Page 76 of 382
130
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Health Officers
SCHEDULE.
Senior Health Inspector (Prosecutions)
Health Inspectors
He said: I rise to move the motion standing in my name as Item 4(2) on the Agenda.
This motion, which is connected with the previous motion, will convey authority to the Senior Health Inspector (Prosecutions) to conduct proceedings before a magistrate's court.
I beg to move.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES seconded.
MR. HU: --About this question I have a query to raise:
In court, the proceedings are usually conducted either by a Crown Counsel or by a senior Police Officer. I understand that the senior Police Officers, although they are not legally qualified men, have certain legal knowledge. Do these Health Officers and Senior Health Inspectors or Health Inspectors also have the same amount of legal training?
MR. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, presumably your explanation in answer to my queries on the first Motion, that the post of Senior Health Inspector (Prosecutions) is to co-ordinate matters, automatically implies that the Senior Health Inspector (Prosecutions) usually prosecutes. I do not know whether I am right in that or whether other Health Officers and Health Inspectors usually prosecute, but certainly I would support Mr. Hu's query. I think we have a duty incumbent on us to provide our prosecuting officers with the basic knowledge of legal principles, and I think there is a Police School here in Hong Kong that runs legal courses.
CHAIRMAN: In clarification, I would explain that Health Inspectors who are used in connexion with the conduct of prosecutions in courts are persons who have shown some interest in, and bent for, this particular kind of work. The Senior Health Inspector (Prosecutions) is, as I have said, a new appointment but steps are already being taken to arrange adequate training for all these officers in conjunction with the Legal Department. There need be no fear they will not be properly equipped for their work. I would also mention, in connexion with the remarks by Mr. Hu, that of course in serious cases Crown Counsel do come in to represent the Council in prosecutions.
The question was put.
The motion was carried,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(3) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu moved the following motion:
131
Resolved that for the betterment of Hong Kong as a whole this Council recommends the creation of Local Citizenship.
He said: May I move the resolution which stands in my name that for the betterment of Hong Kong as a whole, this Council recommends the adoption of Hong Kong Citizenship. In moving this motion I have little more to say. Usually I have no manuscript for my speeches in this Council, but in moving this motion I have prepared a manuscript. I will just read out what I have written:-
I think members of this Council may well be aware that the creation of Hong Kong Citizenship was a part of my election speech. But the idea of Citizenship was the product of western civilization. There was no such idea in the traditional oriental philosophy. There was only a vague idea in Chinese philosophy about 2,300 years ago but it soon vanished, and for the past two thousand years the all-powerful Kings ruled over China. Even in Europe, it was the growth of a group of people, consisting of intellectuals, lawyers, doctors, traders, etc. which spearheaded the movements for political and social reforms in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. To safeguard the fruits of numerous reforms, the idea of Citizenship was renovated and consolidated and then deep-rooted in Europe. Since the idea of Citizenship was not originated from this part of the world, it needs certain explanation. What is the true meaning of Citizenship? Citizenship in my view is the status of being a Citizen. In a democratic country a citizen is assured fair trial, just taxes and freedom of speech within the boundary of law. His government protects him when he travels in a foreign country. He is also provided with school facilities and with police and fire protection. It is quite clear that being a Citizen he or she shall enjoy certain fundamental rights such as the right to vote and right to hold public office and so on, but he or she should also assume certain basic duties to the community and render any essential services when needed such as Jury Service, Military Service, etc. But voting is not only a right but also a duty of a qualified citizen. The creation of Hong Kong Citizenship is not only a very necessary step to enlarge the franchise and thus to achieve a fully elected Municipal Council and Legislative or Executive Council, but it will also have a deep effect on the economic and social aspect of our life. It is my humble view that economic progress demands that every citizen be conscious of his social responsibility and make a fair contribution to the prosperity of the community. One effective method of attaining this object is by creating in the individual a greater awareness of his or her rights and duties in the community and the benefits that will accrue to him or her as a result of maintaining and developing such economic prosperity. The institution of citizenship in my view, will contribute towards an end to
Page 76 of 382
Page 76 of 382
130
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Health Officers
SCHEDULE.
