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ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now 2.30 and I would like to resume the Debate which started on Tuesday, 14th January, 1975.
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, it appears that this Debate has become, on the whole, an occasion for reviewing Council activities--though I hope that we will not give up our established right to speak on all community affairs. As Chairman of Administration Select Committee, I will naturally concentrate my attention on events in this area, with limited comment on other matters of current public interest.
1.
Administration
1974 has been a year of particular achievement in Urban Council administration.
(a) The Council Secretariat
Firstly, Members will agree that the Council Secretariat is now functioning effectively despite the ever-increasing demands which we are placing on our staff. For this we are indebted to Mr. J. A. M. TINSON who, since his return to the office of Secretary, Urban Council last June, has drawn from his extensive experience to render invaluable service.
The Council's desire to make greater in-depth study into Urban Council and Urban Services affairs, and particularly into the areas of finance and administration, has created a startling increase in the work-load of the Secretariat. This can be illustrated by the following figures:
Number of: 72-73 73-74 74-75 Select Committees 8 13 13 Sub-committees 16 34 129 Meetings held 269 300 758 Papers produced 166 305 1,268 Hours in committee 380 1,800 (est.)In the same period, the Secretariat staff has been increased by only 1 Assistant Secretary, a Clerk and a Typist and, today, the whole burden is borne by the Secretary, a Deputy Secretary and 4 Assistant Secretaries supported by 7 Clerks and 5 Stenographers. Frankly, I feel that there has been an excessive proliferation of Sub-committees, and that some streamlining could usefully be introduced. I would ask that the Council look carefully at its Committee structure for 1975-76 as this must be agreed soon so that the SUC and Administration Select Committee can ensure a Secretariat organization adequate to the demands of the Council.
On your behalf I would like to express our appreciation to all of the Council Secretariat for their good work; and might I also include our Interpreters who have settled quickly into their job, with remarkable success, despite the peculiarities of some of the spoken brands of Cantonese and some unusual English accents.
(b) Council accommodation
I have mentioned my disappointment at the lack of progress in providing a Council Chamber properly equipped for our purposes and for the accommodation of the public and the press. At last year's Debate, with draft layout plans already prepared, I asked Government to act "with something greater than its usual despatch" so that our new premises could be in use by 1975. Alas for poor McKinsey, the powers-that-be are still contemplating the prospects, as they have been for something like 18 years.
The scheme endorsed by the Council is for the construction of our new Council Chamber and offices at the N.E. corner of the City Hall Complex, and I understand that this was approved by the Town Planning Board some time ago. The Urban Council is now in urgent need of new accommodation, and, indeed, we may have to curtail further expansion of our Secretariat until this is provided. I ask that the shilly-shallying now cease, and that authority for construction of a new Council Chamber be issued forthwith. The courtesy of a prompt decision would be greatly appreciated by the Council.
(c) USD reorganization
The Urban Services Department with a staff, now, of 18,000 was restructured in November 1973 as you are aware, into geographical divisions covering 3 regions of Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. Urban Services Officers now administer 10 Districts corresponding to those of the City District Offices. Because of the heavy concentration of population and services in Kowloon, it was found necessary, in October 1974, to sub-divide the Kowloon region into Kowloon East and Kowloon West.
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