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these had been followed through wholeheartedly by his predecessor, provision for more restaurants could have been made in these newer estates.
Concerning the Commissioner's remark that the fact that there have been few applications for converting single bay shops to light refreshment restaurants and multiple bay shops to restaurants is indicative of there not being enough business to make conversion worthwhile, it is pertinent to ask whether the Commissioner is satisfied that sufficient publicity has been given to shop tenants to the effect that such conversion is permissible.
While the setting up of more restaurants may not have the effect of completely eliminating the cooked food stalls, a sufficiency thereof will certainly discourage more cooked food stalls, besides giving the Council a justification for rigidly enforcing the existing policy of gradually eliminating these stalls on the grounds of hygiene.
Has Government got secret plans up its sleeve to negotiate with Mainland China? (Laughter). What is Government's attitude to a rapid transit system in view of the heavy traffic that cries out for such a system? Has Government considered the question of appointing a Royal Commission to go into the question of local government with respect to satellite towns which will grow into concentrations of population approaching the one million mark in the New Territories? All these important questions require answering and yet the Official Members remain silent. If some of these questions can only be answered by Whitehall please let us know in writing. We are prepared to wait. Mr. Chairman, my Friend Mr. Brook BERNACCHI, the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee, is not in favour of any major changes in policy with regard to the hawker pedlars. He insists that there should be no restrictions on the issue of pedlar hawker licences. But he thinks there is a case for restricting pedlar hawker licences to districts, and they should not be allowed to change their area of hawking, say, from Wan Chai to Sai Ying Pun and vice versa.
Almost the last, Mr. Chairman. Dr. BELL has asked me to say that she agrees with you that the Financial Secretary and the Finance Committee are responsible for the lack of filthy lucre in our streets. (Laughter).
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, may I congratulate the Official Members on setting such a fine example of masterly evasiveness (Laughter) on matters raised by us.
Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the unofficial members may I wish everyone on this Council a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. (Applause).
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549
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of privilege, not to be outdone by the Official and the Appointed Members, when it comes to Urban Council doggerel, the Elected Members would wish to say as follows:-
There was a ward king called Raymond, Who went after the Chairman with swing.
It started off with a motion, Rolled through with many a notion, And ended with bang, bong, zing.
(Laughter).
MR. SALES:-Sir, before you put that motion to the vote, may the Appointed Members reply in kind? (Laughter).
Kinghorn, a dear Chairman was he, Raymond, great Unofficial was he,
Then he thundered and ranted, Back our feelings he vented.
His friendships he re-canted, With friendships still undented.
CHAIRMAN:-No further aspiring Shakespeares'?
(Laughter).
The motion for the endorsement of the Statement of Aims for 1966 was moved by Dr. Raymond LEE and seconded by Mr. SALES at the meeting held on the 6th December, 1965.
The question was put.
The motion was carried.
DEPARTURE ON LEAVE OF DR. H. W. WYILE.
CHAIRMAN:-Before we close, Members would wish me, I think, to say Bon Voyage to Dr. WYILE who is proceeding on leave to-morrow. He has played an important and helpful part in the affairs of this Council since July, and I know I speak on behalf of all Members when I say we wish him a happy and well-earned holiday.
Finally, may I extend to all of you my very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. (Applause).
ADJOURNMENT 4.53 P.M.
CHAIRMAN:-That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday, 4th January, 1966.
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these had been followed through wholeheartedly by his predeccessor, provision for more restaurants could have been made in these newer
estates.
Concerning the Commissioner's remark that the fact that there have been few applications for converting single bay shops to light refreshment restaurants and multiple bay shops to restaurants is in- dicative of there not being enough business to make conversion worth- while, it is pertinent to ask whether the Commissioner is satisfied that sufficient publicity has been given to shop tenants to the effect that such conversion is permissable.
While the setting up of more restaurants may not have the effect of completely eliminating the cooked food stalls, a sufficiency thereof will certainly discourage more cooked food stalls, besides given the Council a justification for rigidly enforcing the existing policy of gradually eliminating these stalls on the grounds of hygiene.
Has Government got secret plans up its sleeve to negotiate with Mainland China? (Laughter). What is Government's attitude to a rapid transit system in view of the heavy traffic that cries out for such a system? Has Government considered the question of appointing a Royal Commission to go into the question of local government with respect to satellite towns which will grow into concentrations of popula- tion approaching the one million mark in the New Territories? All these important questions require answering and yet the Official Mem- bers remain silent. If some of these questions can only be answered by Whitehall please let us know in writing. We are prepared to wait. Mr. Chairman, my Friend Mr. Brook BERNACCHI, the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee, is not in favour of any major changes in policy with regard to the hawker pedlars. He insists that there should be no restrictions on the issue of pedlar hawker licences. But he thinks there is a case for restricting pedlar hawker licences to districts, and they should not be allowed to change their area of hawking, say, from Wan Chai to Sai Ying Pun and vice versa.
Almost the last, Mr. Chairman. Dr. BELL has asked me to say that she agrees with you that the Financial Secretary and the Finance Committee are responsible for the lack of filthy lucre in our streets. (Laughter).
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, may I congratulate the Official Members on setting such a fine example of masterly evasiveness- (Laughter) on matters raised by us.
Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the unofficial members may I wish everyone on this Council a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. (Applause).
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
549
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of privilege, not to be outdone by the Official and the Appointed Members, when it comes to Urban Council doggerel, the Elected Members would wish to
say as follows:-
There was a ward king called Raymond, Who went after the Chairman with
It started off with a motion,
And ended with bang, bong, zing.
Rolled through with many a notion,
swing.
(Laughter).
MR. SALES: -Sir, before you put that motion to the vote, may the Appointed Members reply in kind? (Laughter).
Kinghorn, a dear Chairman was he,
Then he thundered and ranted,
His friendships he re-canted,
Raymond, great Unofficial was he,
Back our feelings he vented.
With friendships still undented.
CHAIRMAN: -No further aspiring Shakespeares'?
(Laughter).
The motion for the endorsement of the Statement of Aims for 1966 was moved by Dr. Raymond LEE and seconded by Mr. SALES at the meeting held on the 6th December, 1965.
The question was put.
The motion was carried.
DEPARTURE ON LEAVE OF DR. H. W. WYILE.
CHAIRMAN:-Before we close, Members would wish me, I think,
to say Bon Voyage to Dr. WYILE who is proceeding on leave to-morrow. He has played an important and helpful part in the affairs of this Council since July, and I know I speak on behalf of all Members when I say we wish him a happy and well-earned holiday.
Finally, may I extend to all of you my very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. (Applause).
ADJOURNMENT 4.53 P.M.
CHAIRMAN:-That concludes the business of this meeting. Council stands adjourned until 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday, 4th January, 1966.
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