Page 68 of 212
68
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 19th June, 1973 were confirmed.
(Mr. John MacKENZIE arrived at this point.)
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (In English):-The importance of our select committees and their influence on Council policies and activities can never be stressed too much. Failure to realize that such was the case before, as it is today, explains perhaps why progress was not made in some direction; at the same time, there is an impressive record of achievement in other areas of activity where advantage was well taken of the potential of select committees.
(Miss Cecilia L. Y. YEUNG arrived at this point.)
Policies are first considered by select committees and prepared there for appropriate action. Indeed, where such policies fall within their terms of reference, action can follow immediately on the making of a decision. In truth, select committees together make up the Council's working echelon. They set the pace without doubt. Success really depends on how much their potential is exploited in practice.
For this reason, our Council can only be effective if select committees work efficiently to discharge their specific responsibilities. After the inauguration of the new Council, certain practices and procedures were introduced in all select committees. In addition, select committees have since been asked to examine their respective allocation of funds, review their building programmes, determine their man-power requirements and relate their policies to the new circumstances. It is only by finding out what the actual position is right at the start that select committees can know exactly how they stand and make plans capable of being put into practice for the good of the people.
Even so, there is the need for all committee chairmen to keep in close touch with the department, in particular the assistant directors, committee secretaries and other officers directly concerned with their work, to ensure that departmental action is taken on the decisions made by their respective select committees. Without this follow-up action, it is not altogether unlikely that decisions are not implemented expeditiously if difficulties are met at the outset. Moreover, all chairmen
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
69
may wish to make it a rule, as some do without fail, to go over regularly the minutes of their meetings and the relevant supporting papers in order to satisfy themselves that all necessary action is being taken departmentally. Progress reports should be required as a matter of course.
If you believe that direct supervision is important under normal conditions, I think you will agree that it is even much more so now in the initial period of the change-over. Unless the implications of this new situation are fully appreciated and adequate measures taken in consequence to work purposefully in the prevailing circumstances, I fear good and rapid progress is not likely to be made in the service of the community to which, I know, you are all strongly committed.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of June, 1973.
MR. BERNACCHI (In English):-Mr. Chairman, as the Urban Services Department is the executive arm of this Council, surely this report should be headed "Report of the Work of the Urban Council for the Month of June". Conversely in the New Territories, the Director of Urban Services is the authority, therefore in the New Territories the appropriate report is headed "Report of the Urban Services Department for the New Territories". But I do not, myself, think that in this day and age it should still be the "Report of the Urban Council and the Urban Services Department for the month of June".
CHAIRMAN (In English):-I would like to congratulate Mr. BERNACCHI on his perspicacity and also his knowledge of Standing Orders to the extent of flouting them so courteously. Nevertheless, the point is well made. It will be taken up in the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. It was at my request that the Director of Urban Services continued producing this report. Presumably at some future date if the Standing Committee so wishes, the report will be submitted in the name of the Council. Thank you very much for bringing the matter to my attention.
(Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN arrived at this point.)
Page 69 of 212
Page 68 of 212
68
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 19th June, 1973 were confirmed.
(Mr. John MacKENZIE arrived at this point.)
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (In English):-The importance of our select committees and their influence on Council policies and activities can never be stressed too much. Failure to realize that such was the case before, as it is today, explains perhaps why progress was not made in some direction; at the same time, there is an impressive record of achievement in other areas of activity where advantage was well taken of the potential of select committees.
(Miss Cecilia L. Y. YEUNG arrived at this point.)
Policies are first considered by select committees and prepared there for appropriate action. Indeed, where such policies fall within their terms of reference, action can follow immediately on the making of a decision. In truth, select committees together make up the Council's working echelon. They set the pace without doubt. Success really depends on how much their potential is exploited in practice.
For this reason, our Council can only be effective if select com. mittees work efficiently to discharge their specific responsibilities. After the inauguration of the new Council, certain practices and procedures were introduced in all select committees. In addition, select com- mittees have since been asked to examine their respective allocation of funds, review their building programmes, determine their man-power requirements and relate their policies to the new circumstances. It is only by finding out what the actual position is right at the start that select committees can know exactly how they stand and make plans capable of being put into practice for the good of the people.
Even so, there is the need for all committee chairmen to keep in close touch with the department, in particular the assistant directors, committee secretaries and other officers directly concerned with their work, to ensure that departmental action is taken on the decisions made by their respective select committees. Without this follow-up action, it is not altogether unlikely that decisions are not implemented expedi- tiously if difficulties are met at the outset. Moreover, all chairmen
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
69
may wish to make it a rule, as some do without fail, to go over regularly the minutes of their meetings and the relevant supporting papers in order to satisfy themselves that all necessary action is being taken departmentally. Progress reports should be required as a matter of
course.
If you believe that direct supervision is important under normal conditions, I think you will agree that it is even much more so now in the initial period of the change-over. Unless the implications of this new situation are fully appreciated and adequate measures taken in consequence to work purposefully in the prevailing circumstances, I fear good and rapid progress is not likely to be made in the service of the community to which, I know, you are all strongly committed.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services
Department for the month of June, 1973.
MR. BERNACCHI (In English):-Mr. Chairman, as the Urban Services Department is the executive arm of this Council, surely this report should be headed "Report of the Work of the Urban Council for the Month of June". Conversely in the New Territories, the Director of Urban Services is the authority, therefore in the New Territories the appropriate report is headed "Report of the Urban Services Department for the New Territories". But I do not, myself, think that in this day and age it should still be the "Report of the Urban Council and the Urban Services Department for the month of June".
CHAIRMAN (In English):-I would like to congratulate Mr. BERNACCHI on his perspicacity and also his knowledge of Standing Orders to the extent of flouting them so courteously. Nevertheless, the point is well made. It will be taken up in the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. It was at my request that the Director of Urban Services continued producing this report. Presumably at some future date if the Standing Committee so wishes, the report will be submitted in the name of the Council. Thank you very much for bringing the matter to my attention.
(Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN arrived at this point.)
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