HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
Before proceeding with the agenda, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new Members, Mr. James Wu and Mr. Peter CHAN, who are taking their seats for the first time this afternoon, and of whom neither requires any introduction as they are only too well known in the community. At a time when there is talk in Hong Kong of a leadership vacuum, it is reassuring to know that there is no dearth of able leaders who are prepared to come forward and give of their time in the service of the people. I express to both of them our very best wishes for a long and happy association with this Council and our hope that they will find their work with us rewarding and stimulating.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs. Ellen LI, Mr. Peter NG and Mr. John BLAKER on their re-appointment to this Council for a further term of four years. It is gratifying to me personally to see that not too many members have left the Council prior to my assumption of duty.
There are also changes on the official side. I welcome amongst us this afternoon Mr. George NORTON and Mr. Trevor CLARK. NORTON joins this Council for the first time but is, of course, no stranger to us. Indeed, we have been indebted to him for many, many years for assisting in the processing of many of our schemes in which his department becomes involved. He is deputizing for Mr. Michael WRIGHT, who is away on leave for some six weeks. Mr. CLARK attends this meeting as Director of Social Welfare. He too is no stranger as he attended the May 1967 meeting when he acted as Commissioner for Resettlement.
Finally, I have to welcome back the Honourable Secretary for Chinese Affairs, after his memorable spell of duty acting as Colonial Secretary. I am sure that Members will agree with me when I say that the community owes Mr. HOLMES a very special debt of gratitude. Since the end of January, he has been absent on sick leave and we trust that he has fully recovered from his illness and is once again ready for the rough and tumble of Council debate. (Laughter).
Because of the uncertainty of the date on which Mr. HOLMES was to return to duty with this Council, it has not been possible up till now to pay tribute to the sterling manner in which Mr. Paul TSUI acted as Secretary for Chinese Affairs—both in and out of Council—during Mr. HOLMES' absence and I am sure that Members will all wish to join with me now in paying tribute to Mr. Tsui.
For myself, I would like to say that it's nice to be back amongst old friends again and some new ones. I have very happy recollections of my previous service with this Council, and I am sure that with the co-operation and assistance of Members, I shall have on this occasion an equally happy association.
I would also like to ask your permission to add one item to the agenda. After the Report by the Chairman of the City Hall Select Committee item 4 on the Agenda I should like to make a statement on last month's motion concerning the City District Officer scheme, in accordance with your wishes that I keep you informed on the implementation of and action taken on all motions passed by this Council. Information about this matter reached me only yesterday—after the agenda for today's meeting had been issued, and I should be grateful for your permission to make a statement this afternoon.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 5th March, 1968 were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of March, 1968.
(2) Statement of Progress for 1967-68.
CHAIRMAN: -When the monthly report on the work of this Council and the Department was tabled at last month's Council meeting, Dr. BELL referred to the Ward Office statistics and reminded my predecessor of her request for a stenographer for her Ward Office. I am happy to say that financial provision has now been made for this purpose and a stenographer has been provided and started work in Dr. BELL's office yesterday evening. The Secretary will keep these arrangements under review in the next few weeks so as to ensure that they meet the needs of the Ward Office. These arrangements may be regarded as a pilot scheme and once they're working satisfactorily they can be extended to assist other members who have made similar requests for stenographers.
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, may I say a few words on the Ward system. You anticipated me, I was going to thank you for providing me with a stenographer last night—a very wonderful stenographer too. I'm afraid we kept her there until a quarter past ten from the time she arrived; we had a large number of cases. I wanted particularly to draw attention to the type of case that is increasing just now and that is the number of people who are coming to ask for a job. We are in a very difficult position with regard to this in the Ward Offices. We have a list given to us of employment exchanges and I have found that by
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
Before proceeding with the agenda, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new Members, Mr. James Wu and Mr. Peter CHAN, who are taking their seats for the first time this afternoon, and of whom neither requires any introduction as they are only too well known in the community. At a time when there is talk in Hong Kong of a leadership vacuum, it is reassuring to know that there is no dearth of able leaders who are prepared to come forward and give of their time in the service of the people. I express to both of them our very best wishes for a long and happy association with this Council and our hope that they will find their work with us rewarding and stimulating.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs. Ellen LI, Mr. Peter NG and Mr. John BLAKER on their re-appointment to this Council for a further term of four years. It is gratifying to me person- ally to see that not too many members have left the Council prior to my assumption of duty.
There are also changes on the official side. I welcome amongst Mr. us this afternoon Mr. George NORTON and Mr. Trevor CLARK. NORTON joins this Council for the first time but is, of course, no stranger to us. Indeed, we have been indebted to him for many, many years for assisting in the processing of many of our schemes in which his depart- ment becomes involved. He is deputizing for Mr. Michael WRIGHT, who is away on leave for some six weeks. Mr. CLARK attends this meeting as Director of Social Welfare. He too is no stranger as he attended the May 1967 meeting when he acted as Commissioner for Resettlement.
Finally, I have to welcome back the Honourable Secretary for Chinese Affairs, after his memorable spell of duty acting as Colonial Secretary. I am sure that Members will agree with me when I say that the community owes Mr. HOLMES a very special debt of gratitude. Since the end of January, he has been absent on sick leave and we trust that he has fully recovered from his illness and is once again ready for the rough and tumble of Council debate. (Laughter).
Because of the uncertainty of the date on which Mr. HOLMES was to return to duty with this Council, it has not been possible up till now to pay tribute to the sterling manner in which Mr. Paul TSUI acted as Secretary for Chinese Affairs-both in and out of Council- during Mr. HOLMES' absence and I am sure that Members will all wish to join with me now in paying tribute to Mr. Tsui.
For myself, I would like to say that it's nice to be back amongst old friends again and some new ones. I have very happy recollections
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
3
of my previous service with this Council, and I am sure that with the co-operation and assistance of Members, I shall have on this occasion an equally happy association.
I would also like to ask your permission to add one item to the agenda. After the Report by the Chairman of the City Hall Select Committee item 4 on the Agenda I should like to make a statement on last month's motion concerning the City District Officer scheme, in accordance with your wishes that I keep you informed on the imple- mentation of and action taken on all motions passed by this Council. Information about this matter reached me only yesterday-after the agenda for today's meeting had been issued, and I should be grateful for your permission to make a statement this afternoon.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 5th March, 1968 were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of March, 1968.
(2) Statement of Progress for 1967-68.
CHAIRMAN: -When the monthly report on the work of this Council and the Department was tabled at last month's Council meeting, Dr. BELL referred to the Ward Office statistics and reminded my predecessor of her request for a stenographer for her Ward Office. I am happy to say that financial provision has now been made for this purpose and a stenographer has been provided and started work in Dr. BELL's office yesterday evening. The Secretary will keep these arrangements under review in the next few weeks so as to ensure that they meet the needs of the Ward Office. These arrangements may be regarded as a pilot scheme and once they're working satisfactorily they can be extended to assist other members who have made similar requests for stenographers.
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, may I say a few words on the Ward system. You anticipated me, I was going to thank you for providing me with a stenographer last night-a very wonderful stenographer too. I'm afraid we kept her there until a quarter past ten from the time she arrived; we had a large number of cases. I wanted particularly to draw attention to the type of case that is increasing just now and that is the number of people who are coming to ask for a job. We are in a very difficult position with regard to this in the Ward Offices. We have a list given to us of employment exchanges and I have found that by
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