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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I would be grateful if you could do that, Sir, and also have copies made available to members of this Council.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN (Page 61)
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, may I under Standing Order No. 8(2), and in relation to your answer given at this meeting to a question I put to the then Chairman, Mr. KINGHORN, ask whether His Excellency the Governor considers this Council to be part of the Government of Hong Kong? I would say that I do not expect an answer today.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I have an answer ready, except that it does not come from His Excellency the Governor. Mr. SALES did at the time of the February meeting raise something very similar, and in case he brought it up I had an answer ready. (Laughter)
MR. SALES: Sir, may I thank you for having given me the opportunity of explaining why the Appointed Members and I have not asked questions at all today, much less the question that you expected of me on the matter of the Urban Council's position in the Government organization structure. The reason is this: the Appointed Members consider this to be a "closed season" because we have a new Chairman, and we don't think it's fair game to put questions to a new Chairman until he has settled down well in office, so we have resorted to the role of just giving replies in the excellent way that my colleague, Mr. WONG, has replied to the question on preserving food. And I would like particularly the answer given by Mr. WONG to be referred to the Director of Medical and Health Services because I want it to be filed in support of a long fight which I have put up to have Mr. WONG's qualifications properly recognized in a medical manner. (Laughter)
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now answer Mr. BERNACCHI'S question.
The question, if I may paraphrase, is-"is this Council an organ of Government?"
The question cannot be answered shortly because of the different meanings which can be attributed to the word Government. I am informed that in one sense Government means the constitutional body in which rests the ultimate authority and responsibility for governing this Colony; in this sense the Government is Her Majesty the Queen acting through the Governor and his Legislative Council. It will be seen that, in this sense, this Council is not a Council of Government. In another sense Government can be understood as the aggregate of persons and bodies exercising control in those spheres which are normally considered as being the responsibility of a Government. This Council has had conferred upon it by the Legislative Council certain governmental functions; using the word in this broader sense.
In carrying out these governmental functions it is an instrument of the constitutional government.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Thank you.
MR. SALES:-Sir, may I suggest that the answer that has been given to us be referred to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council so that we may consider it properly.
MR. BERNACCHI:-I second that proposition.
CHAIRMAN: Since it is the majority wish, I will do so. I had hoped I would be able to tidy this matter away instead of prolonging it.
ADJOURNMENT · 5.20 P.M.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and Gentlemen, that concludes our business for today. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday the 7th June, 1966 at 4.00 p.m.
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should be revised to keep the original page information at the top and bottom as per instruction 11. Revised response:Page 52 of 279
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I would be grateful if you could do that, Sir, and also have copies made available to members of this Council.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN (Page 61)
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, may I under Standing Order No. 8(2), and in relation to your answer given at this meeting to a question I put to the then Chairman, Mr. KINGHORN, ask whether His Excellency the Governor considers this Council to be part of the Government of Hong Kong? I would say that I do not expect an answer today.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I have an answer ready, except that it does not come from His Excellency the Governor. Mr. SALES did at the time of the February meeting raise something very similar, and in case he brought it up I had an answer ready. (Laughter)
MR. SALES: Sir, may I thank you for having given me the opportunity of explaining why the Appointed Members and I have not asked questions at all today, much less the question that you expected of me on the matter of the Urban Council's position in the Government organization structure. The reason is this: the Appointed Members consider this to be a "closed season" because we have a new Chairman, and we don't think it's fair game to put questions to a new Chairman until he has settled down well in office, so we have resorted to the role of just giving replies in the excellent way that my colleague, Mr. WONG, has replied to the question on preserving food. And I would like particularly the answer given by Mr. WONG to be referred to the Director of Medical and Health Services because I want it to be filed in support of a long fight which I have put up to have Mr. WONG's qualifications properly recognized in a medical manner. (Laughter)
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now answer Mr. BERNACCHI'S question.
The question, if I may paraphrase, is-"is this Council an organ of Government?"
The question cannot be answered shortly because of the different meanings which can be attributed to the word Government. I am informed that in one sense Government means the constitutional body in which rests the ultimate authority and responsibility for governing this Colony; in this sense the Government is Her Majesty the Queen acting through the Governor and his Legislative Council. It will be seen that, in this sense, this Council is not a Council of Government. In another sense Government can be understood as the aggregate of persons and bodies exercising control in those spheres which are normally considered as being the responsibility of a Government. This Council has had conferred upon it by the Legislative Council certain governmental functions; using the word in this broader sense.
In carrying out these governmental functions it is an instrument of the constitutional government.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Thank you.
MR. SALES:-Sir, may I suggest that the answer that has been given to us be referred to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council so that we may consider it properly.
MR. BERNACCHI:-I second that proposition.
CHAIRMAN: Since it is the majority wish, I will do so. I had hoped I would be able to tidy this matter away instead of prolonging it.
ADJOURNMENT · 5.20 P.M.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and Gentlemen, that concludes our business for today. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday the 7th June, 1966 at 4.00 p.m.
