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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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from Mandarin to English and Cantonese-a tri-lingual translation— quite satisfactorily.

MR. BERNACCHI :· Mr. Chairman, as the original mover of this motion, and as a member of the Ad Hoc Committee, I must make a personal statement in this respect. Although there are some difficulties I do not think they are in any way insurmountable, and the proposals which are coming before the Standing Committee will, if adopted, make a considerable advance in the progress of simultaneous translation. I do say that I cannot accept your statement that the difficulties are enormous. The difficulties are mainly in regard to the engagement of interpreters, training of interpreters, and if Government is prepared to pay the interpreter the wages he is entitled to as an interpreter, this whole matter can easily be overcome.

CHAIRMAN: Sir, I accept much of what you have said, but I made the remarks which I made because it is only two months ago since Mr. Hu raised this same subject in a previous question, and I get the impression that he underestimates the difficulties.

MOTION.

The Chairman, Urban Council, moved the following motion:-

RESOLVED-

(1) Under section 59 of the Urban Council Ordinance 1955 that the persons whose names are set out in the first column of the attached Schedule shall be the Members of the Select Committees detailed for the period up to the commencement of the first meeting of the Urban Council in April 1967 except that Dr. R. H. S. LEE, Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN, Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in, Mrs. E. ELLIOTT and Mr. Solomon RAFEEK whose respective terms of office as elected members expire on 31st March, 1967 shall be Mem- bers of the relevant Select Committees until that date.

(ii) Under Standing Order 22(6) that the Chairman of each Select Committee shall be as set out in the first column of the atached Schedule for the period up to the commencement of the first meeting of the Urban Council in April 1967 except that Dr. R. H. S. LEE, Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN, Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in and Mrs. E. ELLIOTT whose respective terms of office as elected members expired on 31st March, 1967 shall be Chairmen of the relevant Select Committees until that date.

(iii) Under section 60(1) of the Urban Council Ordinance 1955 and section 5(1) of the Resettlement Ordinance 1958 that the powers and functions of the Council as set out in the second column of the attached Schedule be delegated to the Select Committees shown in the first column for the period up to the commencement of the first meeting of the Urban Council in April 1967.

(iv) Under section 60(1) of the Urban Council Ordinance 1955 that the power of the Council under section 59 of the Ordinance to change by appointment or removal the personnel of each Select Committee be delegated to that Select Committee:

Provided that each such change shall be reported to the Council at its next meeting.

He said: I rise to move the motion standing in my name as item 4 on the Order Paper, regarding the constitution, terms of reference and appointment of chairmen of Select Committees for the period 5th April, 1966 to the date of the first meeting of the Council to be held in April 1967.

I should mention specifically the change of name of the Urban Amenities Select Committee to Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee and the reference to recreation facilities in the terms of reference of the newly titled Committee. I should mention also the abolition of the Air-conditioning and Street Names Select Committees. The functions of these two Committees are to be taken over by the Environmental Hygiene and the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committees respectively.

I am pleased to see that the new Appointed Members are to take an active part in committee work.

I would like to call attention to the appointment of two of our lady Members, Dr. BELL and Mrs. ELLIOTT, to chair the Resettlement Policy and Library Select Committees respectively. This innovation indicates the high esteem in which Dr. BELL and Mrs. ELLIOTT are held by their colleagues, and I wish them every success in their new positions.

I beg to move. (Applause).

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-Sir, I rise to second the motion.

MR. BERNACCHI: Sir, whilst entirely endorsing your comments, I would propose just two amendments. I am sorry that I did not give