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MR. FORSGATE:-Thank you for that reply. Mr. Chairman, could I enquire I should have asked this in my question-the number of times this summer in which warnings have actually been given of sharks sighted, or is that an unfair supplementary at this stage? Would you know offhand?
CHAIRMAN: ----Offhand, I most certainly don't know.
MR. FORSGATE:--Perhaps you could let me know. Has the Department considered increasing the range of visibility of the lifeguards from the beaches by erecting high platforms which, I know from personal knowledge, they have in Australia and providing the lifeguards with binoculars?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I am sure that the Select Committee would like the Department to give consideration to the two suggestions made by Mr. FORSGATE. I am under the impression they are already supplied with field glasses.
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CHAIRMAN:-The Motion has been moved and seconded; does any other Member wish to speak?
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I support the Motion. This is a Government Council and we are considerate of the work the servants of the Government have to do in making replies for us.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --Mr. Chairman, as mover of this Motion I waive my right to reply. (Laughter).
MR. SALES ---I see no reason either to exercise my right of speaking after having reserved my speech. (Laughter). Dr. BELL has put the position so charmingly that anything I could say would undermine the effect.
CHAIRMAN: -I will now take a vote on the Motion which is that Standing Order 4(2) be amended to read "In these Standing Orders the expression 'Clear day' excludes the day on which notice is given and the day of the meeting and also excludes Sundays and other Public Holidays."
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
MOTIONS.
(1) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE STANDING ORDERS AND PROCEDURE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following Motion:-
"THAT Standing Order 4(2) be amended to read: -
'In these Standing Orders the expression 'Clear day' excludes the day on which notice is given and the day of the meeting and also excludes Sundays and other Public Holidays.'
He said: Mr. Chairman, I rise on the motion listed as item 5(1) on the Agenda.
As Members are aware, under Standing Order 8(1), seven clear days notice of a question must be given in writing. Under the present definition of Standing Order 4(2), however, Sundays, and other Public Holidays have to count as part of this seven-day period, and this often leaves the departments concerned with producing answers to Members' questions with insufficient time to prepare suitable replies.
This matter was considered by the Standing Orders and Procedure Select Committee at its meeting on 17th June, when it was agreed that Standing Order 4(2) should be amended so as to have the effect of ensuring that the seven clear days notice mentioned in Standing Order 8(1) are in fact working days. I beg to move.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I rise to second this Motion and reserve my speech under Standing Order 10(11) if necessary. (Laughter).
(2) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN moved the following motion:-
"This Council urges the Government to provide more public open space within the Central District."
He said: Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion that "This Council urges the Government to provide more public open space within the Central District".
It would be pertinent to give the background as to how this motion arose. You will recall, Sir, that on 25th July, I gave notice in writing that I intended to move a motion reading as follows:
"Resolved that the Hong Kong Cricket Club site be reserved for public open space and that the club be given another site upon expiration of its lease in 1971”.
Subsequently, Mr. Chairman, the Secretary of the Urban Council wrote to me on 29th July that you had ruled the motion out of order because it did not fall within Section 54 of the Urban Council Ordinance.
I respected and accepted your ruling, Mr. Chairman, because I realized that the scope of the Urban Council as it is at present is very
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MR. FORSGATE:-Thank you for that reply. Mr. Chairman, could I enquire I should have asked this in my question-the number of times this summer in which warnings have actually been given of sharks sighted, or is that an unfair supplementary at this stage? Would you know offhand?
CHAIRMAN: ----Offhand, I most certainly don't know.
MR. FORSGATE:--Perhaps you could let me know. Has the Depart- ment considered increasing the range of visibility of the lifeguards from the beaches by erecting high platforms which, I know from personal knowledge, they have in Australia and providing the lifeguards with binoculars?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I am sure that the Select Committee would like the Department to give consideration to the two suggestions made by Mr. FORSGATE. I am under the impression they are already supplied with field glasses.
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171
CHAIRMAN:-The Motion has been moved and seconded; does any other Member wish to speak?
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I support the Motion. This is a Government Council and we are considerate of the work the servants of the Government have to do in making replies for us.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: --Mr. Chairman, as mover of this Motion I waive my right to reply. (Laughter).
MR. SALES ---I see no reason either to exercise my right of speaking after having reserved my speech. (Laughter). Dr. BELL has put the position so charmingly that anything I could say would undermine the effect.
CHAIRMAN: -I will now take a vote on the Motion which is that Standing Order 4(2) be amended to read "In these Standing Orders the expression 'Clear day' excludes the day on which notice is given and the day of the meeting and also excludes Sundays and other Public Holidays."
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
MOTIONS.
(1) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE STANDING ORDERS AND PROCEDURE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following Motion:-
"THAT Standing Order 4(2) be amended to read: -
'In these Standing Orders the expression 'Clear day' excludes the day on which notice is given and the day of the meeting and also excludes Sundays and other Public Holidays.'
He said: Mr. Chairman, I rise on the motion listed as item 5(1) on the Agenda.
As Members are aware, under Standing Order 8(1), seven clear days notice of a question must be given in writing. Under the present definition of Standing Order 4(2), however, Sundays, and other Public Holidays have to count as part of this seven-day period, and this often leaves the departments concerned with producing answers to Members' questions with insufficient time to prepare suitable replies.
This matter was considered by the Standing Orders and Procedure Select Committee at its meeting on 17th June, when it was agreed that Standing Order 4(2) should be amended so as to have the effect of ensuring that the seven clear days notice mentioned in Standing Order 8(1) are in fact working days. I beg to move.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I rise to second this Motion and reserve my speech under Standing Order 10(11) if necessary. (Laughter).
(2) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN moved the following motion:-
"This Council urges the Government to provide more public
open space within the Central District."
He said: Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion that "This Council urges the Government to provide more public open space within the Central District".
It would be pertinent to give the background as to how this motion arose. You will recall, Sir, that on 25th July, I gave notice in writing that I intended to move a motion reading as follows:
"Resolved that the Hong Kong Cricket Club site be reserved for public open space and that the club be given another site upon expiration of its lease in 1971”.
Subsequently, Mr. Chairman, the Secretary of the Urban Council wrote to me on 29th July that you had ruled the motion out of order because it did not fall within Section 54 of the Urban Council Ordinance.
I respected and accepted your ruling, Mr. Chairman, because I realized that the scope of the Urban Council as it is at present is very
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