1971 — Page 190

42

Page 190 of 242

360

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Working Party consisting partly of Central Government officials and partly of Members of this Council, in the earliest future, I support the Motion. (Applause).

MR. PETER C. K. CHAN: Sir, I am speaking in support of the Motion.

1971 is indeed an Urban Council year. During this year the Urban Council has received a great deal of publicity. It is the body that has been blamed for the 7th of July's Victoria Park incident, at least according to most of the Chinese Press. The Urban Council has been enjoying a public image and has became a reasonably good subject for the comment of the press and the people who are interested in local politic or just interested in something that may looks like politics.

This Debate, which has always been a great attraction to the public attention has been under some criticism in the White Paper with wordings like it has been quoted by other Members, "on occasions, debates publicity a much wider range of subjects has let to confusion in the mind of the public about the council's statutory function and its relation to the Central Government" (para. 5(d) in the White Paper). I have been wondering to myself why did the Government allowed this beautiful breach of our Standing Orders in the first place many years ago and let it go on in the name of convention?

If the White Paper is to be adopted, this Council's Standing Orders will have to be approved by the Legislative Council. I would be extremely surprised if the Legislative Council would allow this Con- ventional Debate which is a serious breach of the Standing Orders and to make it legal under the new set of orders and rules. It is quite obvious that the Government would like to see the end of this type of Debate which may cause them embrassment but was unwilling to step it with any high-handed method which may cause further confusions in the minds of the public. I just wonder what will happen if any proposed new Standing Orders which are not approved by the Legisla- tive Council but will still be practised and enforced in this Council, during the first Meeting in April 1973, if it ever take place, in the name of Convention, or otherwise.

The White Paper is urging us to get ready to say good-bye to our duties and power over the Resettlement Policy as well as Management. Are we going to miss that duties? I for one think I will miss it.

I believe it is in 1953, after the serious Shek Kip Mei fire, that this Council has been given the sole responsibility of Resettlement. It was the most unpleasant duty at that time, and as usual, unpleasant duties would normally be given to this Council. The Government has been taking the power away from this Council gradually, and bit by bit.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

361

The introduction of the Resettlement Ordinance in 1958 took away all the power from this Council, although the Governor exercising his power under the Resettlement Ordinance, still appoint this Council as the authority in the Management of the Estate in Urban Area. This Council remains to be the advisory body on other functions connected with Resettlement other than Management of the Estate but the power will only be by convention rather than by right. This White Paper is a far more clear cut measure to take away from this Council the power and the duties of looking after this one quarter of our total population's who live in the estates, the poorest section of our com- munity-even just for managing the Estates.

I wish to acknowledge publicly here and now, the amount of good work done by a great number of young officers in the Resettlement Department within my Kwun Tong Ward, particularly the recent effort in stablizing the Hawker situations in many of the Estates. My gratitude goes particularly to those who helped me tirelessly in my dis- charging my ward duties.

It has been suggested that this is perhaps second last Conventional Debate. When I think deeper into the question, I was wondering to myself whether this is the last Debate. Because we know what we aim for in the year 1972. At this time next year I wonder if we know what can be the aims for 1973. Even if we barely manage to have another Conventional Debate this time next year it will never be the same as this Debate and the Debates before this.

I never believe it to be a good idea to make a very long speech on this occasion. I much prefer to have more opportunity to speak than to speak too long even if I have only one opportunity in the whole year. As I grow older, I begin to learn when to stand up, when to speak up, and when to shut up. (Applause).

MR. JOHN MACKENZIE:—Mr. Chairman, in my short association with the Urban Council two points have struck me forcibly. The first is the complexity of the tasks it faces and the volume of paper-work, and other detail, which must be absorbed to be informed on all of those matters within its responsibilities. The other is the amount of time and dedicated service which is given by the Unofficial Members, in their efforts to maintain and improve conditions within our com- munity. While we may not always agree on direction or method, I believe that all Members of this Council share a common bond of sympathy and concern for the welfare of those around us, particularly the less fortunate.

As the closing speaker, after two days of speeches, I feel that 1 am left with a somewhat exhausted audience, and a range of almost exhausted subjects. Nevertheless, I shall persist in the hope that some

Page 190Page 191

Page 191 0.