Page 158 of 242
296
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Government no doubt would like to use the Urban Council as a "cat's paw" in sounding out the public on any future proposal to increase the rates.
If the Urban Council in future requires money, more than that allocated to the Council out of the rates, it should be the responsibility of the Central Government to provide the money. After all, the Central Government will keep more than two-thirds of all the rates collected. The elected members favour an increase in the number of elected members from 10 to 15 in 1973.
Mr. BERNACCHI said 20 a little while ago.
MR. SALES: Can the Elected Members make up their minds so I will know what the Appointed Members in turn should say in support. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, Mr. BERNACCHI said 20, from 10-20, but as I have said just now the elected members are asking for an increase from 10 to 15 at least by 1973 with the number of Appointed Members remaining at 10, as was recommended in the Urban Council's 1969 Revised Report.
The Elected Members have in the past pressed for automatic registration of all persons qualified to vote in order to increase the number of people who would be on the electoral register to between 200,000 to 300,000.
This Government has refused to do. Therefore if in spite of the so-called reform proposed in the White Paper the number of persons entitled to vote at the 1973 Elections do not show any sizeable increase, the fault will rest squarely on the shoulders of the Central Government.
Unless Government agrees to and implements the principle of an elected majority, it can only be assumed that Government intends to follow a "divide-and-rule" policy since the ten Elected Members are comprised of two political parties, and two independent Members, as against ten nominated Members.
The White Paper has come out in favour of expanding the network of advisory bodies on a Colony-wide functional basis as an alternative to expanding the scope of the Urban Council.
Should this be Government's intention, would it not be better to consider disbanding the Urban Council altogether and placing the Urban Services Department directly under the Colonial Secretariat?
In the interest of giving the people a more meaningful participation in their own affairs should there not be direct elections to the Legislative Council for ten elected seats on the present franchise?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
297
Unless the Government is prepared to provide an elected majority in the Urban Council by 1973 and to progressively expand its scope, the question of whether or not the Urban Council has a representative role to play in the life of the community will become increasingly debatable and untenable.
Mr. Chairman, I have pleasure in supporting the motion. (Applause).
MR. R. H. LOBO: Sir, in adding my support to the motion before this Council, first and foremost in my mind is the problem of Hawkers.
In view of the increasing, and justified, importance being attached to the Anti-LITTER Campaign, and the public interest in the problem of pollution, I wish to stress several points of present hawker policy which are directly related to those salient topics of public interest.
It should not be necessary at this time for me to point out that no hawker policy can be effective without the active co-operation of other departments, but I find that often our best interests are frustrated either through lack of co-operation, lack of consideration or plain lack of interest on the part of other departments.
This Council's Hawker Policy has now been endorsed by the Governor in Council since 1969, yet the Hawker Policy and Management Select Committees are still without the necessary resources to implement the policy. To take an important example; we are still anxiously awaiting new hawker control legislation, which is an essential instrument for any aspect of the policy. It is a matter of public record and discussion that the new Anti-Litter Campaign will be of little avail without effective legislation, and the same is equally true of hawker policy. It is hoped, therefore, that courts will give the matter full support.
I have had occasions of mentioning before and I reiterate now that it would also be of immense help in solving this difficult but, in essence, very human problem if Councillors would emphasize the difficulties of the departmental staff in implementing the policy.
This could be done in a variety of ways: from presenting the job as a responsible and aesthetic contribution to ensuring that the staff have adequate support and protection in doing their jobs. This aspect of the work is too often overlooked, and the public informed by press reports of instances of corruption instead. But I am particularly aware
Page 158 of 242
298
...
Page 158 of 242
296
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Government no doubt would like to use the Urban Council as a "cat's paw" in sounding out the public on any future proposal to increase the rates.
If the Urban Council in future requires money, more than that allocated to the Council out of the rates, it should be the responsibility of the Central Government to provide the money. After all, the Central Government will keep more than two-thirds of all the rates collected. The elected members favour an increase in the number of elected members from 10 to 15 in 1973.
Mr. BERNACCHI said 20 a little while ago.
MR. SALES: Can the Elected Members make up their minds so I will know what the Appointed Members in turn should say in support. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Mr. Chairman, Mr. BERNACCHI said, 20, from 10-20, but as I have said just now the elected members are asking for an increase from 10 to 15 at least by 1973 with the number of Appointed Members remaining at 10, as was recommended in the Urban Council's 1969 Revised Report.
The Elected Members have in the past pressed for automatic registration of all persons qualified to vote in order to increase the number of people who would be on the electoral register to between 200,000 to 300,000.
This Government has refused to do. Therefore if in spite of the so-called reform proposed in the White Paper the number of persons entitled to vote at the 1973 Elections do not show any sizeable increase, the fault will rest squarely on the shoulders of the Central Government.
Unless Government agrees to and implements the principle of an elected majority, it can only be assumed that Government intends to follow a "divide-and-rule" policy since the ten Elected Members are comprised of two political parties, and two independent Members, as against ten nominated Members.
The White Paper has come out in favour of expanding the network of advisory bodies on a Colony-wide functional basis as an alternative to expanding the scope of the Urban Council.
Should this be Government's intention, would it not be better to consider disbanding the Urban Council altogether and placing the Urban Services Department directly under the Colonial Secretariat?
In the interest of giving the people a more meaningful participa- tion in their own affairs should there not be direct elections to the Legislative Council for ten elected seats on the present franchise?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
297
Unless the Government is prepared to provide an elected majority in the Urban Council by 1973 and to progressively expand its scope, the question of whether or not the Urban Council has a representative role to play in the life of the community will become increasingly debatable and untenable.
Mr. Chairman, I have pleasure in supporting the motion. (Applause).
MR. R. H. LOBO:-Sir, in adding my support to the motion before this Council, first and foremost in my mind is the problem of Hawkers.
In view of the increasing, and justified, importance being attached to the Anti-LITTER Campaign, and the public interest in the problem of pollution, I wish to stress several points of present hawker policy which are directly related to those salient topics of public interest.
It should not be necessary at this time for me to point out that no hawker policy can be effective without the active co-operation of other departments, but I find that often our best interests are frustrated either through lack of co-operation, lack of consideration or plain lack of interest on the part of other departments.
This Council's Hawker Policy has now been endorsed by the Governor in Council since 1969, yet the Hawker Policy and Manage- ment Select Committees are still without the necessary resources to implement the policy. To take an important example; we are still anxiously awaiting new hawker control legislation, which is an essential instrument for any aspect of the policy. It is a matter of public record and discussion that the new Anti-Litter Campaign will be of little avail without effective legislation, and the same is equally true of hawker policy. It is hoped, therefore, that courts will give the matter full support.
I have had occasions of mentioning before and I reiterate now that it would also be of immense help in solving this difficult but, in essence, very human problem if Councillors would emphasize the difficulties of the departmental staff in implementing the policy.
This could be done in a variety of ways: from presenting the job as a responsible and aesthetic contribution to ensuring that the staff have adequate support and protection in doing their jobs. This aspect of the work is too often overlooked, and the public informed by press reports of instances of corruption instead. But I am particularly aware
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.