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Government on commission by getting separate advice from other consultants?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English):-I am not sure I understand Mr. Lo's question. Perhaps he could frame it again.
MR. T. S. Lo (in English):-I am sorry. I meant that the consultants' report, if it does contain the application from the oil company, could presumably be sent to our own consultants to have the matter tested to see whether in fact our own consultants agree with the findings of the Government consultants. That at least would be of some help.
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English):-Yes, Mr. Chairman, that goes back to my original answer to one of Mr. Lo's supplementaries. I think we should study the report, and then decide what action we can possibly take.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Mr. CHEONG-LEEN and Mr. C. K. CHAN, you asked for the floor in that order.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Could Mr. Kenneth Lo give assurance to the Council that after he has received the copies of the report, the report will be studied by the Select Committee, and that recommendations or suggestions will be made by the Select Committee as to what best can be done for the better protection of our beaches, and what form any proposed legislation concerning such protection of our beaches can or should take? Could he also give assurance to the Council that the views of his Select Committee will be brought to the attention of, and hopefully endorsed by, the Standing Committee of the Whole?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English):-I can certainly give Mr. CHEONG-LEEN those assurances.
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I would ask one supplementary to Mr. Lo. We were assured that we are concerned with the daily life of the people in Hong Kong. Why would it be unlikely that we would not be consulted with regard to this very vital question of Lamma Island? Why? Could Mr. Lo tell us?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English):-I am afraid I do not know why we were not consulted, Mr. Hu.
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu (in English):-Mr. Chairman, could Government be afraid that we speak for the people?
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CHAIRMAN (in English):-That is a statement, not a question (Laughter). Nevertheless, it goes on record because it is very apt. Now, any other supplementary questions?
MR. C. K. CHAN (in English):-Would you, sir, as the Chairman of this Council let the government know that it is the desire of this Council that we would like to be consulted? Whether they will consult us or not is up to them, but I think it is the unanimous desire of this Council.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity of making a statement. The position, as I see it, is: first, that the Department must inform the Government immediately of the keen interest the Council has shown in this meeting, and the questions and answers should be sent without loss of time to the Colonial Secretariat. At the same time, I would like to see this matter put on the agenda of the next meeting of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee for preliminary discussion. Following which, the recommendations should go to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council for a final decision to be taken on the Council's position. I think we shall let the matter rest there, and action will follow then from the Director of Urban Services and the Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee. Now we come to the item number 5 on the agenda.
MOTIONS
(1) MRS. E. ELLIOTT, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following:
"RESOLVED that the Library By-laws 1973 be made under Section 105L of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
She said (in English):-Sir, as Chairman of the Libraries Select Committee, I rise on the motion standing in my name.
Briefly, the main intention of the revised Library By-laws is to take cognizance of the Council's new status and to review the library charges. These charges consist of replacement fee for lost borrower's tickets, overdue charges for books not returned or renewed on the due dates, reservation fee for books not immediately available, and charges for deposit of articles at the library cloakrooms. These charges have been in effect since April 1966 and have become unrealistic for the purposes intended. The Libraries Select Committee has therefore reviewed the matter and the revised charges have been endorsed by the Finance Select Committee.
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Page 123 of 212
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Government on commission by getting separate advice from other consultants?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English):-I am not sure I understand Mr. Lo's question. Perhaps he could frame it again.
MR. T. S. Lo (in English):-I am sorry. I meant that the con- sultants' report, if it does contain the application from the oil company, could presumably be sent to our own consultants to have the matter tested to see whether in fact our own consultants agree with the find. ings of the Government consultants. That at least would be of some help.
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English): -Yes, Mr. Chairman, that goes back to my original answer to one of Mr. Lo's supplementaries. I think we should study the report, and then decide what action we can possibly take.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Mr. CHEONG-LEEN and Mr. C. K. CHAN, you asked for the floor in that order.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Could Mr. Kenneth Lo give assurance to the Council that after he has received the copies of the report, the report will be studied by the Select Committee, and that recommendations or suggestions will be made by the Select Committee as to what best can be done for the better protection of our beaches, and what form any proposed legislation concerning such protection of our beaches can or should take? Could he also give assurance to the Council that the views of his Select Committee will be brought to the attention of, and hopefully endorsed by, the Standing Committee of the Whole?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English):-I can certainly give Mr. CHEONG-LEEN those assurances.
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu (in English): -Mr. Chairman, I would ask one supplementary to Mr. Lo. We were assured that we are con- cerned with the daily life of the people in Hong Kong. Why would it be unlikely that we would not be consulted with regard to this very vital question of Lamma Island? Why? Could Mr. Lo tell us?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo (in English):-I am afraid I do not know why we were not consulted, Mr. Hu.
MR. HENRY H. L. Hu (in English):-Mr. Chairman, could Govern- ment be afraid that we speak for the people?
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CHAIRMAN (in English):-That is a statement, not a question (Laughter). Nevertheless, it goes on record because it is very apt. Now, any other supplementary questions?
MR. C. K. CHAN (in English):-Would you, sir, as the Chairman of this Council let the government know that it is the desire of this Council that we would like to be consulted? Whether they will con- sult us or not is up to them, but I think it is the unanimous desire of this Council.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity of making a statement. The position, as I see it, is: first, that the Department must inform the Government immediately of the keen interest the Council has shown in this meeting, and the questions and answers should be sent without loss of time to the Colonial Secretariat. At the same time, I would like to see this matter put on the agenda of the next meeting of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee for preliminary discussion. Following which, the recom- mendations should go to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council for a final decision to be taken on the Council's position. I think we shall let the matter rest there, and action will follow then from the Director of Urban Services and the Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee. Now we come to the item number 5 on the agenda.
MOTIONS
(1) MRS. E. ELLIOTT, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following:
"RESOLVED that the Library By-laws 1973 be made under Section 105L of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
She said (in English):-Sir, as Chairman of the Libraries Select Committee, I rise on the motion standing in my name.
Briefly, the main intention of the revised Library By-laws is to take cognizance of the Council's new status and to review the library charges. These charges consist of replacement fee for lost borrower's tickets, overdue charges for books not returned or renewed on the due dates, reservation fee for books not immediately available, and charges for deposit of articles at the library cloakrooms. These charges have been in effect since April 1966 and have become unrealistic for the purposed intended. The Libraries Select Committee has therefore reviewed the matter and the revised charges have been endorsed by the Finance Select Committee.
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