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our Select Committee, but they have not been referred up to date, and in fact the squatter shacks have been demolished. Her contention was that they were in existence for a considerably longer time than one year. Where indeed does Mr. WATSON think that squatters can obtain 1,000 or 5,000 dollars from? It is indeed, as I have already said, not a matter of obtaining by one lump payment anything at all, but the corrupt official blackmailing them of their cents day in and day out.
(At this point Mr. WATSON interrupted)
MR. WATSON:-Mr. Chairman, may I rise on a point of clarification? At no time did I say that it would be a genuine squatter who would build the hut and would present a bribe. My whole point is that the people in these illegal structures are not always improvident squatters. I think that as has been borne out in our clearances there are others, impostors, who come in from the town. They are not the sort of squatters that Mr. BERNACCHI is talking about, but are the only ones who are prepared to pay what I consider bribes in order to get guaranteed residence for the rest of their lives at subsidized rates.
(Mr. BERNACCHI then continued): The people that are prepared to pay that rate of bribe to obtain even resettlement accommodation, let alone a squatter's hut, can be counted, in my opinion, on one hand. But my point is and has always been that the majority of squatters who have their premises, their shacks, their squatter huts-if they can be called squatter huts-are the poorest of the poor, and they are the ones who are left to sleep on the streets. I think that I can safely say that to oppose this motion would be to vote against the very principle of humanity.
The question was put.
The motion was carried, with 11 for and 7 against.
FAREWELL TO DR. A. M. S. BELL AND MR. ERNEST C. WONG.
CHAIRMAN:-Before we adjourn, there is one further matter. Today we say farewell with extreme regret to two of our Members--Dr. Alison BELL and Mr. Ernest WONG.
DR. BELL has served on this Council since 1st April, 1956, and she has, and will always enjoy, the unique distinction of being the first Lady Member of the Urban Council. Some people may possibly have been a little sceptical when the Council first opened its ranks to a lady, feeling that as she was in a minority of one, she would be very much outclassed by her male colleagues. Time has proved this to be completely wrong.
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Dr. BELL has demonstrated to us on countless occasions the value of a woman's point of view. Coupled with this we have enjoyed the benefit of her natural ability, common sense, and capacity for hard work. I have no doubt that the public are aware of these attributes, because they showed their confidence in her by re-electing her in March 1959 for a second term.
I know that all Members will join with me in expressing our very real regret at Dr. BELL'S decision not to stand again at the forthcoming Elections, but at the same time we will always be indebted to her for the active and valuable part she has played in furthering the interests of the Council, and for the great amount of her own time that she has so willingly sacrificed on its behalf. In thanking Dr. BELL most sincerely I would like to wish her and her family, good health and every happiness in the future.
Today also is the last meeting at which we will enjoy the company of Mr. Ernest WONG.
MR. WONG has been a Member of the Urban Council since 1st April, 1959, and in this period, has put in a great deal of hard work on behalf of the Council. His sound judgment and business acumen have proved of great value in the work of the Council, and, like Dr. BELL, he too has contributed an important share to the furthering of its interests. It is a matter of regret to us that Mr. WONG also has decided not to stand in the forthcoming Elections, but I feel sure that his talents will find scope in other fields of service in Hong Kong.
In thanking Mr. WONG for his services to the Council, I should also like to wish him and his wife the best of health and fortune in the future.
There are TWO other elected Members whose term of office is expiring, but as they are standing for re-election valedictory remarks would be completely inappropriate. (Laughter). (Applause).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, it is a little difficult for me to hear you at the far end of the table, so may I ask in reference to Dr. BELL whether you said that she stood as a minority of one or as a majority of one?
CHAIRMAN:-A minority of one.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, may we, all the Unofficial Members, be associated with you in your remarks concerning Dr. BELL and Mr. Ernest WONG, who are both Elected Members of this Council and retiring from our company at the end of this month. I am sure that the Gardens Division of the Urban Services Department will have to outdo themselves to embellish this Chamber after Dr. BELL leaves us. Of
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of 150
Page 149 of 150
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our Select Committee, but they have not been referred up to date, and in fact the squatter shacks have been demolished. Her contention was that they were in existence for a considerably longer time than one year. Where indeed does Mr. WATSON think that squatters can obtain 1,000 or 5,000 dollars from? It is indeed, as I have already said, not a matter of obtaining by one lump payment anything at all, but the corrupt official blackmailing them of their cents day in and day out.
