up before the Museum and Art Gallery Select Committee tomorrow morning. The rumours that you referred to are, I think, two letters purporting to come from members of the public although there is, in some quarters, a suspicion that the information contained therein is of such a confidential nature as to have been acquired from perhaps confidential papers. But the matter, as I say, is coming before the Select Committee tomorrow morning and I would rather make a fuller statement, if necessary, later.
MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW (in English):-Mr. Chairman, can this Council be informed how far should the Select Committee act on the advice of the expert advisers and how far it should ignore such advice?
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-If Mr. CHOW had listened to my previous answer, surely it gives the answer to his question. The Council is not bound to act on the advice of the advisers, but gives full weight to it and, in practice, gives it very great consideration.
(2) Miss Ko SIU-WAH asked the following question (in Cantonese):
Could the Council be informed of all local and overseas training programmes for staff of the Urban Services Department which are at present taking place or are proposed?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
Appendix A
Mr. Chairman, Miss Ko has raised an important question on staff training, local and overseas, and in view of the length and complexity of the answer which we have tried to make as comprehensive as possible, I would suggest, with the Council's permission, that I table this for reference and study. I would add that a comprehensive paper on staff training is in course of preparation for the Administration Select Committee and in view of the interest and importance of the subject, I would request that a copy of that paper also be sent to all Members of the Council. In tabling this answer, I would ask any Member of the Council who has views, comments or suggestions on this important subject, to submit them to the Administration Select Committee in due course.
Miss Ko (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, may I congratulate the Select Committees for all the things they have done and I feel that the work on staff training of the Urban Services Department is being improved and we are happy.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-Is this a question?
Miss Ko (in English):-Just to thank you.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-Oh! I see, thank you. (Laughter)
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Miss Ko started by saying "may I congratulate". (Laughter)
(3) MR. TSIN SAI-NIN asked the following question (in Cantonese):—
I would like to know whether there is a procedure of issuing final warning before starting demolition of hawker stalls. During the removal of hawker stalls by Urban Services Department, all goods are not allowed to be taken back immediately. I would like to know who will take the responsibility for the damages or losses.
MR. HENRY H. L. HU, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—
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