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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

While we do not propose to mount another full-scale urban campaign against spitting within the next 12 months, I would like to make the point that the continuing educa- tion of young people in the many reasons why they should not spit is not something which can be left entirely to the schools and the Urban Council. Young people are in- fluenced by everyone with whom they have contact, and I would welcome the co-operation of Kaifong Associa- tions, youth leaders, professional men and women, business and factory managements, and, not least, parents, in our efforts to eliminate spitting in public places within the next decade.

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, am I to detect dissension in the Civic Association camp because Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has filed two questions to be answered by senior members of that political party? (Laughter). Could he not have obtained that information directly from Mr. LI Yiu-bor and Dr. P. F. Woo?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, on a point of explanation for the benefit of Mr. SALES who was one month out of the Colony . . .

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, correction, five weeks.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thirty-five days to be exact.

I should men- tion, Mr. Chairman, that I was not aware that Dr. Woo would be answering to-day's question. I had anticipated that Mr. Li Yiu-bor would answer the first question, but I consider that this is a matter of public importance, and it did not matter who answered the question, whether Mr. Li Yiu-bor or the Commissioner for Resettlement. I think we must put the interest of the public first and foremost.

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I have not been given a chance to make a speech just as Mr. CHEONG-LEEN has on two occasions. (Laughter).

(3) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:

I have received suggestions from members of the public urging that the name of the Hawker Control Force be changed to "Hawker Service Corps" (JW). Would the Chairman, in his capacity as Director of Urban Services, agree to seek the advice of the relevant Select Committee on this suggestion.

THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:

This question concerns a proposal to change the name of the

Hawker Control Force.

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I have considered this proposal and have also asked the Honourable Secretary for Chinese Affairs for his com- ments. It is our feeling that the real problem of the Hawker Control Force is one of improving relations with the public, and that this will not be solved, or even significantly improved, by a change of name alone.

The first and most urgent task is for this Council to review urgently its hawker policy while the Department con- siders what requires to be done about the Control Force itself.

If a policy can be worked out which is easily understood by everyone concerned and is easily enforced, then it should be possible to secure the support necessary for its success- ful implementation. And as a result, the task of the Hawker Control Force will surely be very much simpler, leading, I would like to think, to a greater degree of acceptance of the Force and its role than has hitherto been accorded. If things work out in this way, it may not be necessary to consider re-naming the Hawker Control Force, though I shall always be open to advice about this.

In the case of the new name suggested, i.e., the Hawker Service Corps, I think that this might be misleading since it could equally well be the name of an organization formed by hawkers for the purpose of serving either their fellow- hawkers or others. I must stress also that, in my opinion, "control" of hawkers will always be a basic essential part of the work of the Force-in the interest, not only of the hawkers themselves, but also in the interests of those other members of the public who get caught up in the hawker problem.

For these reasons, I do not consider it would be appropriate for me at present to invite the Hawker Policy Select Com- mittee to consider any change in the name of the Force.

MR. BERNACCHI : I rise, Mr. Chairman, to make a personal state- ment. I expressly dissociate myself from the implication that it is not for this Council to consider what requires to be done about the Control Force itself.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, are you aware that there is a certain body of opinion among the Chinese speaking community which would be in favour of the suggestion which has been made as contained in the question?

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