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The final response is:Page 52 of 279
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I would be grateful if you could do that, Sir, and also have copies made available to members of this Council.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN (Page 61)
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, may I under Standing Order No. 8(2), and in relation to your answer given at this meeting to a question I put to the then Chairman, Mr. KINGHORN, ask whether His Excellency the Governor considers this Council to be part of the Government of Hong Kong? I would say that I do not expect an answer today.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I have an answer ready, except that it does not come from His Excellency the Governor. Mr. SALES did at the time of the February meeting raise something very similar, and in case he brought it up I had an answer ready. (Laughter)
MR. SALES: Sir, may I thank you for having given me the opportunity of explaining why the Appointed Members and I have not asked questions at all today, much less the question that you expected of me on the matter of the Urban Council's position in the Government organization structure. The reason is this: the Appointed Members consider this to be a "closed season" because we have a new Chairman, and we don't think it's fair game to put questions to a new Chairman until he has settled down well in office, so we have resorted to the role of just giving replies in the excellent way that my colleague, Mr. WONG, has replied to the question on preserving food. And I would like particularly the answer given by Mr. WONG to be referred to the Director of Medical and Health Services because I want it to be filed in support of a long fight which I have put up to have Mr. WONG's qualifications properly recognized in a medical manner. (Laughter)
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now answer Mr. BERNACCHI'S question.
The question, if I may paraphrase, is-"is this Council an organ of Government?"
The question cannot be answered shortly because of the different meanings which can be attributed to the word Government. I am informed that in one sense Government means the constitutional body in which rests the ultimate authority and responsibility for governing this Colony; in this sense the Government is Her Majesty the Queen acting through the Governor and his Legislative Council. It will be seen that, in this sense, this Council is not a Council of Government. In another sense Government can be understood as the aggregate of persons and bodies exercising control in those spheres which are normally considered as being the responsibility of a Government. This Council has had conferred upon it by the Legislative Council certain governmental functions; using the word in this broader sense.
In carrying out these governmental functions it is an instrument of the constitutional government.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Thank you.
MR. SALES:-Sir, may I suggest that the answer that has been given to us be referred to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council so that we may consider it properly.
MR. BERNACCHI:-I second that proposition.
CHAIRMAN: Since it is the majority wish, I will do so. I had hoped I would be able to tidy this matter away instead of prolonging it.
ADJOURNMENT · 5.20 P.M.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and Gentlemen, that concludes our business for today. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday the 7th June, 1966 at 4.00 p.m.
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Page 53 of 279
279
Page 52 of 279
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I would be grateful if you could do that, Sir, and also have copies made available to members of this Council.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN (Page 61)
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, may I under Standing Order No. 8(2), and in relation to your answer given at this meeting to a question I put to the then Chairman, Mr. KINGHORN, ask whether His Excellency the Governor considers this Council to be part of the Govern- ment of Hong Kong? I would say that I do not expect an answer today.
CHAIRMAN: -Sir, I have an answer ready, except that it does not come from His Excellency the Governor. Mr. SALES did at the time of the February meeting raise something very similar, and in case he brought it up I had an answer ready. (Laughter)
MR. SALES: Sir, may I thank you for having given me the oppor- tunity of explaining why the Appointed Members and I have not asked questions at all today, much less the question that you expected of me on the matter of the Urban Council's position in the Government organization structure. The reason is this: the Appointed Members consider this to be a "closed season" because we have a new Chair- man, and we don't think it's fair game to put questions to a new Chairman until he has settled down well in office, so we have resorted to the role of just giving replies in the excellent way that my colleague, Mr. WONG, has replied to the question on preserving food. And I would like particularly the answer given by Mr. WONG to be referred to the Director of Medical and Health Services because I want it to be filed in support of a long fight which I have put up to have Mr. WONG's quali- fications properly recognized in a medical manner. (Laughter)
CHAIRMAN: -Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now answer Mr. BERNACCHI'S question.
The question, if I may paraphrase, is-"is this Council an organ of Government?”
The question cannot be answered shortly because of the different meanings which can be attributed to the word Government. I am in- formed that in one sense Government means the constitutional body in which rests the ultimate authority and responsibility for governing this Colony; in this sense the Government is Her Majesty the Queen acting through the Governor and his Legislative Council. It will be seen that, in this sense, this Council is not a Council of Government. In another sense Government can be understood as the aggregate of persons and bodies exercising control in those spheres which are normally considered as being the responsibility of a Government. This
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
83
Council has had conferred upon it by the Legislative Council certain governmental functions; using the word in this broader sense.
In carry-
ing out these governmental functions it is an instrument of the constitu- tional government.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Thank you.
MR. SALES: -Sir, may I suggest that the answer that has been given to us be referred to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council so that we may consider it properly.
MR. BERNACCHI:-I second that proposition.
CHAIRMAN: Since it is the majority wish, I will do so. I had hoped I would be able to tidy this matter away instead of prolonging it.
ADJOURNMENT · 5.20 P.M.
—
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and Gentlemen, that concludes our business for today. Council stands adjourned until Tuesday the 7th June, 1966 at 4.00 p.m.
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