Page 12 of 150
8
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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 1962/63 as set out in paragraph 97 of the Statement.
He said: I rise to move the Motion standing in my name as Item 4(3) on the Order Paper.
Following the usual practice at the Annual Conventional Debate of this Council, I will say little to-day. How much I and other official members of the Council will have to say at the next meeting will depend, of course, upon the number, range and penetrating power of the criticisms which may be aimed at the governmental activities with which we are concerned. We have braced ourselves for the occasion, and I can assure you, with sincerity, that we look forward, as usual, with great interest to the speeches of our friends, the Unofficial Members. On their conclusion, it will be moved that the debate be adjourned to the next meeting when we will endeavour to reply.
I beg to move.
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN seconded.
MR. A. de O. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I say right at the start that we, the Nominated Members support your motion jointly and severally. By custom, and notwithstanding your implied threat to reply in kind, we are debating it this afternoon although we accept the Statement of Progress and Policy and endorse at the same time the Council's main aims for 1962/3. Of course, we would like to do so on the understanding that these are essentially minimum targets; they do not in a way go far enough to meet what our collective experience suggests that this Council ought to do.
Mr. Chairman, I know the Nominated Members would also like me to say without reservation that we are really gratified that the Unofficial Members work so well together. The team-work of the Elected and the Nominated Members has become, if I may say so, the hallmark of this Council. May we long continue to pull together if the public interest is to be well and truly served.
We are also pleased that you have made a serious and genuine effort to work with us just as your predecessors did in their time, each one naturally in his own way. The Council's Secretary and his Deputy are also deserving of praise for the efficient way they have discharged their functions as have likewise your Department's Officers and Staff.
Public Co-operation
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
9
Recent experience has brought out the need for this Council to think seriously about the importance of maintaining good public relations. However, there is little that we can do unless Government pays more heed to our problems. May I suggest, Mr. Chairman, that you make representations to Government on our behalf. The alternative may well have serious repercussions, for if the matter is neglected, the peace of the community may conceivably be in jeopardy. Already, friction has occurred and resistance has been met; consequently, steps must be taken to avoid a recurrence.
We must gain the sympathy and the co-operation of the public for this Council's work if our aims are to be achieved. There is great need to explain our plans and procedures to the public as well as to identify our measures with the public interest.
In fact, a serious effort ought to be made all-round in Hong Kong to assess public attitudes intelligently and to win the co-operation of the public for such measures as Government may deem fit to introduce. Hong Kong can ill afford any failure through disregard for or neglect of public relations, whether local or overseas. It ought also to be realized, Mr. Chairman, that in local affairs the margin of error, if any, must be dangerously small.
Town Planning
If land is as short as we are told that it is, then, Mr. Chairman, it stands to reason that every care should be given to planning to best advantage whatever land becomes available. It follows too that the public should be heard in a proper manner and not only when there are objections to such plans as may be published, which this Council has been told categorically is the only way in which representations can be made. If so, Mr. Chairman, it suggests itself that the Town Planning Ordinance, in particular article 6, should be amended to allow for suggestions to be made which might conceivably improve the efforts of the Town Planning Board, and not only call for representations when the public disapprove altogether or of any part of the plans that they put forward. When objections are lodged or, as I prefer, suggestions made, the Town Planning Board should be required to publish their reasons for not accepting them, should such be the case. Were this eminently fair procedure adopted, the public interest would be safeguarded in the public mind, which is important. For, it is simply not good enough to marshal the best technical opinion without adequate public knowledge of what recommendations are being made and the reasons for them. The Board should welcome my suggestion if they are confident, as they must evidently be, that their advice is the best in the circumstances.
Page 12 of 150
150
Page 12 of 150
8
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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 1962/63 as set out in paragraph 97 of the Statement.
He said: I rise to move the Motion standing in my name as Item 4(3) on the Order Paper.
Following the usual practice at the Annual Conventional Debate of this Council, I will say little to-day. How much I and other official members of the Council will have to say at the next meeting will depend, of course, upon the number, range and penetrating power of the criticisms which may be aimed at the governmental activities with which we are concerned. We have braced ourselves for the occasion, and I can assure you, with sincerity, that we look forward, as usual, with great interest to the speeches of our friends, the Unofficial Mem- bers. On their conclusion, it will be moved that the debate be ad- journed to the next meeting when we will endeavour to reply.
I beg to move.
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN seconded.
MR. A. de O. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I say right at the start that we, the Nominated Members support your motion jointly and severally. By custom, and notwithstanding your implied threat to reply in kind, we are debating it this afternoon although we accept the State- ment of Progress and Policy and endorse at the same time the Council's main aims for 1962/3. Of course, we would like to do so on the understanding that these are essentially minimum targets; they do not in a way go far enough to meet what our collective experience suggests that this Council ought to do.
Mr. Chairman, I know the Nominated Members would also like me to say without reservation that we are really gratified that the Unofficial Members work so well together. The team-work of the Elected and the Nominated Members has become, if I may say so, the hallmark of this Council. May we long continue to pull together if the public interest is to be well and truly served.
We are also pleased that you have made a serious and genuine effort to work with us just as your predecessors did in their time, each one naturally in his own way. The Council's Secretary and his Deputy are also deserving of praise for the efficient way they have discharged their functions as have likewise your Department's Officers and Staff.
Public Co-operation
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
9
Recent experience has brought out the need for this Council to think seriously about the importance of maintaining good public rela- tions. However, there is little that we can do unless Government pays more heed to our problems. May I suggest, Mr. Chairman, that you make representations to Government on our behalf. The alternative may well have serious repercussions, for if the matter is neglected, the peace of the community may conceivably be in jeopardy. Already, friction has occurred and resistance has been met; consequently, steps must be taken to avoid a recurrence.
We must gain the sympathy and the co-operation of the public for this Council's work if our aims are to be achieved. There is great need to explain our plans and procedures to the public as well as to identify our measures with the public interest.
In fact, a serious effort ought to be made all-round in Hong Kong to assess public attitudes intelligently and to win the co-operation of the public for such measures as Government may deem fit to introduce. Hong Kong can ill afford any failure through disregard for or neglect of public relations, whether local or overseas. It ought also to be realized, Mr. Chairman, that in local affairs the margin of error, if any, must be dangerously small.
Town Planning
If land is as short as we are told that it is, then, Mr. Chairman, it stands to reason that every care should be given to planning to best advantage whatever land becomes available. It follows too that the public should be heard in a proper manner and not only when there are objections to such plans as may be published, which this Council has been told categorically is the only way in which representations can be made. If so, Mr. Chairman, it suggests itself that the Town Planning Ordinance, in particular article 6, should be amended to allow for suggestions to be made which might conceivably improve the efforts of the Town Planning Board, and not only call for representations when the public disapprove altogether or of any part of the plans that they put forward. When objections are lodged or, as I prefer, suggestions made, the Town Planning Board should be required to publish their reasons for not accepting them, should such be the case. Were this eminently fair procedure adopted, the public interest would be safeguarded in the public mind, which is important. For, it is simply not good enough to marshal the best technical opinion without adequate public knowledge of what recommendations are being made and the reasons for them. The Board should welcome my suggestion if they are confident, as they must evidently be, that their advice is the best in the circumstances.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.