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ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
Before we proceed with the Agenda, I feel that Members will wish me to welcome back Mr. TINSON, on his return from leave, and also to pay tribute to Mr. HEYWOOD for his sterling service to the Council during his tenure as Secretary. Mr. HEYWOOD, you will be pleased to hear, is not leaving us but is staying on in the Department as Departmental Secretary.
At this stage, I would also like to draw Members' attention to a slight change in the original order of business. Item 4 has been placed in the third position to comply with Standing Order 5(d). A revised order paper is before Members.
Also, Mr. ASERAPPA is unfortunately ill today and I shall be making replies on his behalf. I am sorry if this change of speaker may affect, or somewhat cramp the style of, any Member who wishes to ask supplementary questions. I also welcome back Dr. CHEUNG in the continued absence of Dr. WYLIE.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd July, 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 July, 1968.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st April, 1968, to 30th June, 1968.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st April, 1968, to 30th June, 1968.
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, with your permission I would like to speak on two points in the papers you have laid on the table. The first one concerns the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee of which I am the Chairman. I would like Members of the Council to know, and the public to know, that I have been informed today that the multi-storey buildings legislation, or a paper concerning the legislation, is now ready for consideration by members of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee and although this is a holiday month the Committee will be meeting to consider this paper. I hope that if other Members are interested, they will get the paper from the Secretary because quite a number of questions were raised in this Council concerning the cleansing of multi-storey buildings.
The second thing I would like to say, Mr. Chairman, concerns the Statistical Report of the Urban Council, the work of the Urban Council. You, Mr. Chairman, although I telephoned to you about it, did not in any way refute the scurrilous attack which was in the press concerning the last Council meeting. Whether perhaps, Mr. Chairman, the press are unable to hear what is said in the Council Chamber I am not sure, but it would appear so from the report which was in a certain newspaper last month. Following upon that very scurrilous attack on the meeting of the Council, came a further attack on the work of the Urban Councillors in the Wards. I would, therefore, Mr. Chairman, draw attention of members of the press to the work that is done by the Councillors. This month there is a report of the number of cases seen by Councillors in ward offices, and I would ask you, Mr. Chairman, if you could put down a total of the number of cases seen since the beginning of the year by each Councillor, and if you would point out perhaps that this is voluntary work done by the Councillors? I think that it is most important that attention should be drawn to the fact that Members of this Council are giving their time week in week out and so also are members of the Government Service, who are acting as clerks in these Ward offices, giving their time freely and also are other voluntary assistants in the Wards giving their time freely in this aspect, and to have an attack made upon us, an ignorant attack made upon us such as that which was in the press two or three weeks ago regarding the work in the Wards is most unfair and I am surprised, Mr. Chairman, that you, as Chairman of this Council, did not make any effort to refute it.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I wish to make two statements, first as Chairman of the City Hall Select Committee and then as Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee. I think Council will be gratified to know that the City Hall Select Committee, as the agency of the Urban Council, has instituted a summer programme designed specially for young people. This programme is part of the popular concert series and the admission charge is still one dollar. The first three of these performances have played to capacity audiences. This series of nine performances, two orchestral, two choral, one piano, one harp and three dramatic performances will bring an additional opportunity to the young people of Hong Kong not only to be members of the audience but also to take part because a number of musicians, Hong Kong musicians, who have studied abroad are back here for their summer vacation and are taking part in these concerts. The second statement I would like to make has reference to the monthly publicity report. Mr. Chairman, in July the Urban Council provided the public
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158
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 89 of 243
159
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
Before we proceed with the Agenda, I feel that Members will wish me to welcome back Mr. TINSON, on his return from leave, and also to pay tribute to Mr. HEYWOOD for his sterling service to the Council during his tenure as Secretary. Mr. HEYWOOD, you will be pleased to hear, is not leaving us but is staying on in the Department as Depart- mental Secretary.
At this stage, I would also like to draw Members' attention to a slight change in the original order of business. Item 4 has been placed in the third position to comply with Standing Order 5(d). A revised order paper is before Members.
Also, Mr. ASERAPPA is unfortunately ill today and I shall be making replies on his behalf. I am sorry if this change of speaker may affect, or somewhat cramp the style of, any Member who wishes to ask supplementary questions. I also welcome back Dr. CHEUNG in the continued absence of Dr. WYILE.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd July, 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 July, 1968.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st April, 1968, to 30th June, 1968.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st April, 1968, to 30th June, 1968.
DR. BELL:Mr. Chairman, with your permission I would like to speak on two points in the papers you have laid on the table. The first one concerns the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee of which I am the Chairman. I would like Members of the Council to know, and the public to know, that I have been informed today that the multi- storey buildings legislation, or a paper concerning the legislation, is now ready for consideration by members of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee and although this is a holiday month the Committee
will be meeting to consider this paper. I hope that if other Members are interested, they will get the paper from the Secretary because quite a number of questions were raised in this Council concerning the cleansing of multi-storey buildings.
The second thing I would like to say, Mr. Chairman, concerns the Statistical Report of the Urban Council, the work of the Urban Council. You, Mr. Chairman, although I telephoned to you about it, did not in any way refute the scurrilous attack which was in the press concern- ing the last Council meeting. Whether perhaps, Mr. Chairman, the press are unable to hear what is said in the Council Chamber I am not sure, but it would appear so from the report which was in a certain newspaper last month. Following upon that very scurrilous attack on the meeting of the Council, came a further attack on the work of the Urban Councillors in the Wards. I would, therefore, Mr. Chairman, draw attention of members of the press to the work that is done by the Councillors. This month there is a report of the number of cases seen by Councillors in ward offices, and I would ask you, Mr. Chairman, if you could put down a total of the number of cases seen since the begin- ning of the year by each Councillor, and if you would point out perhaps that this is voluntary work done by the Councillors? I think that it is most important that attention should be drawn to the fact that Members of this Council are giving their time week in week out and so also are members of the Government Service, who are acting as clerks in these Ward offices, giving their time freely and also are other voluntary assistants in the Wards giving their time freely in this aspect, and to have an attack made upon us, an ignorant attack made upon us such as that which was in the press two or three weeks ago regarding the work in the Wards is most unfair and I am surprised, Mr. Chairman, that you, as Chairman of this Council, did not make any effort to refute it.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I wish to make two statements, first as Chairman of the City Hall Select Committee and then as Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee. I think Council will be gratified to know that the City Hall Select Committee, as the agency of the Urban Council, has instituted a summer programme designed specially for young people. This programme is part of the popular concert series and the admission charge is still one dollar. The first three of these performances have played to capacity audiences. This series of nine performances, two orchestral, two choral, one piano, one harp and three dramatic performances will bring an additional oppor- tunity to the young people of Hong Kong not only to be members of the audience but also to take part because a number of musicians, Hong Kong musicians, who have studied abroad are back here for their summer vacation and are taking part in these concerts. The second statement I would like to make has reference to the monthly publicity report. Mr. Chairman, in July the Urban Council provided the public
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