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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Before taking the first item on to-day's agenda, I would like to welcome Mr. Daniel LAM back from his trip abroad and Mr. D. C. BARTY, the Commissioner for Resettlement, on his return from leave.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of October 1965.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st July, 1965 to 30th September, 1965.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st July, 1965 to 30th September, 1965.
(4) Report on "Keep Your District Clean” Campaign, Kennedy Town and Mount Davis.
DR. LEE: -As the Chairman of the ad hoc committee on the ward system, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that the system got off to a flying start as from yesterday. If you had been a witness of the opening you would have seen, in some of the doorways, baskets of flowers and shrubs, and that the population has been attracted to the system. I think it would be a good idea on your part to recommend to Government the complete adoption of this Anglo-Saxon custom. The ward system with its Aldermen and you, Mr. Chairman, who should be called the Lord Mayor. I am sure that other members will contribute to the scheme and look forward with enthusiasm to the coming public response when their wards open. I am sure that when my ward is open, I can expect a fair number of people to turn up as I have been warned of that. So I look forward with pleasure to the opening of my ward office and anything we can do to make Hong Kong a better place and a more beautiful place, the more happy I will be to work for it. With these remarks Mr. Chairman, I conclude. (Applause).
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, if the Senior Elected Member does not wish to make a statement, may the Senior Appointed Member make a statement in reference to the ward system? Sir, I can find no reference to the ward system in the monthly report, and I am not sure it is in order. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:-I am glad that you too have noted the fact that there is nothing in the monthly report to enable Dr. LEE to make a speech on the ward system, Sir.
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329
MR. SALES: -So now Sir, may I suggest that the remarks on the ward system be eliminated from the record of these proceedings, unless you are willing to overlook standing orders and entertain a statement from the Senior Elected Member as well as the Senior Appointed Member.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of order, as a matter of fact I made an enquiry to the Secretary and asked why there was no mention of the ward system in the monthly report.
CHAIRMAN:-I have been searching through the statistical report for the quarter ending 30th September to see if I can find any reference whatsoever to visits in connection with the establishment of the ward system, which might allow Dr. LEE to stand up and say something on the subject.
MR. SALES: --Mr. Chairman, if I may speak for the Senior Elected Member as well as the Senior Appointed Member, we are both sporting enough to withdraw our objections and allow standing orders to go by the board on this occasion. (Laughter).
May I now Sir, speak as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
As Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee, it is incumbent upon me to draw the attention of this Council to the success which the Urban Services Department has met in the season about to end. More than 150,000 trees and shrubs have been planted in the urban areas. It may be said that the programme which the Council has drawn up for the planting of trees and shrubs is now taking root. This year's success is the turning point in such Council work. I can only hope that Members of this Council as well as the public will not hesitate to put forward suggestions for more such plantings to be carried out.
Now that we have instituted a ward system, I trust that the Members assigned to each ward will not hesitate to make such suggestions as well.
Advantage should also be taken of the ward system for the more rapid development of district or neighbourhood recreational facilities. My Select Committee will be anxious to hear the recommendations of ward representatives on this score. An invitation is now extended in public for such representatives, who are not actually Members of the Urban Amenities Select Committee, to attend any of our meetings for the worthwhile purpose of telling us how we may better fill the needs of their wards in the matter of amenities.
The public may wish to know that the Select Committee has set up an Ad Hoc Sub-Committee to inspect our urban beaches so as to determine what improvements need be made before the next swimming season.
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Page 176
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Page 175 of 382
328
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Before taking the first item on to-day's agenda, I would like to welcome Mr. Daniel LAM back from his trip abroad and Mr. D. C. BARTY, the Commissioner for Resettlement, on his return from leave.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of October 1965. (2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st July, 1965 to 30th September, 1965.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st July, 1965 to 30th September, 1965.
(4) Report on "Keep Your District Clean” Campaign, Kennedy
Town and Mount Davis.
DR. LEE: -As the Chairman of the ad hoc committee on the ward system, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that the system got off to a flying start as from yesterday. If you had been a witness of the opening you would have seen, in some of the doorways, baskets of flowers and shrubs, and that the population has been attracted to the system. I think it would be a good idea on your part to recommend to Government the complete adoption of this Anglo-Saxon custom. The ward system with its Aldermen and you, Mr. Chairman, who should be called the Lord Mayor. I am sure that other members will contribute to the scheme and look forward with enthusiasm to the coming public response when their wards open. I am sure that when my ward is open, I can expect a fair number of people to turn up as I have been warned of that. So I look forward with pleasure to the opening of my ward office and anything we can do to make Hong Kong a better place and a more beautiful place, the more happy I will be to work for it. With these remarks Mr. Chairman, I conclude. (Applause).
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, if the Senior Elected Member does not wish to make a statement, may the Senior Appointed Member make a statement in reference to the ward system? Sir, I can find no refer- ence to the ward system in the monthly report, and I am not sure it is in order. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:-I am glad that you too have noted the fact that there is nothing in the monthly report to enable Dr. LEE to make a speech on the ward system, Sir.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
329
MR. SALES: -So now Sir, may I suggest that the remarks on the ward system be eliminated from the record of these proceedings, unless you are willing to overlook standing orders and entertain a statement from the Senior Elected Member as well as the Senior Appointed Member.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of order, as a matter of fact I made an enquiry to the Secretary and asked why there was no mention of the ward system in the monthly report.
CHAIRMAN:-I have been searching through the statistical report for the quarter ending 30th September to see if I can find any reference whatsoever to visits in connection with the establishment of the ward system, which might allow Dr. LEE to stand up and say something on the subject.
MR. SALES: --Mr. Chairman, if I may speak for the Senior Elected Member as well as the Senior Appointed Member, we are both sporting enough to withdraw our objections and allow standing orders to go by the board on this occasion. (Laughter).
May I now Sir, speak as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
As Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee, it is in- cumbent upon me to draw the attention of this Council to the success which the Urban Services Department has met in the season about to end. More than 150,000 trees and shrubs have been planted in the urban areas. It may be said that the programme which the Council has drawn up for the planting of trees and shrubs is now taking root. This year's success is the turning point in such Council work. I can only hope that Members of this Council as well as the public will not hesitate to put forward suggestions for more such plantings to be carried
out.
Now that we have instituted a ward system, I trust that the Members assigned to each ward will not hesitate to make such suggestions as well.
Advantage should also be taken of the ward system for the more rapid development of district or neighbourhood recreational facilities. My Select Committee will be anxious to hear the recommendations of ward representatives on this score. An invitation is now extended in public for such representatives, who are not actually Members of the Urban Amenities Select Committee, to attend any of our meetings for the worthwhile purpose of telling us how we may better fill the needs of their wards in the matter of amenities.
The public may wish to know that the Select Committee has set up an Ad Hoc Sub-Committee to inspect our urban beaches so as to determine what improvements need be made before the next swimming
i
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