Page 202 of 237
380
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Mr. RAFEEK also queried the need for Hong Kong to take part in Expo '70 at Osaka. He suggested that there would be no return from this participation except in abstract goodwill. I am not sure that we all agree, as it is thought that there will also be returns in the form of trade and increased tourism. Nor is it considered that the Hong Kong Pavilion will be overwhelmed by international pavilions as suggested by Mr. RAFEEK. International comments have so far indicated that our pavilion will be one of the main attractions of the Exposition because of its original design. Hong Kong has achieved a hard-won position as one of the world's leading exporters, and it is important that we take every reasonable step to maintain this position and enhance Hong Kong's image abroad. As you know, there are still people who say that Hong Kong's image is one of cheap goods produced by cheap labour. It is believed that Hong Kong's participation in Expo '70 will show that this image is incorrect. With regard to the expenditure of $8 million, it is perhaps worth pointing out that Hong Kong will achieve all its stated aims for a sum well below any being spent by other nations when related to the amount of space they will have at Osaka next year.
My Friend Mr. Hu said that the jurisdiction of the Council was not decided by law but by convention and that it was an advisory body. He referred to Section 54 of the Urban Council Ordinance and suggested that this stipulated in very vague and general terms the jurisdiction of the Council. This particular section reads as follows: -
"The duties of the Council shall be to exercise control within the area allotted to it over all matters in respect of which powers are given to it by this Ordinance or any other ordinance."
This seems to me to be quite clear. The section does not attempt to spell out the functions of the Council. It merely gives Government the power to give the Council certain functions, and, in these cases, the Council is named as the authority in the ordinance covering the particular function. For example, the Third Schedule to the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance lists the Council as the designated authority for no less than 75 different functions. Likewise, the Library Ordinance and the City Hall Ordinance lay management functions on the Council. The Council is also the authority for Parts IV and V of the Resettlement Ordinance. This is all apart from Members' responsibilities under the Housing Ordinance.
In all the examples that I have cited above, the Council is defined as "the authority". In many of these, the Council has a policy and not an advisory role as suggested by Mr. Hu. In addition, of course, the Council is consulted on many other issues. It is perhaps to this aspect of the Council's work that Mr. Hu is alluding—but this does not change the fact that the Council has authority and does exercise it.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
381
Mr. Hu went on to say that Government-Appointed Members are usually in the majority on the Council's 17 Select Committees. His implication appears to be that Appointed Members will always toe the Government line. I have personally not found this to be the case, but no doubt the Appointed Members will find an opportunity in future to answer Mr. Hu on this point. In any case, I would like to remind Mr. Hu that, on the 17 Select Committees, Elected Members outnumber Appointed Members on 13. And out of those 13 Committees Mr. Hu himself serves on 7. In addition, on 5 Committees, there is no Government member at all. Mr. Hu must be aware that there is no diabolical move to weight Select Committees, as membership on them is by the personal choice of individual Members and the balance between appointed and elected is determined by Unofficials themselves.
To allay any suggestion that I am "nit-picking", may I say that I personally do not like to think in terms of elected, appointed or even Official Members. I prefer the thought that we all work collectively in the interests of the people we serve. In Committee I have normally found this to be so, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the co-operation I have received from Unofficial Members, Appointed and Elected alike.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for bearing with me for so long, although I think I can safely say that, "by convention", the Chairman has always exceeded the twenty-minute limit. Although I have taken up so much of your time there are still some good points raised by the Unofficial Members which I have not been able to cover. Some of these, however, will have to be referred to Select Committees for consideration and a decision, so if I have missed them in my reply they will not be forgotten.
Our aims for next year are ambitious and we have had many new suggestions made by Unofficial Members at this debate, offering a challenge for us all to meet. In closing I would like to thank my Unofficial Colleagues for the time, effort and thought they have given to the work of the Council during the year, and I know that in the year to come you will all continue to show your unfailing and genuine concern for the people of Hong Kong and to do your utmost in their interest. (Applause).
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :- Mr. Chairman, many Members have spoken about the need for an Ombudsman, but that is the subject of another Motion today. I will therefore confine myself to the points raised by the Officials of this Council, but before I turn to commenting on their speeches, I would say that the Unofficials both Elected and Appointed appreciate the tremendous amount of work that the Official Members do on this Council, and I in particular thank them for giving
Page 237
380
...
