1968 — Page 72

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Has the Commissioner given consideration to this aspect that since in Housing Authority estates staff do not wear uniform whatever their grade, why isn't it possible for resettlement estates, particularly in the Mark VI type of estate which will be virtually the same type of accommodation as Housing Authority estates, for such staff not to wear uniforms?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT :· I think the answer to that, Sir, is that the general approach in administration of the resettlement estates is on a rather different basis from that in Housing Authority estates. However, if Mr. CHEONG-LEEN would like to press this point I see no objection in putting it before the appropriate Select Committee.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I sure would like to so press, Mr. Chairman, and I'm glad that the Commissioner does agree to have this discussed in Committee. Could I ask question No. 3?

DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, before we go on to question No. 3 could I ask two supplementary questions? Firstly, have the staff objected to wearing uniform? Also, have the residents of the estate objected to the uniform which is worn by the Resettlement Department staff?

COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-So far as I am aware Sir no in both cases.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, has the Commissioner and even the Chairman of the Resettlement Policy Select Committee con- sidered how much public money could be saved if our staff do not wear uniforms?

MR. SALES: Surely Mr. Chairman that is not the point. The point is, is it Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's own objection to uniforms being worn and, if so, on what account? Is it the colour, or the cut, what is the reason for his objection? I have seen senior members of Government, official members of this Council, wearing uniforms on occasions with panache and all and I think they look very dandy! (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I certainly would have no objection if the Senior appointed member would want to wear his own uniform, including a red sash, but I raise this question for two reasons. Firstly, we will eventually save public money by not having to issue uniforms and secondly, because the Mark VI estates, when they are completed, will be virtually the same type of accommodation as Housing Authority estates, and we should standardize as much as possible on the quality of management in our resettlement estates to make them comparable and even better than that in our Housing Authority estates.

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CHAIRMAN:-I think, Ladies and Gentlemen, this has been suffi- ciently aired and we can leave it with the Commissioner for Resettle- ment to go into this and all the various points that have been made.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I won't object if anyone else wants to ask supplementaries now. But if there aren't any I would like to ask question No. 3.

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

Can the Chairman inquire from Government how soon will draft legislation on the management of multi-storey buildings be introduced in Legislative Council, as this is a matter of much concern to the general public?

THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-

I have made the necessary enquiry and the position is that a second draft of the Bill for the Voluntary Management of Multi-storey Buildings is at an advanced stage of prep- aration. As the Bill still needs further inter-departmental consideration and as it is also proposed to seek the com- ments of the Law Society and certain other bodies with an interest in this subject, it is not possible at this stage to forecast when the Bill will be ready for introduction into the Legislative Council.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Has that second draft come to this Council yet Mr. Chairman?

CHAIRMAN: Not as far as I am aware.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Could you enquire how soon it will come?

CHAIRMAN:-I will make the necessary enquiry.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --Thank you.

DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, this draft I think was supposed to come to the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee in the month of May. Will it still are we not the main interested body--or are there other bodies with an interest in this subject?

CHAIRMAN:-I would like to think so Dr. BELL.

DR. BELL:-Thank you Mr. Chairman.

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