HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
and appointment is subject to the advice of the Public Services Commission. Mr. WONG's point about an examination in ethics will, however, be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary for consideration.
With regard to his proposal that serving Health Inspectors should be thoroughly screened, I can say that their conduct and capabilities are kept under more or less constant scrutiny by their senior officers throughout the year, and that this scrutiny becomes particularly searching once a year when annual confidential reports are being completed. If there are reasonable doubts about an officer's performance of his duties the question of his posting within the department is automatically considered. Let me say also that the system of preparing the annual confidential reports of officers in the department has recently been overhauled and strengthened.
Mr. Wilfred WONG referred also to what he termed "the malpractices of certain inspectors of the Urban Services."
On this point I have little to add to Mr. MORRISON's remarks as Chairman this time last year.
There can be bad eggs in every basket. But I am confident that the great majority of Health Inspectors are honest, loyal and hardworking, and that they deserve full support and encouragement in the performance of their duties. Allegations about the reliability of this grade or other grades, unsupported by facts, are likely to have an unsettling and discouraging effect on the many upright and sincere officers who have not succumbed to corrupt practices. I suggest that it would be more helpful if factual information to justify such allegations could be provided to the department, if necessary in confidence.
Finally, I would like to refer to the services which you have so readily and, in the case of unofficial members, gratuitously rendered to the Government and the people of Hong Kong during the year. You may say that these services are little more than the duties of citizenship, but, speaking as a comparative newcomer to this Council, in my opinion not many people in the Colony know just how much solid work you perform on their behalf, particularly the unspectacular but essential work on select committees. I am glad to be able to thank you for it now.
CHAIRMAN:-The motion for the acceptance of the Statement of Progress and Policy was moved and seconded at the last meeting.
The question was then put.
The motion was carried.
ADJOURNMENT.
CHAIRMAN:-That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 6th June.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS.
Meeting of 6th June, 1961.
PRESENT:
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL,
THE HONOURABLE K. S. KINGHORN THE VICE-CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, DR. P. H. TENG
THE HONOURABLE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS, MR. J. C. McDOUALL
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. THE HONOURABLE A. INGLIS
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. D. W. B. BARON
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT, MR. C. G. M. MORRISON
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, Q.C.
DR. R. H. S. LEE, M.B.E.
MR. CHAN SHU-WOON
DR. A. M. S. BELL
MR. LI YIU-BOR
DR. P. F. WOO
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN
THE HONOURABLE Y. K. KAN, O.B.E.
MR. A. de O. SALES
MR. K. A. WATSON
MR. ERNEST C. WONG
MR. J. L. MARDEN
THE HONOURABLE LI FOOK-SHU
MR. FUNG HON-CHU
MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG
MR. WILSON T. S. WANG
THE SECRETARY, URBAN COUNCIL, MR. T. S. D. WHITLEY
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY, URBAN COUNCIL, MR. H. H. ROSS
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
and appointment is subject to the advice of the Public Services Com- mission. Mr. WONG's point about an examination in ethics will, however, be forwarded to the Colonial Secretary for consideration.
With regard to his proposal that serving Health Inspectors should be thoroughly screened, I can say that their conduct and capabilities are kept under more or less constant scrutiny by their senior officers throughout the year, and that this scrutiny becomes particularly search- ing once a year when annual confidential reports are being completed. If there are reasonable doubts about an officer's performance of his duties the question of his posting within the department is automatically considered. Let me say also that the system of preparing the annual confidential reports of officers in the department has recently been overhauled and strengthened.
Mr. Wilfred WONG referred also to what he termed "the mal- practices of certain inspectors of the Urban Services."
On this point I have little to add to Mr. MORRISON's remarks as Chairman this time last year.
There can be bad eggs in every basket. But I am confident that the great majority of Health Inspectors are honest, loyal and hardworking, and that they deserve full support and encouragement in the performance of their duties. Allegations about the reliability of this grade or other grades, unsupported by facts, are likely to have an unsettling and discouraging effect on the many upright and sincere officers who have not succumbed to corrupt practices. I suggest that it would be more helpful if factual information to justify such allega- tions could be provided to the department, if necessary in confidence.
Finally, I would like to refer to the services which you have so readily and, in the case of unofficial members, gratuitously rendered to the Government and the people of Hong Kong during the year. You may say that these services are little more than the duties of citizen- ship, but, speaking as a comparative newcomer to this Council, in my opinion not many people in the Colony know just how much solid work you perform on their behalf, particularly the unspectacular but essential work on select committees. I am glad to be able to thank you for it
now.
CHAIRMAN:-The motion for the acceptance of the Statement of Progress and Policy was moved and seconded at the last meeting.
The question was then put.
The motion was carried.
ADJOURNMENT.
CHAIRMAN:-That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 6th June.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS.
Meeting of 6th June, 1961.
PRESENT:
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL,
THE HONOURABLE K. S. KINGHORN THE VICE-CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, DR. P. H. TENG
THE HONOURABLE SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS, MR. J. C. McDOUALL
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. THE HONOURABLE A. INGLIS THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. D. W. B. BARON
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT, MR. C. G. M. MORRISON
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, Q.C.
DR. R. H. S. LEE, M.B.E.
MR. CHAN SHU-WOON
DR. A. M. S. BELL
MR. LI YIU-BOR
DR. P. F. WOO
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN
THE HONOURABLE Y. K. KAN, O.B.E.
MR. A. de O. SALES
MR. K. A. WATSON
MR. ERNEST C. WONG
MR. J. L. MARDEN
THE HONOURABLE LI FOOK-SHU
MR. FUNG HON-CHU
MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG
MR. WILSON T. S. WANG
THE SECRETARY, URBAN COUNCIL, MR. T. S. D. WHITLEY
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY, URBAN COUNCIL, MR. H. H. ROSS
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