Page 15 of 382
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, just on a point of clarification, I do not wish to disabuse the minds of our Elected colleagues unnecessarily. Neither the Reform Club nor the Civic Association is the majority party; the majority party is on this side of the table represented by the members of the various Rotary Clubs. (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI:-On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, in reply to my friend Dr. P. F. Woo and not in reply to my friend Mr. SALES, I consider it against the traditions and the wishes of the electorate for Mr. Solomon RAFEEK to join any party since he was elected as an Independent, without resigning and offering himself for re-election as a member of that party.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, Mr. Solomon RAFEEK has been a member of the Civic Association since 1953-54 and he was recently co-opted as a member of the General Committee of the Civic Association. For all practical purposes, Mr. Solomon RAFEEK is considered as part of the Civic team.
In regard to the statement made by Mr. SALES, Mr. Chairman, I would point out that the majority party rests on the Elected side, since Mr. Henry Hu and I are members of the Lions Club, and that represents the largest service organizations in the entire world comprising 700,000 members. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: There are only two in this Council. (Laughter).
DR. LEE:-I would like to say a few words on the Statement of Progress which you have laid on the table, Mr. Chairman. I will not get myself involved in the electoral cross-fire but purely confine myself to your report.
Mr. Chairman, in your comprehensive progress report for last year you have covered a wide range of activities which affects every aspect of urban life from licensing of milk establishments to the running of funeral parlours and cemeteries. Environmental hygiene, parks and playgrounds are but a part of its complex range of function. As the membership of this Council has been increased by four new members, there is a case for the beginning of a ward system whereby each ward, say, Sham Shui Po, may be represented by a member of the Council. This problem of the twin cities of Kowloon and Hong Kong is at present too complex for Members to know each area intimately. It follows therefore that if each urban district is represented by a Council Member, I am sure the Council will have more first-hand knowledge of conditions of the districts over which we have jurisdiction. I am sure relations between the Council and the inhabitants will be greatly improved and our public services will be better appreciated. I am also of the opinion that whatever health campaign we try to put over to the public will have better and more lasting results. The relations between the Kaifongs and the Council will be more close. The streets and markets will be kept more clean as the staff will feel the presence of a Councillor, who will not hesitate to make surprise inspections. An office for each ward should be made available for each Councillor, and it should be staffed with paid assistants. When members of the public know that they can bring their complaints to their representative, I am sure corruption and other crimes will be reduced. In a place like Hong Kong, where the office of Ombudsman is relatively unknown and with which people have no experience whatsoever, there is little chance of it succeeding; but with a ward system where each ward is represented by a Councillor there is faith and trust in bringing their problems to them. It reduces red-tape and increases the chance of getting things done more quickly. Since we are giving our services free to the public, why don't we do it in a proper way and fashion by going the whole hog? I am sure that this is democracy in the best sense of the word and will find favour in every quarter.
It is a proposal well worth the attention of Council. If it is accepted in principle, I can anticipate that there will be little difficulty in working out the details regarding the size and location of the ward. I would like the question to be placed before the next Standing Committee. If it is agreeable, it can be placed as a motion before Council for debate and adoption. (Applause).
MR. SALES: Sir, it is as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee that I wish to make some points in reference to the papers that you have laid before Council this afternoon.
As ambitious as our programme is in the development of parks, playgrounds, beaches, swimming pools, and other such amenities, I feel that we must urge Government to give us more land, more money and the means to develop such facilities far more quickly than we are doing at present, for, Sir, time and tide wait for no man. While Government procrastinates on matters concerning the recreational facilities for the children of Hong Kong, they will not stop growing up. Time does not stand still until Government makes up its mind on such important matters, and it is vital that the children do not grow up embittered in outlook and warped in development. Therefore, I would strongly urge you, Sir, to transmit to Government our views that these programmes be expedited and that more land and more money be given to us. I deplore the fact that although a number of swimming pools have been set out in the paper that you have put before us, yet there is no timetable giving a clear indication as to when these facilities will be available to the people who live in such highly dense areas in Hong Kong. There is no mention of the Yau Ma Tei swimming pool, neither is there any mention, as far as I can see, of the swimming pool that is projected at Hung Hom.
