1960 — Page 12

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. SALES:—I am particularly delighted that the amended com- position of the Air Conditioning Select Committee has been introduced to this Council this afternoon. I pointed out in private that the Urban Council must at all times subscribe to the Standing Orders which govern this Council. I would be very reluctant at any time to vote in favour of the suspension of Standing Orders in any procedural matter when that matter can be well taken care of by amending our motion and so I am delighted to see that this has been done because I consider that the suspension of Standing Orders is a serious matter which should not be adopted or used at any time unless there is no other recourse.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I do not want to be long winded today, so I simply support the motion.

The question was put.

The motion was carried.

THE CHAIRMAN moved-

"That this Council accept the Statement of Progress and Policy tabled today, and in particular endorse the summary of the Council's main aims for the year 1960/61 as set out in the final paragraph of the Statement."

He said:

The first meeting of the Council Year in April provides a unique opportunity for general discussion of a large number of topics relating to this Council and I can assure you that I find such a review most interesting and stimulating. I shall therefore confine myself to these brief words at this stage but, in company with my official col- leagues, will endeavour at the May Meeting, to which this debate will be adjourned, to answer any criticisms and put forward any explanations for shortcomings on the official side.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I beg to move.

THE VICE-CHAIRMAN seconded.

DR. P. F. Woo:-Mr. Chairman, I rise to congratulate you on all the achievements given in the Statement of Progress and Policy tabled this afternoon. In recent years there has been an all-round improve- ment in the Urban Services Department. More parks and playgrounds have been built, more public latrines and bath-houses. The beaches are cleaner, more markets are re-provisioned, and hawkers are better con- trolled. The work of the Council has been successfully streamlined by the reduction of the number of Select Committees from 39 to 17, a further reduction of which being proposed for 1960. This Council has multiple responsibilities. From a mere Sanitary Board it has developed into a Council of semi-municipal level as evidenced by the additional

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

responsibilities of the charge of the multi-storeyed Car-park and the management of the City Hall. In fact, by virtue of the size of the Urban Council where there are elected as well as nominated members, more important duties should be given to it and its scope gradually enlarged and extended so that it may reach the municipal level one day. At the moment the public is deeply concerned with the education facilities and medical services in the Colony. Since these affect the well-being of the public no less than sanitary conditions and urban amenities, it would not be unreasonable for the Education Department and Medical Department to be placed under our jurisdiction. The Education Department, as we know, has the function of educating our youths, so that in a broad sense, it is the Department on which the future of our community depends; hence, it should be more closely related to the Urban Council whose work it is to plan for the develop- ment and well-being of the community. As for the Medical Depart- ment, it does not take much thought for Members to realize that this Department which deals with the promotion of health and the elimina- tion of diseases is in fact allied to the Urban Services Department which looks after sanitation with the same intention of contributing to the health of the Colony. Thus I am convinced that if the Medical Depart- ment and Education Department could be included in the scope of our work, it would eventually lead to the development of these two Depart- ments and of the Urban Council as a whole.

While I am on the work and efficiency of the Council I wish to make one observation. It is my experience that when a file comes to me for comment, I have no opportunity of seeing the same file again after I have made my comments and returned it to the Secretary. Naturally a member likes to know what has happened and what action or decision has been taken. In this connexion I must stress the importance of having a permanent Secretary who has the specialized function of looking after all the documents in the Council, especially since this Council has frequent changes of policy from time to time.

This Council has taken the initiative and now plays an important role in Health Education. This is a long-term process, and though the public is on the whole indoctrinated by the "Miss Ping On”, yet success can only be claimed when the significance and its true meaning are well understood. The competition held in the Resettlement Estates is not sufficient for the settlers to know the principle of hygiene and sanitation. Efforts must be made to make them realize the danger of the deplorable insanitary condition now in existence in these Estates. House to house instruction in connexion with the Health Education Campaign should also be given by the Resettlement Department and the campaign itself must be persisted year after year. In addition, no efforts must be spared to continue the "Keep Your City Clean" Campaign.