(At this point Mr. WATSON interrupted)
MR. WATSON:-Mr. Chairman, may I rise on a point of clarifica- tion? At no time did I say that it would be a genuine squatter who would build the hut and would present a bribe. My whole point is that the people in these illegal structures are not always improvident squat- ters. I think that as has been borne out in our clearances there are others, impostors, who come in from the town. They are not the sort of squatters that Mr. BERNACCHI is talking about, but are the only ones who are prepared to pay what I consider bribes in order to get guaran- teed residence for the rest of their lives at subsidized rates.
(Mr. BERNACCHI then continued): The people that are prepared to pay that rate of bribe to obtain even resettlement accommodation, let alone a squatter's hut, can be counted, in my opinion, on one hand. But my point is and has always been that the majority of squatters who have their premises, their shacks, their squatter huts-if they can be called squatter huts-are the poorest of the poor, and they are the ones who are left to sleep on the streets. I think that I can safely say that to oppose this motion would be to vote against the very principle of humanity.
The question was put.
The motion was carried, with 11 for and 7 against.
FAREWELL TO DR. A. M. S. BELL AND MR. ERNEST C. WONG.
CHAIRMAN: -Before we adjourn, there is one further matter. Today we say farewell with extreme regret to two of our Members--Dr. Alison BELL and Mr. Ernest WONG.
DR. BELL has served on this Council since 1st April, 1956, and she has, and will always enjoy, the unique distinction of being the first Lady Member of the Urban Council. Some people may possibly have been a little sceptical when the Council first opened its ranks to a lady, feeling that as she was in a minority of one, she would be very much outclassed by her male colleagues. Time has proved this to be completely wrong.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
283
Dr. BELL has demonstrated to us on countless occasions the value of a woman's point of view. Coupled with this we have enjoyed the benefit of her natural ability, common sense, and capacity for hard work. I have no doubt that the public are aware of these attributes, because they showed their confidence in her by re-electing her in March 1959 for a second term.
I know that all Members will join with me in expressing our very real regret at Dr. BELL'S decision not to stand again at the forthcoming Elections, but at the same time we will always be indebted to her for the active and valuable part she has played in furthering the interests of the Council, and for the great amount of her own time that she has so willingly sacrificed on its behalf. In thanking Dr. BELL most sincerely I would like to wish her and her family, good health and every happiness in the future.
Today also is the last meeting at which we will enjoy the company of Mr. Ernest WONG.
MR. WONG has been a Member of the Urban Council since 1st April, 1959, and in this period, has put in a great deal of hard work on behalf of the Council. His sound judgment and business acumen have proved of great value in the work of the Council, and, like Dr. BELL, he too has contributed an important share to the furthering of its in- terests. It is a matter of regret to us that Mr. WONG also has decided not to stand in the forthcoming Elections, but I feel sure that his talents will find scope in other fields of service in Hong Kong.
In thanking Mr. WONG for his services to the Council, I should also like to wish him and his wife the best of health and fortune in the future.
There are TWO other elected Members whose term of office is expiring, but as they are standing for re-election valedictory remarks would be completely inappropriate. (Laughter). (Applause).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, it is a little difficult for me to hear you at the far end of the table, so may I ask in reference to Dr. BELL whether you said that she stood as a minority of one or as a majority of one?
CHAIRMAN:-A minority of one.
MR. SALES :-) -Mr. Chairman, may we, all the Unofficial Members, be associated with you in your remarks concerning Dr. BELL and Mr. Ernest WONG, who are both Elected Members of this Council and retiring from our company at the end of this month. I am sure that the Gardens Division of the Urban Services Department will have to outdo themselves to embellish this Chamber after Dr. BELL leaves us. Of
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