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so that those which require more than eight months for planning and preparations, such as performances by visiting artists of international renown who have to finalize their itinerary well in advance, will not be affected.
It is the Select Committee's intention to use the facilities of the City Hall to their best advantage in meeting the Council's overall aim of encouraging and promoting the arts in Hong Kong. It is its hope that the new arrangements I have described will contribute to attaining that aim.
In this connection, the Select Committee is aware that audience support is essential for the success of any function at the City Hall. The Select Committee is therefore considering various ways and means to stimulate such support and one recent measure is the introduction of a special ticket information board at the City Hall Main Foyer. Those interested in the arts are now able to find out quickly not only what is going on at the City Hall, but also how much the tickets cost and where they may be bought. This ticket information is also made available to the Press. Individuals who wish to receive this information may apply to be included in the mailing list for City Hall publicity materials. This service is free and is available in both Chinese and English.
The City Hall Select Committee is also considering other possible improvements including the standard of service by attendants and ushers,
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left at this point.)
In this connection I wish to report that the Select Committee considered the incident which occurred on the 6th April, early this year between a newspaper reporter and a member of the City Hall staff and asked me to discuss with the D.U.S. as to how the matter might be inquired into. It was agreed that the inquiry should be conducted by senior Government officials outside the U.S.D. and the D.U.S. decided to hold the inquiry in camera. I am told that the report has been completed and will be shown to yourself, Mr. Chairman and myself in due course and so there is nothing further that the Select Committee can do at the present time. However, two points of general significance arise.
(Mr. Kenneth T. C. LO left at this point.)
The first is this. As the Urban Council has no powers to inquire into anything which is not strictly within its terms of reference, and as staff matters are outside the terms of reference set out in the Ordinance, the Council is in the unfavourable and unpleasant position of having neither the power to order an inquiry into incidents involving staff nor the capacity to conduct one. If the Council were to decide nonetheless to conduct an inquiry it would have no departmental assistance. Furthermore, members conducting such an inquiry would have no privilege in respect of either its proceedings or any report made.
Secondly, the incident makes it clear how unsatisfactory it is for the Council to have no say on staff matters. The position of paying the piper, but not being able to call the tune, engenders not just theoretical, but very substantial practical difficulties. The Council's weaknesses and disadvantages in dealing with staff are, in the Sub-Committee's opinion, well illustrated in this particular case.
From my own part, I consider that it will be in the Council's best interests eventually to have its own staff, and I intend to take this matter further in the Standing Committee. Existing staff might then be given the option of remaining with the Government or becoming employed by the Council. Apart from everything else, this would enable us to provide special training and achieve something which is simply not possible at present—that is, to raise the level of junior staff efficiency.
MOTION
MRS. E. ELLIOTT moved the following motion:
"That all hawker bazaars with a life-expectancy of one year or more be paved, well-drained, and provided with facilities such as standpipes, electricity and protective shades."
She said (In English):—Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the Motion standing in my name.
I think this motion should have been moved years ago. Indeed, I think the subject of the motion could have been a matter of policy, without the necessity of having to make a motion of it. But since it has reached this stage, I hope that the proposals here will be accepted, to avoid the long negotiations and delays of policy-changing in committee.
One of the things that have impressed me as we have visited hawker markets and bazaars, both temporary and otherwise, has been
55
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 62 of 212
is not present in the original text snippet, hence not included.וי
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Page 61 of 212
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
so that those which require more than eight months for planning and preparations, such as performances by visiting artists of international renown who have to finalize their itinerary well in advance, will not be affected.
It is the Select Committee's intention to use the facilities of the City Hall to their best advantage in meeting the Council's overall aim of encouraging and promoting the arts in Hong Kong. It is its hope that the new arrangements I have described will contribute to attaining
that aim.
In this connection, the Select Committee is aware that audience support is essential for the success of any function at the City Hall. The Select Committee is therefore considering various ways and means to stimulate such support and one recent measure is the introduction of a special ticket information board at the City Hall Main Foyer. Those interested in the arts are now able to find out quickly not only what is going on at the City Hall, but also how much the tickets cost and where they may be bought. This ticket information is also made available to the Press. Individuals who wish to receive this information may apply to be included in the mailing list for City Hall publicity materials. This service is free and is available in both Chinese and English.
The City Hall Select Committee is also considering other possible improvements including the standard of service by attendants and ushers,
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left at this point.)
In this connection I wish to report that the Select Committee con- sidered the incident which occurred on the 6th April, early this year between a newspaper reporter and a member of the City Hall staff and asked me to discuss with the D.U.S. as to how the matter might be inquired into. It was agreed that the inquiry should be conducted by senior Government officials outside the U.S.D. and the D.U.S. decided to hold the inquiry in camera. I am told that the report has been completed and will be shown to yourself, Mr. Chairman and myself in due course and so there is nothing further that the Select Committee can do at the present time. However, two points of general significance arise.
(Mr. Kenneth T. C. LO left at this point.)
The first is this. As the Urban Council has no powers to inquire into anything which is not strictly within its terms of reference, and as
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
55
staff matters are outside the terms of reference set out in the Ordinance, the Council is in the unfavourable and unpleasant position of having neither the power to order an inquiry into incidents involving staff nor the capacity to conduct one. If the Council were to decide nonetheless conduct an inquiry it would have no departmental assistance. Furthermore, members conducting such an inquiry would have no privilege in respect of either its proceedings or any report made.
to
Secondly, the incident makes it clear how unsatisfactory it is for the Council to have no say on staff matters. The position of paying the piper, but not being able to call the tune, engenders not just theoretical, but very substantial practical difficulties. The Council's weaknesses and disadvantages in dealing with staff are, in the Sub- Committee's opinion, well illustrated in this particular case.
From my own part, I consider that it will be in the Council's best interests eventually to have its own staff, and I intend to take this matter further in the Standing Committee. Existing staff might then be given the option of remaining with the Government or becoming employed by the Council. Apart from everything else, this would enable us to provide special training and achieve something which is simply not possible at present-that, is, to raise the level of junior staff efficiency.
MOTION
MRS. E. ELLIOTT moved the following motion:
"That all hawker bazaars with a life-expectancy of one year or more be paved, well-drained, and provided with facilities such as standpipes, electricity and protective shades."
She said (In English):—Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the Motion standing in my name.
I think this motion should have been moved years ago. Indeed, I think the subject of the motion could have been a matter of policy, without the necessity of having to make a motion of it. But since it has reached this stage, I hope that the proposals here will be accepted, to avoid the long negotiations and delays of policy-changing in com- mittee.
One of the things that have impressed me as we have visited hawker markets and bazaars, both temporary and otherwise, has been
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