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The motion has been proposed and seconded.
Does any member wish to speak on the amending motion?
MR. HUI: I will say very briefly that I think it is a good idea. Just now, Mr. Chairman, MR. CHEONG-LEEN asked me to read his speech again. As a matter of fact, I said, and I still say now, that it is a good idea. If there is no amending motion, I will still vote for MR. CHEONG-LEEN's original motion. (Laughter). This is also a very good idea, as a matter of fact, I shall probably support the amending motion. It is the same thing really, with probably better wording.
MR. WONG: Mr. Chairman, I would also like to support the amending motion, but without making a speech.
CHAIRMAN: Does any other member wish to speak?
MR. LI: The only thing I am afraid of is that, if you say you compel the children in Resettlement Estates to attend school, what about the children in the urban areas who are outside the Resettlement Estates?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I explain? First, we all deplore the fact that to keep the motion within Standing Orders we have to keep it within the Resettlement Estates. Secondly, if Government is able to do that in the Resettlement Estates, it follows that Government should be able to do it over the entire Colony, but the term "in Resettlement Estates" is a device to get it within the competence of the Urban Council, although our sentiment is that it should be Colony-wide.
MR. LI: Mr. Chairman, I rise on a point of clarification. I think if MR. CHEONG-LEEN had sought the permission of the Committee of the Whole to move an ultra vires motion, it would have saved all this trouble. (Laughter).
MR. LO: Mr. Chairman, I think that compulsory education must be tied up with free education. I do not see how you can compel children to go to school on the one hand, unless on the other hand you provide them with free places. I feel I cannot vote for that. I still support the motion as it stands.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I again explain? First and foremost, again to bring this matter within the ambit of the Council, we have scrupulously avoided the question of money. It is understood that, in connection with Resettlement Estates, if Government wants to introduce universal, compulsory education, evidently Government must be able to back it up, either with free education or highly subsidized to the extent that education would be like a medical clinic, virtually free.
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MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, instead of using the word "compel", could we use the word "induce"?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I am prepared if it is the sentiment of this Council to go all the way, to introduce the adjective "free" - "adequate free places for this purpose", but the word "compel", for the information of MR. Peter NG, is tied up with the Declaration of Human Rights. It is the term "universal, compulsory, free education" so that the word "compel" is not an innovation on my part. It is just borrowing a universally accepted term.
MR. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, I second that amendment.
CHAIRMAN: Ladies and gentlemen, I will now call for a vote on the amending motion, which reads "This Council urges Government to compel children of primary school age in Resettlement Estates to attend school, and to provide adequate free places for them".
The question was put.
The substitute motion as amended was carried with 9 votes for, 2 against and 5 abstentions.
(3) THE CHAIRMAN, Urban Council, moved the following motion:
"RESOLVED —
(1) Under section 59 of the Urban Council Ordinance 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, 1968, except that:
(a) Dr. R. H. S. LEE, MR. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN, MR. CHEUNG Wing-in, Mrs. E. ELLIOTT and MR. Solomon RAFEEK, whose respective terms of office as Elected Members expire on 30th June, 1967 shall be Members of the relevant Select Committees until that date;
and (b) MR. Wilfred S. B. WONG, Mrs. Ellen Li Shu-pui, MR. Daniel S. H. LAM, MR. Peter P. K. NG and MR. D. J. R. BLAKER, whose respective terms of office as Appointed Members expire on 31st March, 1968 shall be Members of the relevant Select Committees until that date;
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The motion has been proposed and seconded.
Does any member wish to speak on the amending motion?
MR. HU-I will say very briefly that I think it is a good idea. Just now, Mr. Chairman, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN asked me to read his speech again. As a matter of fact I said, and I still say now, that it is a good idea. If there is no amending motion, I will still vote for Mr. CHEONG-LEEN'S original motion. (Laughter). This is also a very good idea, as a matter of fact, I shall probably support the amending motion. It is the same thing really, with probably better wording.
MR. WONG: Mr. Chairman, I would also like to support the amending motion, but without making a speech.
CHAIRMAN: Does any other member wish to speak?
MR. LI:-The only thing I am afraid of is that, if you say you compel the children in Resettlement Estates to attend school, what about the children in the urban areas who are outside the Resettlement Estates?
MR. SALES: --Mr. Chairman, may I explain? First, we all deplore the fact that to keep the motion within Standing Orders we have to keep it within the Resettlement Estates. Secondly, if Government is able to do that in the Resettlement Estates, it follows that Government should be able to do it over the entire Colony, but the term "in Resettle- ment Estates" is a device to get it within the competence of the Urban Council, although our sentiment is that it should be Colony-wide.
MR. LI: Mr. Chairman, I rise on a point of clarification. I think if Mr. CHEONG-LEEN had sought the permission of the Com- mittee of the Whole to move an ultra vires motion, it would have saved all this trouble. (Laughter).
MR. Lo:-Mr. Chairman, I think that compulsory education must be tied up with free education. I do not see how you can compel children to go to school on the one hand, unless on the other hand you provide them with free places. I feel I cannot vote for that. I still support the motion as it stands.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I again explain? First and foremost, again to bring this matter within the ambit of the Council, we have scruplously avoided the question of money. It is understood that, in connexion with Resettlement Estates, if Government wants to introduce universal, compulsory education, evidently Government must be able to back it up, either with free education or highly subsidized to the extent that education would be like a medical clinic, virtually free.
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MR. NG:Mr. Chairman, instead of using the word "compel", could we use the word "induce"?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I am prepared if it is the sentiment of this Council to go all the way, to introduce the adjective "free"- "adequate free places for this purpose", but the word "compel”, for the information of Mr. Peter NG, is tied up with the Declaration of Human Rights. It is the term "universal, compulsory, free education" so that the word "compel" is not an innovation on my part. It is just borrowing a universally accepted term.
MR. BERNACCHI: ---Mr. Chairman, I second that amendment.
CHAIRMAN: ---Ladies and gentlement, I will now call for a vote on the amending motion, which reads "This Council urges Government to compel children of primary school age in Resettlement Estates to attend school, and to provide adequate free places for them".
The question was put.
The substitute motion as amended was carried with 9 votes for, 2 against and 5 abstentions.
(3) THE CHAIRMAN, Urban Council, moved the following motion:
"RESOLVED—
(1) Under section 59 of the Urban Council Ordinance 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 com- mencement of the first meeting of the Urban Council in April, 1968, except that:-
(a) Dr. R. H. S. LEE, Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN, Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in, Mrs. E. ELLIOTT and Mr. Solomon RAFEEK, whose respective terms of office as Elected Members expire on 30th June, 1967 shall be Members of the relevant Select Committees until that date;
and (b) Mr. Wilfred S. B. WONG, Mrs. Ellen Li Shu-pui, Mr. Daniel S. H. LAM, Mr. Peter P. K. NG and Mr. D. J. R. BLAKER, whose respective terms of office as Appointed Members expire on 31st March, 1968 shall be Members of the relevant Select Committees until
that date.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.