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Parks and playgrounds are in a somewhat different category. Their provision in the case of major projects, is dependent not only on finance, but also on the availability of suitable areas. This latter point is, in turn, dependent on town planning proposals.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:---Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a supplementary. In the third paragraph of your reply you said that you did not think the practical effect would be worth the effort and you go on to say that the matter is entirely dependent upon the state of the Colony's financial position. Do I understand, Sir, that, before preparing this reply, you had to consult Government in regard to this matter?
CHAIRMAN:-The reply was approved by Government.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--May I ask another supplementary question, Mr. Chairman? Does this mean in effect then that it is not practical due to the present financial policy of Government?
CHAIRMAN:-No, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I understand from this reply, Mr. Chairman, (please correct me if I am wrong), that you say that the matter is entirely dependent upon the state of the Colony's financial position, which might necessitate the deferment of items which had been inserted in the plan for a particular year. I therefore assume that, if this Council should put forward to Government certain programmes for a particular year, then, because of Government's existing financial policy—that is, considering programmes from year to year—it is able at will to move forward, one or two years ahead, any programmes which this Council would wish to have done immediately? (Pause). Mr. CHEONG-LEEN continued:-In which case, Mr. Chairman, may I ask a further supplementary seeing that there is no answer to that one? (Laughter).
MR. WATSON: -Mr. Chairman, in clarification, could I ask Mr. Cheong-Leen to repeat his last question? (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--I am not trying to be an amateur lawyer, Mr. Chairman. To repeat my question: Do I infer from the third portion of your reply that it is not feasible to put forward a 5-year development plan simply because we are only able to put forward our programmes from year to year?
CHAIRMAN:-No, Sir, that is not correct.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Then would you have any objection, Mr. Chairman, to preparing a 5-year programme for those aspects of Urban Services, which you consider can feasibly be prepared for consideration by the relevant Select Committees?
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CHAIRMAN:-May I say, Sir, that the purpose of the third paragraph of my reply is to explain why I do not think we should prepare such a programme.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Which I understand, Sir, from the third paragraph of your reply, is entirely due to the present financial policy of Government?
CHAIRMAN: -May I point out, Sir, that the word "policy" is not mentioned in that paragraph—only the words "financial position".
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-For any particular year?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes.
MR. SALES: ---Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification. Would you ask the Chairman of the Markets Select Committee whether he is or is not aware that that particular Committee has a development plan for virtually all the markets in Hong Kong?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Is that over a period of years, Mr. Chairman, or is it also on a priority basis?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, the question was put through you to the Chairman of the Markets Select Committee, and that happens to be Mr. Cheong-Leen. He should be aware of that fact. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-As I understand it, there is a development programme, but it is not a 5-year development programme and it is entirely on the basis of priority. For that matter, too, Mr. Chairman, there have been certain markets which have been planned to have been built this year, but which have been put forward from year to year by the Public Works Department.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I ask a question through you? Why is it that Mr. Cheong-Leen is so enamoured by the term "5-year" when we all know that the 20-year plan is far more attractive, when it brings to the world: "to each according to his needs". I congratulate Government on having so quickly shifted to the same policy—I refer to the second sentence in the first paragraph of your reply, where it is stated that this is decided according to priority of need. I also believe that "to each according to his needs" should also be our policy.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask through you, a question for Mr. Sales to clarify what he has said just now? Does that mean that he is in favour of a 20-year plan?
MR. SALES: I said so, Mr. Chairman.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -I am not, Mr. Chairman.
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Parks and playgrounds are in a somewhat different cate- gory. Their provision in the case of major projects, is dependent not only on finance, but also on the avail- ability of suitable areas. This latter point is, in turn, dependent on town planning proposals."
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:---Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a supple- mentary. In the third paragraph of your reply you said that you did not think the practical effect would be worth the effort and you go on to say that the matter is entirely dependent upon the state of the Colony's financial position. Do I understand, Sir, that, before pre- paring this reply, you had to consult Government in regard to this matter?
CHAIRMAN:-The reply was approved by Government.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--May I ask another supplementary question, Mr. Chairman? Does this mean in effect then that it is not practical due to the present financial policy of Government?
CHAIRMAN:-No, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I understand from this reply, Mr. Chairman, (please correct me if I am wrong), that you say that the matter is entirely dependent upon the state of the Colony's financial position, which might necessitate the deferment of items which had been inserted in the plan for a particular year. I therefore assume that, if this Council should put forward to Government certain programmes for a particular year, then, because of Government's existing financial policy—that is, considering programmes from year to year-it is able at will to move forward, one or two years ahead, any programmes which this Council would wish to have done immediately? (Pause). Mr. CHEONG-LEEN continued:-In which case, Mr. Chairman, may I ask a further supple- mentary seeing that there is no answer to that one? (Laughter).
MR. WATSON: -Mr. Chairman, in clarification, could I ask Mr. Cheong-Leen to repeat his last question? (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--I am not trying to be an amateur lawyer, Mr. Chairman. To repeat my question: Do I infer from the third portion of your reply that it is not feasible to put forward a 5-year development plan simply because we are only able to put forward our programmes from year to year?
CHAIRMAN:-No, Sir, that is not correct.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Then would you have any objection, Mr. Chairman, to preparing a 5-year programme for those aspects of Urban Services, which you consider can feasibly be prepared for consideration by the relevant Select Committees?
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CHAIRMAN:-May I say, Sir, that the purpose of the third para- graph of my reply is to explain why I do not think we should prepare
such a programme.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Which I understand, Sir, from the third paragraph of your reply, is entirely due to the present financial policy
of Government?
CHAIRMAN: -May I point out, Sir, that the word "policy" is not mentioned in that paragraph-only the words "financial position".
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-For any particular year?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes.
MR. SALES: ---Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification. Would you ask the Chairman of the Markets Select Committee whether he is or is not aware that that particular Committee has a development plan for virtually all the markets in Hong Kong?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Is that over a period of years, Mr. Chairman, or is it also on a priority basis?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, the question was put through you to the Chairman of the Markets Select Committee, and that happens to be Mr. Cheong-Leen. He should be aware of that fact. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-As I understand it, there is a development programme, but it is not a 5-year development programme and it is entirely on the basis of priority. For that matter, too, Mr. Chairman, there have been certain markets which have been planned to have been built this year, but which have been put forward from year to year by the Public Works Department.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I ask a question through you? Why is it that Mr. Cheong-Leen is so enamoured by the term "5-year" when we all know that the 20-year plan is far more attractive, when it brings to the world: "to each according to his needs". I congratulate Government on having so quickly shifted to the same policy--I refer to the second sentence in the first paragraph of your reply, where it is stated that this is decided according to priority of need. I also believe that "to each according to his needs" should also be our policy.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask through you, a question for Mr. Sales to clarify what he has said just now? that mean that he is in favour of a 20-year plan?
MR. SALES: I said so, Mr. Chairman.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -I am not, Mr. Chairman.
Does
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