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it is a somewhat discouraging document. May I suggest that it should be sent to you first, Mr. Cheong-leen, and that later we might discuss whether it is in fact a suitable matter to pursue, at this time, in the committee concerned.
Mr. Cheong-LEEN :- I am always most happy to co-operate with the Chairman.
MR. A de O. SALES asked the following question
(a) Is the Chairman now able to give this Council a preliminary report on the results achieved at Shamshuipo Market by the measures for the control of hawkers which he mentioned at the last meeting?
(b) How soon does the Chairman plan to introduce the same measures at other markets?"
THE CHAIRMAN tabled the following written reply
"(a) Yes Sir. An account of this operation appears in the monthly report for January which I have just tabled. A more detailed report was distributed to members of the Hawkers (Policy) Select Committee on 21st January.
(b) Four of these operations have now been carried out, and this is about all we can do with existing Staff. I have laid before Council today a Report dealing with the hawker situation generally and setting out in some detail the staff and organization required for an extension of these new methods to the urban area generally. Even if the report is accepted at an early date the recruitment and training of staff will take some considerable time; I would prefer not to guess how long it would take to have an effective organization in being."
MR. SALES :- I thank you for your answers, Mr. Chairman. As a part of your answer to Question No. 3(a) is a reference to your January Report is it not logical to assume, Mr. Chairman, that I can ask supplementary questions based on paragraphs No. 16, 17 and 18 of your January Report.
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CHAIRMAN :— That is a rather hypothetical question. I suggest that you might try, Mr. Sales.
MR. SALES :— On a point of order, that is not a hypothetical question. Part of your answer is a reference to those paragraphs: ipso facto those paragraphs are a part of your answer and therefore in accordance with Standing Orders I can put supplementary questions based on them.
CHAIRMAN :— No, sir, I do not agree. Your question is: is the Chairman now able to present a report. And the answer is: a report has been presented.
MR. SALES :— Sir, since that report is your answer to my question, ergo that report is subject to supplementary questioning.
CHAIRMAN :— But with the deepest respect, the matter is perfectly straightforward. The member asks whether a report can be prepared and presented, and the answer is that a report has already been presented. I am afraid I cannot agree that supplementary questions can properly be concerned with the subject matter of the report. It might equally be represented that the monthly report in question refers to the Hawker Report, also tabled today, and therefore that anything in that report can also be the subject of supplementary questions; my reply must be no, and I so rule.
MR. SALES :— Mr. Chairman, since I am just as co-operative as Mr. Cheong-Leen I abide by your decision, but I do not agree with it.
MOTIONS.
MR. B. A. Bernacchi moved :—
"That in the light of experience gained since the opening of the Council's Car Park on Central Reclamation, the fact that it is seldom full, and of complaints that have since been voiced by members of the public at the present rates, the relevant Select Committee be requested to reconsider the present charges for such Car Park. And the Committee be further requested to consider whether in the light of experience gained any further steps can be taken to reduce to a minimum inconvenience to members of the public in the matter of collection of parking fees and general organization of the parking facilities."
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it is a somewhat discouraging document. May I suggest that it should be sent to you first, Mr. Cheong-leen, and that later we might discuss whether it is in fact a suitable matter to pursue, at this time, in the committee concerned.
Mr. Cheong-LEEN :-1 am always most happy to co-operate with the Chairman.
MR. A de O. SALES asked the following question
(a) Is the Chairman now able to give this Council a preliminary report on the results achieved at Shamshuipo Market by the measures for the control of hawkers which he mentioned at the last meeting?
(b)
How soon does the Chairman plan to introduce the
same measures at other markets?"
THE CHAIRMAN tabled the following written reply
"(a) Yes Sir. An account of this operation appears in the monthly report for January which I have just tabled. A more detailed report was distributed to members of the Hawkers (Policy) Select Committee on 21st January.
(b) Four of these operations have now been carried out, and this is about all we can do with existing Staff. I have laid before Council today a Report dealing with the hawker situation generally and setting out in some detail the staff and organiza- tion required for an extension of these new methods to the urban area generally. Even if the report is accepted at an early date the recruit- ment and training of staff will take some con- siderable time; I would prefer not to guess how long it would take to have an effective organiza- tion in being."
MR. SALES :-I thank you for your answers, Mr. Chairman. As a part of your answer to Question No. 3(a) is a reference to your January Report is it not logical to assume, Mr. Chairman, that I can ask supplementary questions based on paragraphs No. 16, 17 and 18 of your January Report.
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CHAIRMAN :—That is a rather hypothetical question. I sug- gest that you might try, Mr. Sales.
MR. SALES :---On a point of order, that is not a hypothetical question. Part of your answer is a reference to those paragraphs: ipso facto those paragraphs are a part of your answer and there- fore in accordance with Standing Orders I can put supplementary questions based on them.
CHAIRMAN --No, sir, I do not agree. Your question is: is the Chairman now able to present a report. And the answer is: a report has been presented.
MR. SALES-Sir, since that report is your answer to my question, ergo that report is subject to supplementary questioning. CHAIRMAN :—But with the deepest respect, the matter is perfectly straightforward. The member asks whether a report can be prepared and presented, and the answer is that a report has already been presented. I am afraid I cannot agree that supple- mentary questions can properly be concerned with the subject matter of the report. It might equally be represented that the monthly report in question refers to the Hawker Report, also tabled today, and therefore that anything in that report can also be the subject of supplementary questions; my reply must be no, and I so rule.
MR. SALES-Mr. Chairman, since I am just as co-operative as Mr. Cheong-Leen I abide by your decision, but I do not agree with it.
MOTIONS.
MR. B. A. Bernacchi moved :—
"That in the light of experience gained since the opening of the Council's Car Park on Central Reclamation, the fact that it is seldom full, and of complaints that have since been voiced by members of the public at the present rates, the relevant Select Committee be requested to reconsider the present charges for such Car Park. And the Committee be further requested to consider whether in the light of experience gained any further steps can be taken to reduce to a minimum inconvenience to members of the public in the matter of collection of parking fees and general organization of the parking facilities."
Page 95 of 115
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