HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 7th November, 1961, were confirmed.
PAPER.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:-
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of November 1961.
QUESTIONS.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:—
"In view of the impending completion of the City Hall, and of the fact that over 99% of the inhabitants in Hong Kong are Chinese, will the Chairman explain why the City Hall Library Sub-Committee was not informed earlier of the delay in the recruitment of an Assistant Librarian whose duty will be in charge of the Chinese Section of the Library and in the purchase of Chinese books?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"Action on the filling of posts is not normally referred to Select Committees of this Council or to Sub-Committees, except when their advice and help is required. In this case the Assistant Librarian post was created with effect from 1st April this year, and applications for appointment to it were invited on 1st August, that is, as soon as it was possible to absorb additional professional staff. Candidates in Hong Kong were interviewed very soon afterwards.
The aim has been to make the best possible selection in a field where qualified and experienced candidates are uncommon. Applications for the post were received from Singapore, where a special interviewing board had to be set up. It is because the reports of this interviewing board were awaited that a delay has occurred.
The City Hall Library Sub-Committee was recently advised of the possible need to make ad hoc arrangements for the work in question, but this was, in fact, a preliminary early warning in case there was further delay in making the appointment. I am happy to say that the reports from Singapore have now been received and studied. A recommendation regarding the selection of a candidate for the post has been made to the Colonial Secretariat and the Public Services Commission and the vacancy should be filled shortly."
DR. LEE:-Is the Chairman aware that before the resignation of our first Librarian, Mrs. DAVID, I was informed that there would be no difficulty in recruiting an Assistant Librarian for the Chinese section of the City Hall Library?
CHAIRMAN:-I was not aware of that.
DR. LEE:-I was so informed.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-
"Will the Chairman state what steps are being taken to ensure that the Chinese Section of the Library will be appropriately stocked to forestall possible public criticism in this matter prior to the City Hall being officially opened?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"The number of Chinese books already obtained for the City Hall Library is greater than the number of English-language books. Since these Chinese books are mainly old works, attention is being given to the purchase of up-to-date technical and reference books. Quotations are being obtained for the purchase of several thousand such Chinese books.
Although many of the technical and commercial reference books which have been acquired for the library are in English, they will be of value to Chinese readers. A number of the English books in the library deal with Chinese culture and affairs, and will also be of value to bi-lingual members of the Chinese community.
It is the aim, as you know, of the Library Sub-Committee of the City Hall (Policy) Select Committee to provide a full service for all residents of Hong Kong, and the Librarian is apprised of the needs of the population. Once the staff problems have been resolved, the speed of acquisition of Chinese books will be limited mainly by the need for careful selection and preparation for public use.
I must point out, however, that while the staff is doing all it can to ensure the adequate development of the Chinese section of the City Hall Library, even the most strenuous efforts will not produce a collection of books sufficient to fill either the English or the Chinese sections of the library by next March."
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164
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
165
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 7th November,
1961, were confirmed.
PAPER.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:-
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services
Department for the month of November 1961.
QUESTIONS.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:—
"In view of the impending completion of the City Hall, and of the fact that over 99% of the inhabitants in Hong Kong are Chinese, will the Chairman explain why the City Hall Library Sub-Committee was not informed earlier of the delay in the recruitment of an Assistant Librarian whose duty will be in charge of the Chinese Section of the Library and in the purchase of Chinese books?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"Action on the filling of posts is not normally referred to Select Committees of this Council or to Sub-Committees, except when their advice and help is required. In this case the Assistant Librarian post was created with effect from 1st April this year, and applications for appointment to it were invited on 1st August, that is, as soon as it was possible to absorb additional professional staff. Candidates in Hong Kong were interviewed very soon afterwards.
The aim has been to make the best possible selection in a field where qualified and experienced candidates are uncom- mon. Applications for the post were received from Singapore, where a special interviewing board had to be set up. It is because the reports of this interviewing board were awaited that a delay has occurred.
The City Hall Library Sub-Committee was recently advised of the possible need to make ad hoc arrangements for the work in question, but this was, in fact, a preliminary early warning in case there was further delay in making the appointment. I am happy to say that the reports from Singapore have now been received and studied. A recom. mendation regarding the selection of a candidate for the
post has been made to the Colonial Secretariat and the Public Services Commission and the vacancy should be filled shortly."
DR. LEE:-Is the Chairman aware that before the resignation of our first Librarian, Mrs. DAVID, I was informed that there would be no difficulty in recruiting an Assistant Librarian for the Chinese section of the City Hall Library?
CHAIRMAN:-I was not aware of that.
DR. LEE:-I was so informed.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-
"Will the Chairman state what steps are being taken to ensure that the Chinese Section of the Library will be appro- priately stocked to forestall possible public criticism in this matter prior to the City Hall being officially opened?”
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"The number of Chinese books already obtained for the City Hall Library is greater than the number of English- language books. Since these Chinese books are mainly old works, attention is being given to the purchase of up-to-date technical and reference books. Quotations are being obtained for the purchase of several thousand such Chinese books.
Although many of the technical and commercial reference books which have been acquired for the library are in English, they will be of value to Chinese readers. A number of the English books in the library deal with Chinese culture and affairs, and will also be of value to bi-lingual members of the Chinese community.
It is the aim, as you know, of the Library Sub-Committee of the City Hall (Policy) Select Committee to provide a full service for all residents of Hong Kong, and the Librarian is apprised of the needs of the population. Once the staff problems have been resolved, the speed of acquisition of Chinese books will be limited mainly by the need for careful selection and preparation for public use.
I must point out, however, that while the staff is doing all it can to ensure the adequate development of the Chinese section of the City Hall Library, even the most strenuous efforts will not produce a collection of books sufficient to fill either the English or the Chinese sections of the library by next March."
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