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CHAIRMAN:-That is agreed.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: On a point of clarification, Mr. Chairman, would you please explain the question of ruling which is involved in this particular case? What ruling were you referring to?
CHAIRMAN:-Without being able to pinpoint the exact Standing Order, my recollection is that if a member questions a ruling from the chair, the correct procedure is for the matter to be referred to the Select Committee on Standing Orders.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I clarify my question? May I ask what is the ruling from the chair which is now in question?
CHAIRMAN:-The ruling, Sir, is that on the advice tendered to me, Mr. CHAN Shu-woon is still a member of the Urban Council and will remain so until 1st May.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Perhaps we had better have a formal vote, Sir. You are proposing an amendment to my original motion, that it be referred to the Committee of the Whole, to which I have not the slightest objection.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-By way of suggestion, Mr. Chairman, since this would be considered by the Committee of the Whole anyway, would it not be simpler if the motion were withdrawn?
CHAIRMAN:-That was my intention, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-It is already on the agenda for the meeting of the Committee of the Whole.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Then it does not get over your ruling, Sir, that as at my request indeed, you have so ruled from the chair. The motion must stand, in that if the Committee of the Whole rule against you, Sir, then they rule against your ruling given in open Council.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, if I may say so, Mr. BERNACCHI is technically right, but he has accepted your suggestion that it be considered first in Standing Committee of the Whole Council and I think that would in fact be the best procedure. I can well see his point: he wants to get his objection onto the minutes of the meeting and then your own suggestion that it be considered by the Standing Committee of the Whole Council should be the procedure to be adopted. I think that meets with everybody's agreement.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Sir, perhaps the simplest thing is for me to amend my own motion to one of reference to the Standing Committee of the Whole.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHAN:-Sir, as the question is going to be discussed in the Committee of the Whole and as it is already on the agenda for the meeting of that Committee, I guess no motion is necessary to discuss this matter in the Committee of the Whole.
The question was put.
The motion was carried, with eight for and one against.
WELCOME TO MEMBERS.
CHAIRMAN:-May I extend, on behalf of all Members, a very warm welcome to Mrs. Ellen LI, who is taking her seat—and she must find it an interesting seat (Laughter)—for the first time to-day. Mrs. LI is the third lady to have joined this Council, but she has the distinction of being the first Chinese lady to do so and also of being the first Appointed Lady Member. I am sure that her association with the Council will be auspicious, fruitful and happy.
I would also like to congratulate Mr. MARDEN, Mr. FUNG Hon-chu and Mr. Wilfred WONG on their re-appointment to the Council and I have pleasure in welcoming Mr. J. J. ROBSON who is serving as Director of Public Works during the absence of Mr. WRIGHT. (Applause).
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, may I be associated with you in all your remarks and I must apologise to Mrs. Li for the unpleasant incident that this meeting started with, but I am sure she will find our work most interesting and it is work that goes to the very foundation of the Colony's welfare. I would also like to be associated with you, Sir, in welcoming Mr. ROBSON who is a personal friend of mine and I am pleased indeed to see him for the first time on our Council. I would also like to be associated with you in welcoming and congratulating the other three Members on their re-appointment to the Council.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I break my self-imposed rule not to speak on such occasions, leaving it to Mr. BERNACCHI to speak for all the Unofficial Members, merely because we have with us to-day for the very first time a Lady Appointed Member. I think it is such a unique occasion that it merits some comment from the Appointed side, not that we wish to urge Government to add to the unofficial number of women in this Council, but we would like to express to Government the thought that perhaps one day there might be an official member of the fair sex. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, this being such an historic occasion I cannot resist the temptation to point out that Mr. BERNACCHI made a slight mistake in speaking only for himself and not on behalf of all the Elected Members. (Laughter).
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN:-That is agreed.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: On a point of clarification, Mr. Chairman, would you please explain the question of ruling which is involved in this particular case? What ruling were you referring to?
CHAIRMAN:-Without being able to pinpoint the exact Standing Order, my recollection is that if a member questions a ruling from the chair, the correct procedure is for the matter to be referred to the Select Committee on Standing Orders.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I clarify my question? May I ask what is the ruling from the chair which is now in question?
CHAIRMAN:-The ruling, Sir, is that on the advice tendered to me, Mr. CHAN Shu-woon is still a member of the Urban Council and will remain so until 1st May.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Perhaps we had better have a formal vote, Sir. You are proposing an amendment to my original motion, that it be referred to the Committee of the Whole, to which I have not the slightest objection.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--By way of suggestion, Mr. Chairman, since this would be considered by the Committee of the Whole anyway, would it not be simpler if the motion were withdrawn?
CHAIRMAN:-That was my intention, Sir.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-It is already on the agenda for the meeting of the Committee of the Whole.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Then it does not get over your ruling, Sir, that as at my request indeed, you have so ruled from the chair. The motion must stand, in that if the Committee of the Whole rule against you, Sir, then they rule against your ruling given in open Council.
MR. SALES: ---Mr. Chairman, if I may say so, Mr. BERNACCHI is technically right, but he has accepted your suggestion that it be considered first in Standing Committee of the Whole Council and I think that would in fact be the best procedure. I can well see his point: he wants to get his objection onto the minutes of the meeting and then your own suggestion that it be considered by the Standing Committee of the Whole Council should be the procedure to be adopted. I think that meets with everybody's agreement.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Sir, perhaps the simplest thing is for me to amend my own motion to one of reference to the Standing Committee of the Whole.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
7
MR. CHAN:-Sir, as the question is going to be discussed in the Committee of the Whole and as it is already on the agenda for the meeting of that Committee, I guess no motion is necessary to discuss this matter in the Committee of the Whole.
The question was put.
The motion was carried, with eight for and one against.
WELCOME TO MEMBERS.
CHAIRMAN:-May I extend, on behalf of all Members, a very warm welcome to Mrs. Ellen LI, who is taking her seat-and she must find it an interesting seat (Laughter)—for the first time to-day. Mrs. LI is the third lady to have joined this Council, but she has the distinction of being the first Chinese lady to do so and also of being the first Appointed Lady Member. I am sure that her association with the Council will be auspicious, fruitful and happy.
I would also like to congratulate Mr. MARDEN, Mr. FUNG Hon-chu and Mr. Wilfred WONG on their re-appointment to the Council and I have pleasure in welcoming Mr. J. J. ROBSON who is serving as Director of Public Works during the absence of Mr. WRIGHT. (Applause).
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, may I be associated with you in all your remarks and I must apologise to 'Mrs. Li for the unpleasant incident that this meeting started with, but I am sure she will find our work most interesting and it is work that goes to the very foundation of the Colony's welfare. I would also like to be associated with you, Sir, in welcoming Mr. ROBSON who is a personal friend of mine and I am pleased indeed to see him for the first time on our Council. I would also like to be associated with you in welcoming and congratulat- ing the other three Members on their re-appointment to the Council.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I break my self-imposed rule not to speak on such occasions, leaving it to Mr. BERNACCHI to speak for all the Unofficial Members, merely because we have with us to-day for the very first time a Lady Appointed Member. I think it is such a unique occasion that it merits some comment from the Appointed side, not that we wish to urge Government to add to the unofficial number of women in this Council, but we would like to express to Government the thought that perhaps one day there might be an official member of the fair sex. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, this being such an historic occasion I cannot resist the temptation to point out that Mr. BERNACCHI made a slight mistake in speaking only for himself and not on behalf of all the Elected Members. (Laughter).
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.