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MR. SALES: -Sir, if the Establishment Officer has any misgivings about the proposal, will you kindly invite him to attend a meeting of the Urban Amenities Select Committee to discuss our wishes in this regard?
CHAIRMAN: -I am prepared to do so, Sir, but I don't think there is any feeling of doubt in the Establishment Branch regarding the necessity for expansion of staff in the Amenities Section.
MR. SALES: Recalling the refusal which the Establishment Officer made to a similar invitation issued by the Estimates Select Committee last year, will you assure this Council that there has been a change of heart on the part of Government regarding the demands made by the Urban Council for more staff in order to serve the public?
CHAIRMAN: -Sir, it was agreed, following the debate last year, in which Mr. WATSON played such a prominent part, that a representative of the Establishment Branch would attend a meeting of the Estimates Select Committee when invited to discuss the Estimates at the appropriate time.
MR. SALES: -Does this reply also cover the meetings of other Select Committees?
CHAIRMAN: -No, Sir.
MR. SALES: -Could you then seek clarification of Government's intention as to the part which the Establishment Officer should play in his relations with the Urban Council?
CHAIRMAN: —I am prepared to put your point to the Establishment Officer if you so wish, Sir.
MR. SALES: Would you, Sir, also put it to Government, that the Select Committees of the Urban Council are just not prepared to put in a lot of time and work to have their plans set at naught at the whims of just an officer of Government?
CHAIRMAN: --Sir, you seem to take a somewhat unduly gloomy view of the position. There has been no suggestion, as far as I am aware, that the Establishment Officer should try to put to naught the efforts of any of the Select Committees of this Council.
MR. SALES: --Am I not right in saying, Sir, acting on the strength of sheer experience of this Council's work, that our plans are often discarded elsewhere and disregarded by Government even though the public interest may suffer?
CHAIRMAN: -I have on occasion, Sir, heard the word 'No' used in reply to a request from this Council but, in general, I think Government is well aware of the valuable work done by this Council and supports it as well as it possibly can, and certainly, Sir, I have great hopes at the moment that we will shortly see some considerable, favourable and constructive developments in the Amenities Division, which I know is close to your heart.
MR. SALES: -Thank you, Sir. I would like to share your optimism.
(9) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
Has Government authorized the resumption of work in Kowloon Tsai Park so that the next stage may be completed soon?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
The Finance Committee of Legislative Council approved the upgrading of Kowloon Tsai Park, Stage II from Category B to Category A of the Public Works Programme in September, and authority has now been given to proceed with working drawings and call for tenders.
Stage II of Kowloon Tsai Park will comprise a championship all-weather running track surrounding a senior football pitch, 4 tennis courts, a children's library and playground, and gardening work in the remainder of the park area. I will ensure, Sir, that you and your Select Committee are kept regularly informed of progress.
MR. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, from your answers to Questions 8 & 9 asked by the Chairman of the Amenities Select Committee, do I gather that any proposal of this Council has to first of all go through the Establishment Officer and then, if passed by him, by devious ways to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for final consideration and acceptance or rejection?
CHAIRMAN: No, Sir. On the matter of staff, I am sure we exhausted this subject last year, explaining how requests for staff were formally sent to the Colonial Secretariat, where they were processed and eventually then sent, after they had been referred back to the Estimates Select Committee of this Council, to the Establishment Sub-Committee of Finance Committee, and were then eventually approved or disapproved for inclusion in the Annual Estimates. As regards matters such as construction works in the Public Works Programme, I will ask my colleague, the Director of Public Works, to elucidate that point.
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MR. SALES: -Sir, if the Establishment Officer has any misgivings about the proposal, will you kindly invite him to attend a meeting of the Urban Amenities Select Committee to discuss our wishes in this regard?
CHAIRMAN:-I am prepared to do so, Sir, but I don't think there is any feeling of doubt in the Establishment Branch regarding the necessity for expansion of staff in the Amenities Section.
MR. SALES: Recalling the refusal which the Establishment Officer made to a similar invitation issued by the Estimates Select Committee last year, will you assure this Council that there has been a change of heart on the part of Government regarding the demands made by the Urban Council for more staff in order to serve the public?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, it was agreed, following the debate last year, in which Mr. WATSON played such a prominent part, that a representative of the Establishment Branch would attend a meeting of the Estimates Select Committee when invited to discuss the Estimates at the appro- priate time.
MR. SALES-Does this reply also cover the meetings of other Select Committees?
CHAIRMAN:-No, Sir.
MR. SALES: -Could you then seek clarification of Government's intention as to the part which the Establishment Officer should play in his relations with the Urban Council?
CHAIRMAN :—I am prepared to put your point to the Establishment Officer if you so wish, Sir.
MR. SALES: Would you Sir, also put it to Government, that the Select Committees of the Urban Council are just not prepared to put in a lot of time and work to have their plans set at naught at the whims of just an officer of Government?
CHAIRMAN: --Sir, you seem to take a somewhat unduly gloomy view of the position. There has been no suggestion, as far as I am aware, that the Establishment Officer should try to put to naught the efforts of any of the Select Committees of this Council.
MR. SALES: --Am I not right in saying, Sir, acting on the strength of sheer experience of this Council's work, that our plans are often discarded elsewhere and disregarded by Government even though the public interest may suffer?
CHAIRMAN:-I have on occasion, Sir, heard the word 'No' used in reply to a request from this Council but, in general, I think Govern- ment is well aware of the valuable work done by this Council and
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
299
supports it as well as it possibly can, and certainly, Sir, I have great hopes at the moment that we will shortly see some considerable, favour- able and constructive developments in the Amenities Division, which I know is close to your heart.
MR. SALES: -Thank you Sir. I would like to share your optimism.
(9) MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question :
Has Government authorized the resumption of work in Kowloon Tsai Park so that the next stage may be completed soon?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The Finance Committee of Legislative Council approved the upgrading of Kowloon Tsai Park, Stage II from Category B to Category A of the Public Works Programme in September, and authority has now been given to proceed with working drawings and call for tenders.
Stage II of Kowloon Tsai Park will comprise a championship all-weather running track surrounding a senior football pitch, 4 tennis courts, a children's library and playground, and gardening work in the remainder of the park area. I will ensure, Sir, that you and your Select Committee are kept regularly informed of progress.
MR. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, from your answers to Questions 8 & 9 asked by the Chairman of the Amenities Select Committee, do I gather that any proposal of this Council has to first of all go through the Establishment Officer and then, if passed by him, by devious ways to the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for final considera- tion and acceptance or rejection?
CHAIRMAN: No Sir. On the matter of staff, I am sure we ex- hausted this subject last year, explaining how requests for staff were formally sent to the Colonial Secretariat, where they were processed and eventually then sent, after they had been referred back to the Estimates Select Committee of this Council, to the Establishment Sub- Committee of Finance Committee, and were then eventually approved or disapproved for inclusion in the Annual Estimates. As regards matters such as construction works in the Public Works Programme, I will ask my colleague, the Director of Public Works, to elucidate that point.
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