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MR. SALES: Surely, Mr. Chairman, we must assume that there are reasonably intelligent men in both these departments who would co-ordinate such a programme at their level and it should not be necessary for the Select Committee to be concerned with the implementation of policy which the Select Committee has decided. All the Select Committee should be concerned with is for progress reports to be submitted to the Select Committee as to how policy matters have been put into practice. This is strictly a business principle. My Select Committee has a very heavy programme and I would certainly not like to see the Select Committee's time taken up in matters of detail for which there are paid staff.
MRS. ELLIOTT: Mr. Chairman, I am not criticizing the Parks, Recreation and Amenities but may I make it plain to Mr. SALES that it will be a waste of time moving obstructions and causing trouble in the estates, it will just bring out more in their places and therefore that is why I said delay.
MR. SALES: Yes but, Mr. Chairman, my point is this, it is reasonable to assume that the staff employed by the Hong Kong Government would be just as conscious of these difficulties as we are, the moment the policy has been agreed between the Resettlement Department and the Urban Services Department under the guidance of the Select Committee themselves.
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, could I ask a supplementary, perhaps Mr. ASERAPPA can answer it, has a policy been agreed between the Urban Services Department and the Resettlement Department on this matter?
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, it is not for the departments to agree on the policy with the Urban Council; it is up to the Select Committees to establish policies and for the departments to carry them out. I think that is fundamental practice in the Urban Council.
DR. BELL: Perhaps I phrased the question badly, Mr. Chairman, I think Mr. SALES said in his reply that it was now over to the Resettlement Department and the Urban Services Department to liaise to see what could be done. Have they in fact liaised and what are they doing because in fact the removal of these obstructions has started.
CHAIRMAN: As far as I know Dr. BELL liaison has taken place.
DR. BELL: Might we be informed of the result of the liaison?
CHAIRMAN: I need notice of the question Dr. BELL.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
29
(13) MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question:--
What steps are or had been taken by this Council to have trained recreational and play leaders in the parks and playgrounds under this Council's jurisdiction to help to co-ordinate young people's activities in these playgrounds?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows:
This question concerns the provision of trained recreation and play leaders in parks and playgrounds managed by the Urban Council. I am obliged to Mr. BERNACCHI for this opportunity to give my Select Committee's views on a matter of much public interest at the present time. In my answer, I am separating the post of a Recreation Officer, which I have long considered of the greatest importance for our purpose, and the functions of play leaders.
In February 1964 I stated in this Council that the then Urban Amenities Select Committee had put forward a definite staffing proposal to the Government for the top calibre men required to give adequate support to the programmes drawn up by that Committee. Those proposals were in fact for:
(i) a properly qualified officer able to take charge of all work connected with the administration, development and layout of parks and playgrounds, etc.; and
(ii) another suitably qualified officer able to organize recreational activities and so put to best use all the playgrounds and other sports facilities, particularly by the underprivileged children in the community.
In April 1965 the Government provided the Council with the services of the Principal Amenities Officer who performs the first of these functions. But, up to the present time, despite repeated requests in committee and in public meetings, the Government has not seen fit to employ a properly trained and fully qualified Recreation Officer to take overall charge of our public recreational facilities and put them to the best possible use.
Instead, the Government has seconded an Executive Officer, presumably on a temporary basis and, I hope, pending the engagement of the Recreation Officer this Council wants to employ urgently.
The Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee of this Council has always recognized the need to offer guidance
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MR. SALES: Surely, Mr. Chairman, we must assume that there are reasonably intelligent men in both these departments who would co- ordinate such a programme at their level and it should not be necessary for the Select Committee to be concerned with the implementation of policy which the Select Committee has decided. All the Select Com- mittee should be concerned with is for progress reports to be submitted to the Select Committee as to how policy matters have been put into practice. This is strictly a business principle. My Select Committee has a very heavy programme and I would certainly not like to see the Select Committee's time taken up in matters of detail for which there are paid staff.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I am not criticizing the Parks, Recreation and Amenities but may I make it plain to Mr. SALES that it will be a waste of time moving obstructions and causing trouble in the estates, it will just bring out more in their places and therefore that is why I said delay.
MR. SALES: -Yes but, Mr. Chairman, my point is this, it is reason- able to assume that the staff employed by the Hong Kong Government would be just as conscious of these difficulties as we are, the moment the policy has been agreed between the Resettlement Department and the Urban Services Department under the guidance of the Select Com- mittee themselves.
DR. BELL:Mr. Chairman, could I ask a supplementary, perhaps Mr. ASERAPPA can answer it, has a policy been agreed between the Urban Services Department and the Resettlement Department on this matter?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, it is not for the departments to agree on the policy with the Urban Council; it is up to the Select Committees to establish policies and for the departments to carry them out. I think that is fundamental practice in the Urban Council.
DR. BELL:-Perhaps I phrased the question badly, Mr. Chairman, I think Mr. SALES said in his reply that it was now over to the Resettle- ment Department and the Urban Services Department to liaise to see what could be done. Have they in fact liaised and what are they doing because in fact the removal of these obstructions has started.
CHAIRMAN: -As far as I know Dr. BELL liaison has taken place.
DR. BELL:-Might we be informed of the result of the liaison?
CHAIRMAN:-I need notice of the question Dr. BELL.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
29
(13) MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question : --
What steps are or had been taken by this Council to have trained recreational and play leaders in the parks and playgrounds under this Council's jurisdiction to help to co-ordinate young people's activities in these playgrounds?
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows:-
This question concerns the provision of trained recreation and play leaders in parks and playgrounds managed by the Urban Council. I am obliged to Mr. BERNACCHI for this opportunity to give my Select Committee's views on a matter of much public interest at the present time. In my answer, I am separating the post of a Recreation Officer, which I have long considered of the greatest importance for our purpose, and the functions of play leaders.
In February 1964 I stated in this Council that the then Urban Amenities Select Committee had put forward a definite staffing proposal to the Government for the top calibre men required to give adequate support to the programmes drawn up by that Committee. Those proposals were in fact for:
―
(i) a properly qualified officer able to take charge of all work connected with the administration, development and layout of parks and playgrounds, etc.; and
(ii) another suitably qualified officer able to organize recreational activities and so put to best use all the playgrounds and other sports facilities, particularly by the underprivileged children in the community.
In April 1965 the Government provided the Council with the services of the Principal Amenities Officer who per- forms the first of these functions. But, up to the present time, despite repeated requests in committee and in public meetings, the Government has not seen fit to employ a properly trained and fully qualified Recreation Officer to take overall charge of our public recreational facilities and put them to the best possible use.
Instead, the Government has seconded an Executive Officer, presumably on a temporary basis and, I hope, pending the engagement of the Recreation Officer this Council wants to employ urgently.
The Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee of this Council has always recognized the need to offer guidance
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.