1972 — Page 25

Page 25 of 206

30

# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

## MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 4th April, 1972 were confirmed.

## PAPERS

THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:-

(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of April, 1972.

(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st January, 1972 to 31st March, 1972.

(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations for the period 1st January, 1972 to 31st March, 1972.

(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG and Messrs. James M. H. WU and Hilton CHEONG-LEEN arrived at this point.)

CHAIRMAN: In connection with the Monthly Report, I would like to say this.

Since the last Council meeting, there has been much reference in the Press to the gagging of this Council and much uninformed and unjustified criticism of the Chairman of the former Standing Orders & Procedure Select Committee, Mr. C. K. CHAN, for moving the necessary motion to amend Standing Order 10(1).

I would like to repeat what I said in connection with the motion, namely, that the continued use of the old Standing Order to introduce motions on ultra vires matters could only continue to mislead the public into believing that the Council had powers where it has none. The amendment which has been made will in fact enable the Council to concentrate on the many challenging tasks entrusted to it without distraction to other matters over which the Council has no jurisdiction and about which it can do nothing. To that extent therefore the people in the urban area must be better served as a result and I would like to think that all members of the public, realizing this, would welcome, rather than criticize, the change made in the relevant Standing Order.

MRS. E. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, would you clarify a point please? Would you clarify whether the chairman of the committee is forced to move the motion, forced to accept it and forced to agree with it?

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN:- Normally, he would be called upon to do so.

31

MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, would he have the right to say "I do not accept this myself, but I put it forward"?

CHAIRMAN:- He could.

MR. PETER C. K. CHAN:- Mr. Chairman, I just want to clarify my position. I thought it was my duty to do it and I did it happily. Nobody forced me to do it.

(Mr. Charles C. C. SIN arrived at this point.)

MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, I rise to make some observations on the monthly report on the subject of hawker operations.

The three-day operation in Canton Road, Mong Kok resulted in the removal from the street of a very substantial amount of junk and refuse; this in turn facilitated the washing of the whole street, thus improving the environment of the area. I am pleased to note that this operation involved the Police and City District Office as well as other sections of the Urban Services Department and the hawkers too were themselves most co-operative.

I do feel that the Council and the Urban Services Department should in all future operations endeavour to involve as much as possible other interested departments in an active role in hawker operations. Improvement in hawker areas should be seen as the joint responsibility of all Government departments and not as the sole responsibility of the Urban Council; indeed, the public too should have a part to play by co-operating with the Cleansing Teams.

(Mr. T. S. LO arrived at this point.)

With the approach of the warm weather, it is hoped that the Department will continue and step-up action to prevent the illegal sale of shell-fish. While the Department should do what it can within its resources to inhibit this practice, the public too should be warned of the dangers of eating shell-fish and should co-operate with the Council by refraining from patronizing illegal hawkers dealing in this commodity.

MR. A. de O. SALES: Mr. Chairman, for several years now the Council has drawn the Government's attention to the urgent need to organize active recreation in an effective and meaningful way among the young population particularly for those not in school. Such a recreation service would ensure that the best use is made of the very considerable number of physical facilities now provided by the Council

Page 25

Page 26