1965 — Page 51

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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Page 51 of 382

MR. CHEONG-LEEN : -On a point of clarification, Mr. Chairman, can the proposer of the original motion amend his own motion? As I understand it, Mr. SALES is putting forward a suggestion and Mr. BERNACCHI might care to move it in terms of what has been expressed by Mr. SALES. Is that not the proper procedure?

CHAIRMAN:-Dr. LEE is invited to withdraw the amended motion and substitute another one.

MR. SALES:-Or withdraw it altogether.

DR. LEE:-Yes, I quite agree with the addition of the words "and without procrastination on the part of Government.”

MR. SALES:-Dr. LEE agrees to that. Does the seconder agree? (Laughter).

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-It would well be inappropriate- particularly remembering the trouble we had on markets.

MR. SALES: -In the event the amendment dies for lack of a seconder.

MR. BERNACCHI:-I am prepared to come to the rescue and second the re-amended motion.

MR. SALES:—In the event, Mr. Chairman, I accept it with delight. May I suggest that the question be put on the amendment "as soon as possible and without procrastination on the part of Government.”

CHAIRMAN:-The amendment to the original motion is by the deletion of the words "without delay" and the substitution of the words "as soon as possible and without procrastination on the part of Government."

The question was put.

The amendment was carried, with 20 for, 5 against, and 1 abstention.

CHAIRMAN:-The motion, as amended, is:-

That this Council ask Government for the land set aside as open space in the plans for the re-development of the former Naval Dockyard so that it may be put to public use as soon as possible and without procrastination on the part of Government.

The question was put.

The motion, as amended, was carried, with 20 for, 5 against, and 1 abstention.

(2) DR. R. H. S. LEE moved the following motion:-

That this Council should adopt a ward system for Hong Kong and Kowloon and that each ward should be represented by an Urban Councillor.

He said: Mr. Chairman, Hong Kong has grown so much and its population has increased to such an extent that no one person can claim to have an intimate knowledge of every district in both Hong Kong and Kowloon. As problems become more complex it is imperative that Members of the Urban Council should have more knowledge of what goes on, and as representatives of the community it is our bounden duty not only to familiarize ourselves with local conditions, but to know the people and their problems. If the area is not clean and licensed premises are not observing their conditions, it is our obligation to see that it is remedied. If local residents have legitimate complaints to make, it is our job to hear them, and, if necessary, to take them up. That is the reason why Hong Kong should be divided into regions or wards and that each should be represented by a Councillor. The choice of a district should rest with each Councillor and can be rotated each year. Two adjacent regions can share an office and each should be staffed with a small paid staff and a telephone- and other details which can well be looked into later-but the most important point at this stage is the acceptance of the principle of the motion.

The principle of the ward system, as I see it, has many merits. Through its representatives the Council can have more effective liaison with the Kaifongs and the Police. It can have more detailed knowledge of the district, and the staff of the Urban Services Department will pay more attention to local health and sanitary matters. With our representative on the spot I am sure more healthy understanding of the hawker problem can be acquired and any difference between them and those in authority can be rectified at an earlier stage. I dare say corruption and the incidence of juvenile crime will be reduced. Health campaigns our Council representative can be of immense value to make it a success.

Sir, this motion is not an election gimmick. (Laughter). From the Elected Members' point of view the ward system as it is practised in other democratic countries is not workable in Hong Kong because we do not have a universal franchise. But a ward system as applied to Hong Kong does give Members an opportunity to know their district well and provides a machinery for members of the public to bring their problem direct to their representative. It is the equivalent of a local Ombudsman. It does involve more work for Members, and if we are its representatives, I do not see any good reason why we should not undertake it if it is in the public interest.