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Chairman, that the gentlemen upon whom we are today conferring the same powers as before to deal with such sanitary nuisance will in fact be stimulated to get to work and take action to see that the estates are kept in a state fit for human beings to live in—Heaven knows they are already overcrowded and congested enough without at the same time becoming vast rubbish dumps and sanitary nuisances. With this hope Mr. Chairman I second the motion before us.
CHAIRMAN: Does any other member wish to speak?
MR. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, simply to say that this motion brings out what I indicated in support of a motion a few meetings ago, that these Resettlement Officers be given part of the duties of the Hawker Control Force. I said then, and now say it again, that Resettlement Officers are becoming more and more Housing Officers. Dr. BELL's speech brings this point out in particular, that they should be trained in housing estate matters generally. There are courses which I think the Commissioner for Resettlement should encourage them to take so that they will really know what housing officers are expected to do, and thereby the state of the Resettlement Estates can, I feel sure, gradually be improved.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
FAREWELL TO MR. J. C. McDOUALL, C.M.G.
CHAIRMAN: Before closing the meeting members will wish me to bid farewell to Mr. MCDOUALL, who is attending his last meeting today. Mr. McDOUALL has been a member of the Council since May, 1957, almost ten years. He will on retirement be replaced by Mr. D. R. HOLMES. I have always been very glad to have Mr. MCDOUALL in the seat on my left.
Mr. ROBSON, who has been acting as Director of Public Works during the absence of Mr. WRIGHT, is also attending his last meeting as Mr. WRIGHT is due to return to Hong Kong on the 13th October (Applause).
MR. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, on behalf of all the Unofficial Members of this Council, I too would wish Mr. McDOUALL all the best on his retirement. I did not know until just now that this was to be the last meeting he will be attending. There has been, I think, a great number of compliments paid to his Department in the debate on the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, and he himself has done very much to bring that about. I first came into contact with Mr. McDOUALL when he was Senior Social Welfare Officer in the days when Social Welfare had not yet aspired to be a separate department. I was very much impressed with his attitude and his handling of Social Welfare and I feel sure that Hong Kong will suffer a great loss in his retirement. I wish him and Mrs. McDOUALL all the best on their retirement from all the Unofficials of this Council. (Applause).
MR. MCDOUALL: Thank you very much Mr. Chairman. Thank you Mr. BERNACCHI. All I can say is I am going to be very, very sorry to part with this Council. I can say sincerely I do enjoy, in the right sense, the meetings of the Council. Possibly more the meetings in committee than in open council, because they are freer. I have really enjoyed and learned so much, and I feel I am losing out heavily in parting from so many friends. Thank you for your friendship and, I hope, "Au Revoir". Now don't let me keep you from dinner. (Laughter). (Applause).
ADJOURNMENT — 7.45 P.M.
CHAIRMAN: Ladies and Gentlemen, that concludes the business of the Meeting. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 29th November at 2.30 p.m.
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Chairman, that the gentlemen upon whom we are today conferring the same powers as before to deal with such sanitary nuisance will in fact be stimulated to get to work and take action to see that the estates are kept in a state fit for human beings to live in—Heaven knows they are already overcrowded and congested enough without at the same time becoming vast rubbish dumps and sanitary nuisances. With this hope Mr. Chairman I second the motion before us.
CHAIRMAN: Does any other member wish to speak?
MR. BERNACCHI:----Mr. Chairman, simply to say that this motion brings out what I indicated in support of a motion a few meetings ago, that these Resettlement Officers be given part of the duties of the Hawker Control Force. I said then, and now say it again, that Resettle- ment Officers are becoming more and more Housing Officers. Dr. BELL's speech brings this point out in particular, that they should be trained in housing estate matters generally. There are courses which I think the Commissioner for Resettlement should encourage them to take so that they will really know what housing officers are expected to do, and thereby the state of the Resettlement Estates can, I feel sure, gradually be improved.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
FAREWELL TO MR. J. C. McDOUALL, C.M.G.
CHAIRMAN: -Before closing the meeting members will wish me to bid farewell to Mr. MCDOUALL, who is attending his last meeting to-day. Mr. McDOUALL has been a member of the Council since May, 1957, almost ten years. He will on retirement be replaced by Mr. D. R. HOLMES. I have always been very glad to have Mr. MCDOUALL in the seat on my left.
Mr. ROBSON, who has been acting as Director of Public Works during the absence of Mr. WRIGHT, is also attending his last meeting as Mr. WRIGHT is due to return to Hong Kong on the 13th October (Applause).
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, on behalf of all the Unofficial Members of this Council, I too would wish Mr. McDOUALL all the best on his retirement. I did not know until just now that this was to be the last meeting he will be attending. There has been, I think, a great number of compliments paid to his Department in the debate on the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee, and he himself has done very much to bring that about. I first came into contact with Mr. McDOUALL when he was Senior Social Welfare Officer in the days when Social
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Welfare had not yet aspired to be a separate department. I was very much impressed with his attitude and his handling of Social Welfare and I feel sure that Hong Kong will suffer a great loss in his retirement. I wish him and Mrs. McDOUALL all the best on their retirement from all the Unofficials of this Council. (Applause).
MR. MCDOUALL:-Thank you very much Mr. Chairman. Thank you Mr. BERNACCHI. All I can say is I am going to be very, very sorry to part with this Council. I can say sincerely I do enjoy, in the right sense, the meetings of the Council. Possibly more the meetings in committee than in open council, because they are freer. I have really enjoyed and learned so much, and I feel I am losing out heavily in parting from so many friends. Thank you for your friendship and, I hope, "Au Revoir". Now don't let me keep you from dinner. (Laughter). (Applause).
ADJOURNMENT — 7.45 P.M.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and Gentlemen, that concludes the business of the Meeting. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 29th November at 2.30 p.m.
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