1971 — Page 51

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

The elected members of this Council have the responsibility to the people of Hong Kong to expand the base of local government with all the energies and vigour at their command. We intend to press ahead with the job.

Mr. Chairman, I now have pleasure to move the motion.

MR. HENRY WONG: Mr. Chairman, I rise to second the Motion moved by my colleague Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN. Like my colleague, I agree with the various recommendations in the Urban Council report which, by reason of time elapsed, have now become urgent. They are certainly long overdue. I urge Government to show the awareness of the feelings of our citizens. I would wish this Council to continue pressing for the reforms contained in the report which the Government, in the first place, requested the Council so many years ago to formulate, and present for consideration, and I cannot agree more that it is high time that this Council, through the Standing Committee of the Whole, and particularly through the Local Government Administration Select Committee, should examine in practical detail in what manner the various functions stipulated in stage 1 of the report can be implemented. With these words I now have pleasure in seconding the motion before this meeting.

CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the Motion has been proposed and seconded. Before I ask other members if they have anything to say, I should like to make a statement. I fully appreciate the reasons behind this Motion, but I cannot accept, of course, the statement by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN that the elected members of this Council have the responsibility to expand the basis of local Government which, in its true sense does not exist here, this Council forming part of the Central Government structure. I am informed, and I am glad to be able to pass this information on to members, that proposals on the matters raised in the Urban Council 1969 report will be placed before the Executive Council during this month. I would suggest therefore that the outcome of this reference to the Executive Council should be awaited before any further consideration be given to this Motion either by the whole Council or the relevant Select Committee.

MR. BERNACCHI: In view of this new development, I would formally propose that this Motion be adjourned under Standing Order 10(17)(b) to the next meeting of Council.

CHAIRMAN: The proposal is, Ladies and gentlemen, that this motion should be adjourned under Standing Order 10(17)(b) until the next meeting of this Council.

MR. C. K. CHAN:-I will second the Motion.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN:-This proposal has been moved and seconded.

The question was put.

The motion to adjourn was carried unanimously.

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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, why didn't the Official Members vote for such a unanimous Motion?

CHAIRMAN:-They did.

(2) MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENI- TIES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following Motion:

"That the Hong Kong Stadium By-laws 1971 be made under Section 5 of the Hong Kong Stadium Ordinance, Cap. 270".

He said: Sir, this Motion is being put forward on behalf of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee. The By-laws seek to give powers to the department to manage and control the Hong Kong stadium at So Kon Po and I have much pleasure in proposing the motion that stands in my name.

(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left the meeting at this point).

MR. HENRY H. L. Hu:-Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.

The question was put.

The motion was carried unanimously.

(3) MR. B. A. BERNACCHI moved the following Motion:-

"That Standing Orders be amended by re-inserting in the Standing Order 4(2) the words "if the intervening period is less than six days'."

He said:-Mr. Chairman, up to a few years ago the definition of "clear days" in Standing Order 4(2) was

"The expression 'clear day' excludes the day on which notice is given and the day of the meeting and also if the intervening period is less than six days excludes Sundays and other public holidays." and