Page 11 of 110
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(iv) Under section 60(1) of the Urban Council Ordinance, 1955, the power of the Council under section 59 of the Ordinance to change by appointment or removal the personnel of each Select Committee be delegated to that Select Committee:
Provided that each such change shall be reported to the Council at its next meeting.”
He said: I rise to move the motion standing in my name as Item 4(1) on the Order Paper, regarding the constitution, terms of reference and appointment of chairmen of Select Committees for this year.
First, I would like to express my appreciation of the cooperation among unofficial members, which resulted in speedy agreement on the composition of the Select Committees.
There is no change this year in the number of Select Committees which remains at 15. There is, however, a slight change in the title of the Cemeteries, Mortuaries and Crematoria Select Committee, in which the words "funeral parlours" have been substituted for the word "mortuaries". This follows from the making of the Funeral Parlour By-laws, 1960.
An important change this year is that it is proposed to constitute the Select Committees up to the time of the first meeting of the Urban Council in April, 1962. In previous years the constitution was made to the 31st March which meant that from a legal point of view, no committees were in existence from the 1st April to the date of the first Council meeting in that month. Under the new proposal the committees will be able to continue functioning during this period.
I beg to move.
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN seconded.
The question was put.
The motion was carried.
THE CHAIRMAN moved the following motion:
“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 1961/62 as set out in paragraph 88 of the Statement.”
He said: I rise to move the motion standing in my name as Item 4(2) on the Order Paper.
It is customary on this occasion for the Chairman to confine himself to a few remarks. All I will say therefore is that this is my first attendance at an Annual Conventional Debate and I look forward with great interest to the speeches of Unofficial Members. On conclusion of these speeches, it will be moved that the debate be adjourned to the next meeting when the officials will reply to points raised.
I beg to move.
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN seconded.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :- Mr. Chairman, I open the Annual Debate today on behalf of the Coalition the Elected Members of this Council. We stand together on the basis of our memorandum which we presented in London last summer. I now lay on the table a summary of the points in this Memorandum. We are convinced that Hong Kong is heading for trouble with the short-term short-sighted policy at present being adopted by a Government out of touch with Hong Kong's people and a Colonial Office that listens only to the advice of this Government. We shall continue to press for the twin principles of expanding both the work and size of this Council and to obtain a measure of elected representation on the Legislative Council. As regards the future constitution of this Council we hope to table suitable motions in the near future.
I turn then to consider certain aspects of the work of this Council or with which members are otherwise directly concerned.
In my opinion the problem of Housing continues to demand most immediate attention. I endorse the views expressed in the Legislative Council the other day that more drive and energy are necessary in getting on with this problem. Today the unemployment or semi-employment figures of some years ago are greatly reduced. Now at least a man can usually find employment if—and it is a very big if—he can find accommodation somewhere nearby. Wages are not good enough to allow for heavy transport costs on top of the monthly budget nor are the public transport services adequate for the development of purely dormitory towns.
But there is too much messing about. The Commissioner for Resettlement concentrates mainly on clearing squatters from land required by Government for other development. His more general slum clearance duty is in its infancy. The Commissioner for Housing and indeed the Housing Authority is being stifled by red tape and lack of funds and turned into a rather cumbersome Land Investment Company. I would like to see the Commissioner for Housing in charge of the whole problem of Housing; working with this Council and assisted by Select Committees of the Council. Priorities should be determined by him in consultation with us and adequate funds made available. We must build, build, build and stop nattering about it. If properly organized, it should be quite possible to build for 300,000 persons a year. Only with this figure or higher can we get on top of the problem.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
7
Page 11 of 110
Page 11 of 110
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(iv) Under section 60(1) of the Urban Council Ordinance, 1955, the power of the Council under section 59 of the Ordinance to change by appointment or removal the personnel of each Select Committee be delegated to that Select Com- mittee:
Provided that each such change shall be reported to the Council at its next meeting.”
He said: I rise to move the motion standing in my name as Item 4(1) on the Order Paper, regarding the constitution, terms of reference and appointment of chairmen of Select Committees for this year.
First, I would like to express my appreciation of the cooperation among unofficial members, which resulted in speedy agreement on the composition of the Select Committees.
There is no change this year in the number of Select Committees which remains at 15. There is, however, a slight change in the title of the Cemeteries, Mortuaries and Crematoria Select Committee, in which the words "funeral parlours" have been substituted for the word "mor- tuaries". This follows from the making of the Funeral Parlour By-laws, 1960.
An important change this year is that it is proposed to constitute the Select Committees up to the time of the first meeting of the Urban Council in April, 1962. In previous years the constitution was made to the 31st March which meant that from a legal point of view, no committees were in existence from the 1st April to the date of the first Council meeting in that month. Under the new proposal the committees will be able to continue functioning during this period.
I beg to move.
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN seconded.
The question was put.
The motion was carried.
THE CHAIRMAN moved the following motion :
"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 1961/62 as set out in paragraph 88 of the Statement."
He said: I rise to move the motion standing in my name as Item 4(2) on the Order Paper.
It is customary on this occasion for the Chairman to confine him- self to a few remarks. All I will say therefore is that this is my first attendance at an Annual Conventional Debate and I look forward with
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
7
great interest to the speeches of Unofficial Members. On conclusion of these speeches, it will be moved that the debate be adjourned to the next meeting when the officials will reply to points raised.
I beg to move.
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN seconded.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, I open the Annual Debate today on behalf of the Coalition the Elected Members of this Council. We stand together on the basis of our memorandum which we presented in London last summer. I now lay on the table a summary of the points in this Memorandum. We are convinced that Hong Kong is heading for trouble with the short-term short-sighted policy at present being adopted by a Government out of touch with Hong Kong's people and a Colonial Office that listens only to the advice of this Government. We shall continue to press for the twin principles of expanding both the work and size of this Council and to obtain a measure of elected repre- sentation on the Legislative Council. As regards the future constitution of this Council we hope to table suitable motions in the near future.
I turn then to consider certain aspects of the work of this Council
or with which members are otherwise directly concerned.
In my opinion the problem of Housing continues to demand most immediate attention. I endorse the views expressed in the Legislative Council the other day that more drive and energy are necessary in getting on with this problem. Today the unemployment or semi-employment figures of some years ago are greatly reduced. Now at least a man can usually find employment if—and it is a very big if he can find accom- modation somewhere nearby. Wages are not good enough to allow for heavy transport costs on top of the monthly budget nor are the public transport services adequate for the development of purely dormitory
towns.
But there is too much messing about. The Commissioner for Re- settlement concentrates mainly on clearing squatters from land required by Government for other development. His more general slum clearance duty is in its infancy. The Commissioner for Housing and indeed the Housing Authority is being stifled by red tape and lack of funds and turned into a rather cumbersome Land Investment Company. I would like to see the Commissioner for Housing in charge of the whole problem of Housing; working with this Council and assisted by Select Committees of the Council. Priorities should be determined by him in consultation with us and adequate funds made available. We must build, build, build and stop nattering about it. If properly organized, it should be quite possible to build for 300,000 persons a year. Only with this figure or higher can we get on top of the problem.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.