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426
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Traffic is still most acute and in as congested a condition as ever. The need for more and better roads to serve the community is as great as ever. Whatever rapid transit system, be it underground or mono-rail, the experts may recommend for the need of Hong Kong I think it is paramount to get on with the job, and have a system going to solve our public transport need. It is disheartening to see long queues of passengers waiting for public transport going to work and school every day without hope of quick remedial measures taking shape soon.
We are hoping that a quick decision will be taken with regard to the Hung Hom complex where a permanent Kowloon public library, a museum and an indoor stadium will materialize.
There is a case for the Resettlement Department to improve its administrative machinery. It takes months for tenants to change hand in resettlement shops even though they have obtained official permission. Such long waiting not only means serious loss of revenue to the settlers but also paves the way to possible corruption. Kwok Shun Lei of Kwun Tong is a case in point.
Today's meeting is historic in many ways. This year's debate is the first time ever that Unofficial Members have the opportunity to move and second an Official Motion and that the debate has spread over three days indicates the importance that every one attaches to it. The statement of aims represents the targets of 17 Select Committees which shoulder the responsibility of this Council. They cover a wide field of public endeavour and every facet of urban life. That it has been studied and approved by each Select Committee amply demonstrates the importance which the Council attaches to these objectives and will carry them out most expeditiously I have no doubt. In closing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the Official Members to let me have copies of their replies a few days before the Officials are due to speak, (Laughter) so that I may have a chance to study the replies beforehand, or else, Sir, it would be very difficult for me to reply on that particular date. (Laughter). Having given you warning, Mr. Chairman, I have much pleasure in moving the following motion of this Council, that this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1966 tabled here. (Applause).
MR. SALES: Sir, as we take the field, let me say at once how much you as Chairman of this Council and Director of Urban Services have played the game by the Council in the full sense of the term. I am most appreciative of all the co-operation you have extended to us and, Sir, I fully realize that now and again some easy catches are dropped, but that is understandable because it is most unnerving to have watching in the pavilion—I beg your pardon—in the main wing of the Central Government Offices, your non-playing captain.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
427
We are also obliged to the Secretary, Mr. TINSON, and the Deputy Secretary, Mr. FAIREY, for their unfailing courtesy and the efficient way in which they have helped all select committees and members privately when inquiries are made. In all the years that I have been in this Council I have enjoyed collaborating with all members of your staff, with whom I have come in contact, and to-day I would like to pay tribute to that very fine spirit which is so characteristic of the Council and the Department.
This, Sir, is a field day for Unofficial Members when Government appears to be fair game. It is a time-honoured convention for Unofficials to speak freely when no subject seems to be proscribed. Not even when an appointed member will plead very strongly with Government to abolish the system of appointed membership in Government Councils. This is as it should be. Still, let us do so fairly and constructively,
If we are to serve the public properly, we ought also to carry out a critical analysis of our own work. Particular attention should be paid to what we do in our select committees. For it is in such committees that we can do our best work by discharging the functions conscientiously for which this Council is directly responsible. If we do so by applying our knowledge and experience to long-range planning as well as to the immediate problems with which we are confronted, we contribute in no small measure to a better Hong Kong.
Mr. Chairman, on the home front, I suggest that the Standing Committee of the Whole Council be chaired by an Unofficial Member just as all our Select Committees are nowadays. Moreover, I think that it would even be to Government's advantage for the Director of Urban Services not to be concurrently Chairman of the Urban Council. He would be in a far better position to act as the Government spokesman on departmental matters. Therefore Sir, you may be faced with a decision. Resign as Director or abdicate as Chairman. (Laughter). To be or not to be: that, Sir, is also your question.
If it is Government's intention to improve the housing condition of the people, and not just to clear squatters from land wanted for development, let Government come out clearly with a statement of policy that it accepts responsibility for the housing of our lower-income groups, naturally not all the people at once but progressively, whether directly or through established agencies.
In resettling people in our newly built estates, there is need for a new approach. Unless we put into practice the formula to count each child of 6 as a full unit for the purpose of resettlement, we are not improving the housing condition of the people as we ought to do by reducing density and increasing the allocation of space per person.