Senior Health Inspector (Prosecutions)
Health Inspectors
He said: I rise to move the motion standing in my name as Item 4(2) on the Agenda.
This motion, which is connected with the previous motion, will convey authority to the Senior Health Inspector (Prosecutions) to con- duct proceedings before a magistrate's court.
I beg to move.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES seconded.
MR. HU: --About this question I have a query to raise :
In court, the proceedings are usually conducted either by a Crown Counsel or by a senior Police Officer. I understand that the senior Police Officers, although they are not legally qualified men, have certain legal knowl- edge. Do these Health Officers and Senior Health Inspectors or Health Inspectors also have the same amount of legal training?
MR. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, presumably your explanation in answer to my queries on the first Motion, that the post of Senior Health Inspector (Prosecutions) is to co-ordinate matters, automatically implies that the Senior Health Inspector (Prosecutions) usually prosecutes. I do not know whether I am right in that or whether other Health Officers and Health Inspectors usually prosecute, but certainly I would support Mr. Hu's query. I think we have a duty incumbent on us to provide our prosecuting officers with the basic knowledge of legal prin- ciples, and I think there is a Police School here in Hong Kong that runs legal courses.
CHAIRMAN: In clarification, I would explain that Health Inspec- tors who are used in connexion with the conduct of prosecutions in courts are persons who have shown some interest in, and bent for, this particular kind of work. The Senior Health Inspector (Prosecutions) is, as I have said, a new appointment but steps are already being taken to arrange adequate training for all these officers in conjunction with the Legal Department. There need be no fear they will not be properly equipped for their work. I would also mention, in connexion with the remarks by Mr. Hu, that of course in serious cases Crown Counsel do come in to represent the Council in prosecutions.
The question was put.
The motion was carried,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(3) MR. HENRY H. L. Hu moved the following motion:
131
Resolved that for the betterment of Hong Kong as a whole this Council recommends the creation of Local Citizen- ship.
He said: May I move the resolution which stands in my name that for the betterment of Hong Kong as a whole, this Council recom- mends the adoption of Hong Kong Citizenship. In moving this motion I have little more to say. Usually I have no manuscript for my speeches in this Council, but in moving this motion I have prepared a manuscript. I will just read out what I have written:-
I think members of this Council may well be aware that the crea- tion of Hong Kong Citizenship was a part of my election speech. But the idea of Citizenship was the product of western civilization. There was no such idea in the traditional oriental philosophy. There was only a vague idea in Chinese philosphy about 2,300 years ago but it soon vanished, and for the past two thousand years the all powerful Kings ruled over China. Even in Europe, it was the growth of a group of people, consisting of intellectuals, lawyers, doctors, traders, etc. which spearheaded the movements for political and social reforms in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. To safeguard the fruits of num- berous reforms, the idea of Citizenship was removated and consolidated and then deep-rooted in Europe. Since the idea of Citizenship was not originated from this part of the world, it needs certain explanation. What is the true meaning of Citizenship? Citizenship in my view is the status of being a Citizen. In a democratic country a citizen is assured fair trial, just taxes and freedom of speech within the boundary of law. His government protects him when he travels in a foreign country. He is also provided with school facilities and with police and fire protection. It is quite clear that being a Citizen he or she shall enjoy certain fundamental rights such as the right to vote and right to hold public office and so on, but he or she should also assume certain basic duties to the community and render any essential services when needed such as Jury Service, Military Service, etc. But voting is not only a right but also a duty of a qualified citizen. The creation of Hong Kong Citizenship is not only a very necessary step to enlarge the franchise and thus to achieve a fully elected Municipal Council and Legislative or Executive Council, but it will also have a deep effect on the economic and social aspect of our life. It is my humble view that economic progress demands that every citizen be conscious of his social responsibility and make a fair contribution to the prosperity of the community. One effective method of attaining this object is by creating in the individual a greater awareness of his or her rights and duties in the community and the benefits that will accrue to him or her as a result of maintaining and developing such economic prosperity. The institution of citizenship in my view, will contribute towards an end to
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