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Page 15 of 382
1
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, just on a point of clarification, I do not wish to disabuse the minds of our Elected colleagues unnecessarily. Neither the Reform Club nor the Civic Association is the majority party; the majority party is on this side of the table represented by the mem- bers of the various Rotary Clubs. (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI:-On a point of order, Mr. Chairman, in reply to my friend Dr. P. F. Woo and not in reply to my friend Mr. SALES, I consider it against the traditions and the wishes of the electorate for Mr. Solomon RAFEEK to join any party since he was elected as an Independent, without resigning and offering himself for re-election as a member of that party.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, Mr. Solomon RAFEEK has been a member of the Civic Association since 1953-54 and he was recently co-opted as a member of the General Com- mittee of the Civic Association. For all practical purposes, Mr. Solomon RAFEEK is considered as part of the Civic team.
In regard to the statement made by Mr. SALES, Mr. Chairman, I would point out that the majority party rests on the Elected side, since Mr. Henry Hu and I are members of the Lions Club, and that repre- sents the largest service organizations in the entire world comprising 700,000 members. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: There are only two in this Council. (Laughter).
DR. LEE:-1 would like to say a few words on the Statement of Progress which you have laid on the table, Mr. Chairman. I will not get myself involved in the electoral cross-fire but purely confine myself to your report.
Mr. Chairman, in your comprehensive progress report for last year you have covered a wide range of activities which affects every aspect of urban life from licensing of milk establishments to the running of funeral parlours and cemeteries. Environmental hygiene, parks and playgrounds are but a part of its complex range of function. As the membership of this Council has been increased by four new members, there is a case for the beginning of a ward system whereby each ward, say, Sham Shui Po, may be represented by a member of the Council. This problem of the twin cities of Kowloon and Hong Kong is at present too complex for Members to know each area intimately. It follows therefore that if each urban district is represented by a Council Member, I am sure the Council will have more first-hand knowledge of conditions of the districts over which we have jurisdiction. I am sure relations between the Council and the inhabitants will be greatly improved and our public services will be better appreciated. I am also of the opinion that whatever health campaign we try to put over to the public will have
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
better and more lasting results. The relations between the Kaifongs and the Council will be more close. The streets and markets will be kept more clean as the staff will feel the presence of a Councillor, who will not hesitate to make surprise inspections. An office for each ward should be made available for each Councillor, and it should be staffed with paid assistants. When members of the public know that they can bring their complaints to their representative, I am sure corruption and other crimes will be reduced. In a place like Hong Kong, where the office of Ombudsman is relatively unknown and with which people have no experience whatsoever, there is little chance of it succeeding; but with a ward system where each ward is represented by a Councillor there is faith and trust in bringing their problems to them. It reduces red-tape and increases the chance of getting things done more quickly. Since we are giving our services free to the public, why don't we do it in a proper way and fashion by going the whole hog? I am sure that this is democracy in the best sense of the word and will find favour in every quarter.
It is a proposal well worth the attention of Council. If it is accepted in principle, I can anticipate that there will be little difficulty in working out the details regarding the size and location of the ward. I would like the question to be placed before the next Standing Committee. If it is agreeable, it can be placed as a motion before Council for debate and adoption. (Applause).
MR. SALES: Sir, it is as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee that I wish to make some points in reference to the papers that you have laid before Council this afternoon.
As ambitious as our programme is in the development of parks, playgrounds, beaches, swimming pools, and other such amenities, I feel that we must urge Government to give us more land, more money and the means to develop such facilities far more quickly than we are doing at present, for, Sir, time and tide wait for no man. While Government procrastinates on matters concerning the recreational facilities for the children of Hong Kong, they will not stop growing up. Time does not stand still until Government makes up its mind on such important matters, and it is vital that the children do not grow up embittered in outlook and warped in development. Therefore, I would strongly urge you, Sir, to transmit to Government our views that these programmes be expedited and that more land and more money be given to us. I deplore the fact that although a number of swimming pools have been set out in the paper that you have put before us, yet there is no time- table giving a clear indication as to when these facilities will be available to the people who live in such highly dense areas in Hong Kong. There is no mention of the Yau Ma Tei swimming pool, neither is there any mention, as far as I can see, of the swimming pool that is projected at Hung Hom.
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