Page 225 of 382
82
82
Page 224 of 382
426
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Traffic is still most acute and in as congested a condition as ever. The need for more and better roads to serve the community is as great as ever. Whatever rapid transit system, be it underground or mono-rail, the experts may recommend for the need of Hong Kong I think it is paramount to get on with the job, and have a system going to solve our public transport need. It is disheartening to see long queues of passengers waiting for public transport going to work and school every day without hope of quick remedial measures taking shape soon.
We are hoping that a quick decision will be taken with regard to the Hung Hom complex where a permanent Kowloon public library, a museum and an indoor stadium will materialize.
There is a case for the Resettlement Department to improve its administrative machinery. It takes months for tenants to change hand in resettlement shops even though they have obtained official permission. Such long waiting not only means serious loss of revenue to the settlers but also paves the way to possible corruption. Kwok Shun Lei of Kwun Tong is a case in point.
Today's meeting is historic in many ways. This year's debate is the first time ever that Unofficial Members have the opportunity to move and second an Official Motion and that the debate has spread over three days indicates the importance that every one attaches to it. The state- ment of aims represents the targets of 17 Select Committees which shoulder the responsibility of this Council. They cover a wide field of public endeavour and every facet of urban life. That it has been studied and approved by each Select Committee amply demonstrates the import- ance which the Council attaches to these objectives and will carry them out most expediously I have no doubt. In closing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the Official Members to let me have copies of their replies a few days before the Officials are due to speak, (Laughter) so that I may have a chance to study the replies beforehand, or else, Sir, it would be very difficult for me to reply on that particular date. (Laughter). Having given you warning, Mr. Chairman, I have much pleasure in moving the following motion of this Council, that this Council endorse the Statement of Aims for 1966 tabled here. (Applause).
MR. SALES: Sir, as we take the field, let me say at once how much you as Chairman of this Council and Director of Urban Services have played the game by the Council in the full sense of the term. I am most appreciative of all the co-operation you have extended to us and, Sir, I fully realize that now and again some easy catches are dropped, but that is understandable because it is most unnerving to have watching in the pavilion-I beg your pardon-in the main wing of the Central Government Offices, your non-playing captain.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
427
We are also obliged to the Secretary, Mr. TINSON, and the Deputy Secretary, Mr. FAIREY, for their unfailing courtesy and the efficient way in which they have helped all select committees and members privately when inquiries are made. In all the years that I have been in this Council I have enjoyed collaborating with all members of your staff, with whom I have come in contact, and to-day I would like to pay tribute to that very fine spirit which is so characteristic of the Council and the Department.
This, Sir, is a field day for Unofficial Members when Government appears to be fair game. It is a time-honoured convention for Un- officials to speak freely when no subject seems to be proscribed. Not even when an appointed member will plead very strongly with Govern- ment to abolish the system of appointed membership in Government Councils. This is as it should be. Still, let us do so fairly and con- structively,
If we are to serve the public properly, we ought also to carry out a critical analysis of our own work. Particular attention should be paid to what we do in our select committees. For it is in such com- mittees that we can do our best work by discharging the functions conscientiously for which this Council is directly responsible. If we do so by applying our knowledge and experience to long-range planning as well as to the immediate problems with which we are confronted, we contribute in no small measure to a better Hong Kong.
Mr. Chairman, on the home front, I suggest that the Standing Committee of the Whole Council be chaired by an Unofficial Member just as all our Select Committees are nowadays. Moreover, I think that it would even be to Government's advantage for the Director of Urban Services not to be concurrently Chairman of the Urban Council. He would be in a far better position to act as the Government spokes- man on departmental matters. Therefore Sir, you may be faced with a decision. Resign as Director or abdicate as Chairman. (Laughter). To be or not to be: that, Sir, is also your question.
If it is Government's intention to improve the housing condition of the people, and not just to clear squatters from land wanted for development, let Government come out clearly with a statement of policy that it accepts responsibility for the housing of our lower-income groups, naturally not all the people at once but progressively, whether directly or through established agencies.
In resettling people in our newly built estates, there is need for a new approach. Unless we put into practice the formula to count each child of 6 as a full unit for the purpose of resettlement, we are not improving the housing condition of the people as we ought to do by reducing density and increasing the allocation of space per person.
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