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The Motion also has a close regard to the future. From time to time various boards or committees are appointed by Government which have a great deal to do with urban matters and that covers nearly all the matters which are of the most important day to day concern to the citizens of this Colony. We want to see the principle accepted by Government that when such boards or committees are appointed, this Urban Council, which after all is the only Council on which the public of Hong Kong are represented by Elected Representatives, is itself represented on such new board or committee. I do not hesitate to say that in my view some of these boards and committees should be boards or committees of this Council itself, as for instance Town Planning. We are the ones in closest touch with the whole position in the Colony, either directly on this Council or indirectly as Members of the Housing Authority. Even as regards traffic itself, merely because there may be some argument for keeping the more militant side of police work directly under the Government through the Commissioner of Police, there is no real reason why the same position should apply to traffic. In most other big towns in the world traffic is directly the concern of the local Council and it ought to be in Hong Kong. So long, however, as these bodies are separate then we must establish adequate liaisons with them—liaisons which can be conducted directly as committee to committee and not through a welter of red tape, which is so often the present case.
I go so far, Mr. Chairman, as to inquire what the object of the official representation on this Council is. I suggest that the purpose and the only excuse for having officials on this Council is that they act as liaisons between their own departments and the Council, in that the Council's work quite often becomes closely interlinked with that of their own departments. If, therefore, Government considers it advisable for liaisons to be maintained between the Council and the heads of certain departments of Government by making those heads Members of the Urban Council, it is only reasonable that this Council should itself maintain a liaison with other boards and committees whose work directly or indirectly affects urban problems including our statutory and other responsibilities. I therefore urge members to support this proposal.
CHAIRMAN :-The Motion having been proposed and seconded I rise to state the official view. The official members will not oppose this motion nor will they comment at this stage on the contents of the Motion or on the arguments advanced in favour
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of it least of all would I attempt to answer Mr. Bernacchi's question why we have officials on the Council. Whilst we will not oppose the Motion, I must say at the outset that I would consider it my duty to oppose any change which would make it possible for the affairs of any of these Boards etc. to be the subject of debate or question in this Council, except perhaps to the extent that traffic matters are now raised by means of questions addressed to the Council's representative on the Traffic Advisory Committee. Mr. Woo, I think, in moving the Motion made a similar point. On this understanding the officials will vote for the motion. If it is passed the necessary request will be transmitted to the Colonial Secretary and the Government's reply will be communicated to members in due course.
DR. P. F. Woo:-My immediate reaction to Mr. P. C. Woo's motion is that he probably thinks that since the Urban Council already has a foothold in the Traffic Advisory Committee, there is no reason why we should not get involved in all the other Government Committees and Boards as well.
As the Urban Council is the only forum where an elected member under the present franchise can air his views, I sympathize with Mr. Woo's view—but only up to a certain point. Mr. Woo has named in his Motion a minimum of eleven Committees and Boards in which he thinks the Urban Council ought to be represented. I should have no objection to supporting this motion on the express understanding that it should be indicated to the Government that the Urban Council does not intend to interfere with the work of such Committees and Boards and that the additional responsibility would not be carried out at the expense of the already heavy work of the Council.
Of the eleven questions tabled at today's meeting, three are addressed to the Council's representative on the Traffic Advisory Board. If we had liaison with eleven more Government Committees or Boards, does it not follow that we would have to listen in future Council meetings to a long procession of questions on matters indirectly or not at all related to the work of the Urban Council? I say, sir, that whatever the eventual decision of this Council might be, let us not forget that the existing work which has already been entrusted to this Council is tremendous indeed : we do have great responsibility in maintaining and controlling the
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The Motion also has a close regard to the future. From time to time various boards or committees are appointed by Government which have a great deal to do with urban matters and that covers nearly all the matters which are of the most important day to day concern to the citizens of this Colony. We want to see the principle accepted by Government that when such boards or com- mittees are appointed, this Urban Council, which after all is the only Council on which the public of Hong Kong are represented by Elected Representatives, is itself represented on such new board or committee. I do not hesitate to say that in my view some of these boards and committees should be boards or com- mittees of this Council itself, as for instance Town Planning. We are the ones in closest touch with the whole position in the Colony, either directly on this Council or indirectly as Members of the Housing Authority. Even as regards traffic itself, merely because there may be some argument for keeping the more militant side of police work directly under the Government through the Commissioner of Police, there is no real reason why the same position should apply to traffic. In most other big towns in the world traffic is directly the concern of the local Council and it ought to be in Hong Kong, So long, however, as these bodies are separate then we must establish adequate liaisons with them— liaisons which can be conducted directly as committee to committee and not through a welter of red tape, which is so often the present case. I go so far, Mr. Chairman, as to inquire what the object of the official representation on this Council is. I suggest that the purpose and the only excuse for having officials on this Council is that they act as liaisons between their own departments and the Council, in that the Council's work quite often becomes closely interlinked with that of their own departments. If, therefore, Government considers it advisable for liaisons to be maintained between the Council and the heads of certain departments of Government by making those heads Members of the Urban Council, it is only reasonable that this Council should itself main- tain a liaison with other boards and committees whose work directly or indirectly affects urban problems including our statutory and other responsibilities. I therefore urge members to support this proposal.
CHAIRMAN :-The Motion having been proposed and seconded I rise to state the official view. The official members will not oppose this motion nor will they comment at this stage on the contents of the Motion or on the arguments advanced in favour
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of it least of all would I attempt to answer Mr. Bernacchi's question why we have officials on the Council. Whilst we will not oppose the Motion, I must say at the outset that I would con- sider it my duty to oppose any change which would make it possible for the affairs of any of these Boards etc. to be the subject of debate or question in this Council, except perhaps to the extent that traffic matters are now raised by means of questions addressed to the Council's representative on the Traffic Advisory Committee. Mr. Woo, I think, in moving the Motion made a similar point. On this understanding the officials will vote for the motion. If it is passed the necessary request will be transmitted to the Colonial Secretary and the Government's reply will be communicated to members in due course.
DR. P. F. Woo:-My immediate reaction to Mr. P. C. Woo's motion is that he probably thinks that since the Urban Council already has a foothold in the Traffic Advisory Committee, there is no reason why we should not get involved in all the other Government Committees and Boards as well.
As the Urban Council is the only forum where an elected member under the present franchise can air his views, I sympathize with Mr. Woo's view-but only up to a certain point. Mr. Woo has named in his Motion a minimum of eleven Com- mittees and Boards in which he thinks the Urban Council ought to be represented. I should have no objection to supporting this motion on the express understanding that it should be indicated to the Government that the Urban Council does not intend to interfere with the work of such Committees and Boards and that the additional responsibility would not be carried out at the expense of the already heavy work of the Council.
Of the eleven questions tabled at today's meeting, three are addressed to the Council's representative on the Traffic Advisory Board. If we had liaison with eleven more Government Com- mittees or Boards, does it not follow that we would have to listen in future Council meetings to a long procession of questions on matters indirectly or not at all related to the work of the Urban Council? I say, sir, that whatever the eventual decision of this Council might be, let us not forget that the existing work which has already been entrusted to this Council is tremendous indeed : we do have great responsibility in maintaining and controlling the
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