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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The problem arises because they are not prepared (or do not feel able) to take their refuse to the refuse collection centres, which may be some distance away. Instead, they tend to dump their refuse in the open spaces just outside the perimeter of the resite area, leaving it to the cleansing staff to sweep it up and remove it to the collection centres.
We are now experimenting in Ngau Tau Kok and Lam Tin with large litter bins made from oil drums. These have been placed around the hawker resite areas, so that hawkers no longer have to take their refuse to the collection centres. Unfortunately, experience to date has not been encouraging and the bad old practices are still with us. More such bins will be provided very shortly, and the estate staff are doing their best to educate the hawkers into making proper use of these bins. However, the process is a lengthy one which calls for considerable patience.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, concerning the experiments which are now going on in Ngau Tau Kok and Lam Tin, could the Commissioner clarify whether these are in areas which have been re-ordered?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:- Yes, indeed, Mr. Chairman, these are new generation of re-ordered hawker stalls on our 24 estates.
MOTIONS
CHAIRMAN:- We will now resume the debate on the following motion to amend Standing Order 22(6). This motion has already been moved and seconded. Does anyone wish to speak?
"Resolve that Standing Order 22(6) be amended to read: --
"The chairman and vice-chairman of a select committee shall be appointed by the Council. If the chairman is absent from a meeting of the select committee, the vice-chairman shall preside. If both the chairman and the vice-chairman are absent from a meeting of the select committee, the Members present shall appoint a temporary chairman to preside."
(No Members indicated a wish to speak.)
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
17
CHAIRMAN:- We will now resume the debate on the following motion to amend Standing Order 10(1). This motion has already been moved and seconded. Does anyone wish to speak?
"Resolve that Standing Order 10(1) be amended to read:
'All motions shall be confined to matters within the jurisdiction of the Urban Council.'"
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI:- Mr. Chairman, I cannot but regard this motion as a retrograde one and express surprise that it is moved by an Elected Member. I am almost pleased that the late Dr. LEE, who did so much to make this Council what it is today, is beyond feeling hurt at what I suppose this Council will inevitably do before the meeting is closed. He was the one who moved the original successful motion that gave rise to our Ward Councillor system, the greatest single motion of them all, and if this amendment goes through, such a motion would, undoubtedly, not be allowed. Even the mover of this motion himself would not be on this Council but for motions accepted by the Government from time to time proposing increases in the number of Elected Members. The agitation for use of Chinese in the Councils in Hong Kong started in this Council by another so-called ultra vires motion, now some years ago. Oh, where is the pioneering spirit of, in particular, the Elected Members, gone? Have they really been defeated by almost a threat from the Chair that if we do not agree to this, our Standing Orders would have to be approved by the Legislative Council? I say, then let them be approved, and if they do not approve the present Standing Order 10(1), then we will fight even the Legislative Council. Do not, I beg of you, go under like white feathers blowing in the wind. The next thing the Establishment will attack will be our Conventional Debate, but they will not attack if they know that the Unofficials generally are against this preliminary motion. Some of the motions urging on the Government allocation for more grounds for parks and playgrounds even, that is so dear to my senior Appointed colleague's heart, would be ruled out of order as would all the various motions about a new City Hall before it was built. That, again, Dr. LEE successfully moved. The Resettlement Department, now housing over one million people, was our recommendation by a motion which would now be out of order if this change is made. Oh, Elected and Appointed Unofficials, where has your courage gone? Even the 1967 motion of support for the Government passed within 48 hours of that emergency, and for which the Governor personally thanked us, would not now be possible under the proposed Standing Orders. Oh, I say again, where has your pioneering spirit gone? Indeed, you will commit figurative suicide by agreeing to the motion that all motions should be confined to matters within the jurisdiction of this Council. I oppose, I oppose, I oppose.
Page 18 of 206
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Page 18 of 206
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The problem arises because they are not prepared (or do not feel able) to take their refuse to the refuse collection centres, which may be some distance away. Instead, they tend to dump their refuse in the open spaces just outside the perimeter of the resite area, leaving it to the cleansing staff to sweep it up and remove it to the collection
centres.
We are now experimenting in Ngau Tau Kok and Lam Tin with large litter bins made from oil drums. These have been placed around the hawker resite areas, so that hawkers no longer have to take their refuse to the collec- tion centres. Unfortunately, experience to date has not been encouraging and the bad old practices are still with us. More such bins will be provided very shortly, and the estate staff are doing their best to educate the hawkers into making proper use of these bins. However, the process is a lengthy one which calls for considerable patience.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, concerning the experiments which are now going on in Ngau Tau Kok and Lam Tin, could the Commissioner clarify whether these are in areas which have been re- ordered?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:-Yes, indeed, Mr. Chairman, these are new generation of re-ordered hawker stalls on our 24 estates.
MOTIONS
CHAIRMAN: -We will now resume the debate on the following motion to amend Standing Order 22(6). This motion has already been moved and seconded. Does anyone wish to speak?
"Resolve that Standing Order 22(6) be amended to read: --
"The chairman and vice-chairman of a select com- mittee shall be appointed by the Council. If the chair- man is absent from a meeting of the select committee, the vice-chairman shall preside. If both the chairman and the vice-chairman are absent from a meeting of the select committee, the Members present, shall appoint a temporary chairman to preside.''
(No Members indicated a wish to speak.)
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
17
CHAIRMAN:-We will now resume the debate on the following motion to amend Standing Order 10(1). This motion has already been moved and seconded. Does anyone wish to speak?
"Resolve that Standing Order 10(1) be amended to read:
'All motions shall be confined to matters within the jurisdiction of the Urban Council.""
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI:--Mr. Chairman, I cannot but regard this motion as a retrograde one and express surprise that it is moved by an Elected Member. I am almost pleased that the late Dr. LEE, who did so much to make this Council what it is today, is beyond feeling hurt at what I suppose this Council will inevitably do before the meeting is closed. He was the one who moved the original successful motion that gave rise to our Ward Councillor system, the greatest single motion of them all, and if this amendment goes through, such a motion would, undoubtedly, not be allowed. Even the mover of this motion himself would not be on this Council but for motions accepted by the Govern- ment from time to time proposing increases in the number of Elected Members. The agitation for use of Chinese in the Councils in Hong Kong started in this Council by another so-called ultra vires motion, now some years ago. Oh, where is the pioneering spirit of, in particular, the Elected Members, gone? Have they really been de- feated by almost a threat from the Chair that if we do not agree to this, our Standing Orders would have to be approved by the Legislative Council? I say, then let them be approved, and if they do not approve the present Standing Order 10(1), then we will fight even the Legislative Council. Do not, I beg of you, go under like white feathers blowing in the wind. The next thing the Establishment will attack will be our Conventional Debate, but they will not attack if they know that the Unofficials generally are against this preliminary motion. Some of the motions urging on the Government allocation for more grounds for parks and playgrounds even, that is so dear to my senior Appointed colleague's heart, would be ruled out of order as would all the various motions about a new City Hall before it was built. That, again, Dr. LEE successfully moved. The Resettlement Department, now housing over one million people, was our recommendation by a motion which would now be out of order if this change is made. Oh, Elected and Appointed Unofficials, where has your courage gone? Even the 1967 motion of support for the Government passed within 48 hours of that emergency, and for which the Governor personally thanked us, would not now be possible under the proposed Standing Orders. Oh, I say again, where has your pioneering spirit gone? Indeed, you will commit figurative suicide by agreeing to the motion that all motions should be confined to matters within the jurisdiction of this Council. I oppose, I oppose, I oppose.
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