381
237
Page 202 of 237
380
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Mr. RAFEEK also queried the need for Hong Kong to take part in Expo '70 at Osaka. He suggested that there would be no return from this participation except in abstract goodwill. I am not sure that we all agree, as it is thought that there will also be returns in the form of trade and increased tourism. Nor is it considered that the Hong Kong Pavilion will be overwhelmed by international pavilions as suggested by Mr. RAFEEK. International comments have so far indicated that our pavilion will be one of the main attractions of the Exposition because of its original design. Hong Kong has achieved a hard-won position as one of the world's leading exporters, and it is important that we take every reasonable step to maintain this position and enhance Hong Kong's image abroad. As you know, there are still people who say that Hong Kong's image is one of cheap goods produced by cheap labour. It is believed that Hong Kong's participa- tion in Expo '70 will show that this image is incorrect. With regard to the expenditure of $8 million, it is perhaps worth pointing out that Hong Kong will achieve all its stated aims for a sum well below any being spent by other nations when related to the amount of space they will have at Osaka next year.
My Friend Mr. Hu said that the jurisdiction of the Council was not decided by law but by convention and that it was an advisory body. He referred to Section 54 of the Urban Council Ordinance and suggested that this stipulated in very vague and general terms the jurisdiction of the Council. This particular section reads as follows: -
"The duties of the Council shall be to exercise control within the area allotted to it over all matters in respect of which powers are given to it by this Ordinance or any other ordinance."
This seems to me to be quite clear. The section does not attempt to spell out the functions of the Council. It merely gives Government the power to give the Council certain functions, and, in these cases, the Council is named as the authority in the ordinance covering the particular function. For example, the Third Schedule to the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance lists the Council as the designated authority for no less than 75 different functions. Like- wise, the Library Ordinance and the City Hall Ordinance lay manage- ment functions on the Council. The Council is also the authority for Parts IV and V of the Resettlement Ordinance. This is all apart from Members' responsibilities under the Housing Ordinance.
In all the examples that I have cited above, the Council is defined as "the authority". In many of these, the Council has a policy and not an advisory role as suggested by Mr. Hu. In addition, of course, the Council is consulted on many other issues. It is perhaps to this aspect of the Council's work that Mr. Hu is alluding-but this does not change the fact the Council has authority and does exercise it.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
381
Mr. Hu went on to say that Government-Appointed Members are usually in the majority on the Council's 17 Select Committees. His implication appears to be that Appointed Members will always toe the Government line. I have personally not found this to be the case, but no doubt the Appointed Members will find an opportunity in future to answer Mr. Hu on this point. In any case, I would like to remind to Mr. Hu that, on the 17 Select Committees, Elected Members out- number Appointed Members on 13. And out of those 13 Committees Mr. Hu himself serves on 7. In addition, on 5 Committees, there is no Government member at all. Mr. Hu must be aware that there is no diabolical move to weight Select Committees, as membership on them is by the personal choice of individual Members and the balance between appointed and elected is determined by Unofficials themselves.
To allay any suggestion that I am "nit-picking", may I say that I personally do not like to think in terms of elected, appointed or even Official Members. I prefer the thought that we all work collec- tively in the interests of the people we serve. In Committee I have normally found this to be so, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the co-operation I have received from Unofficial Members, Appointed and Elected alike.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for bearing with me for so long, although I think I can safely say that, "by convention", the Chairman has always exceeded the twenty-minute limit. Although I have taken up so much of your time there are still some good points raised by the Unofficial Members which I have not been able to cover. Some of these, however, will have to be referred to Select Committees for con- sideration and a decision, so if I have missed them in my reply they will not be forgotten.
Our aims for next year are ambitious and we have had many new suggestions made by Unofficial Members at this debate, offering a challenge for us all to meet. In closing I would like to thank my Unofficial Colleagues for the time, effort and thought they have given to the work of the Council during the year, and I know that in the year to come you will all continue to show your unfailing and genuine concern for the people of Hong Kong and to do your utmost in their interest. (Applause).
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, many Members have spoken about the need for an Ombudsman, but that is the subject of another Motion today. I will therefore confine myself to the points raised by the Officials of this Council, but before I turn to commenting on their speeches, I would say that the Unofficials both Elected and Appointed appreciate the tremendous amount of work that the Official Members do on this Council, and I in particular thank them for giving
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.