1997 — Page 590

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 590 of 654

HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

Councillors might ask the chairman of any committee questions concerning the affairs of the committee at the Urban Council monthly meeting. As the Chairman of a Working Group, you have made a decision today but are you in a position to reply any question at a monthly meeting in the capacity of the Chairman of a Working Group?

CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—I was answering as the Chairman of the Working Group on Public Toilets.

MR. LAI HOK-LIM (in Cantonese):—The Standing Orders were decided by the Chairman. The question now is that under Standing Order 12, reference is made about 'the Chairman of any Committee'. Mr. Chairman, based on your explanation given today, is the chairmanship of a working group considered the same as the chairmanship of a committee?

Chairman (in Cantonese):—Good. I understand.

Mr. Joseph Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, this question should have been replied to by the Chairman of the Public Health Select Committee, but he had transferred the right of reply to the Chairman of the Working Group on Public Toilets because the latter is the only one who is conversant with the issue of public toilets.

CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Is there any Member who objects to my answering this question?

MR. LAI HOK-LIM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I am not raising any objection. I am only seeking clarification from you. Does it mean that in future, Chairmen of the Select Committees may authorize the Chairmen of their Working Groups to answer questions on their behalf? As you have set such a precedent, there might be many more Committee Chairmen who allow the Chairmen of those Working Groups under them to answer questions on their behalf. I am not objecting to this. I only want you to clarify this and whether you consider this arrangement appropriate.

MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, this has been a long-standing practice of the Urban Council, unless we revise it.

MR. LAI HOK-LIM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I consider that if this is the practice, the Standing Order concerned will have to be amended, because it stipulates that Councillors might direct any question to the Chairman of any Committee or the Chairman of the Urban Council. As the Chairman of the Urban Council, you may today answer any question in the capacity of the Chairman of the Urban Council but as far as I understand, the Standing Order

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Page 590 of 654 HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL Councillors might ask the chairman of any committee questions concerning the affairs of the committee at the Urban Council monthly meeting. As the Chairman of a Working Group, you have made a decision today but are you in a position to reply any question at a monthly meeting in the capacity of the Chairman of a Working Group? CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—I was answering as the Chairman of the Working Group on Public Toilets. MR. LAI HOK-LIM (in Cantonese):—The Standing Orders were decided by the Chairman. The question now is that under Standing Order 12, reference is made about 'the Chairman of any Committee'. Mr. Chairman, based on your explanation given today, is the chairmanship of a working group considered the same as the chairmanship of a committee? Chairman (in Cantonese):—Good. I understand. Mr. Joseph Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, this question should have been replied to by the Chairman of the Public Health Select Committee, but he had transferred the right of reply to the Chairman of the Working Group on Public Toilets because the latter is the only one who is conversant with the issue of public toilets. CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Is there any Member who objects to my answering this question? MR. LAI HOK-LIM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I am not raising any objection. I am only seeking clarification from you. Does it mean that in future, Chairmen of the Select Committees may authorize the Chairmen of their Working Groups to answer questions on their behalf? As you have set such a precedent, there might be many more Committee Chairmen who allow the Chairmen of those Working Groups under them to answer questions on their behalf. I am not objecting to this. I only want you to clarify this and whether you consider this arrangement appropriate. MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, this has been a long-standing practice of the Urban Council, unless we revise it. MR. LAI HOK-LIM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I consider that if this is the practice, the Standing Order concerned will have to be amended, because it stipulates that Councillors might direct any question to the Chairman of any Committee or the Chairman of the Urban Council. As the Chairman of the Urban Council, you may today answer any question in the capacity of the Chairman of the Urban Council but as far as I understand, the Standing Order Page 590 of 654 Page 590 Page 591

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age 590 of 654 Page 590 of 654 Page 590 of 654 580 HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL Councillors might ask the chairman of any committee questions concerning the affairs of the committee at the Urban Council monthly meeting. As the Chairman of a Working Group, you have made a decision today but are you in a position to reply any question at a monthly meeting in the capacity of the Chairman of a Working Group? CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-I was answering as the Chairman of the Working Group on Public Toilets. MR. LAI HOK-LIM (in Cantonese):—The Standing Orders were decided by the Chairman. The question now is that under Standing Order 12, reference is made about 'the Chairman of any Committee'. Mr. Chairman, based on your explanation given today, is the chairmanship of a working group considered the same as the chairmanship of a committee? Chairman (in Cantonese):--Good. I understand. Mr. Joseph Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, this question should have been replied to by the Chairman of the Public Health Select Committee, but he had transferred the right of reply to the Chairman of the Working Group on Public Toilets because the latter is the only one who is conversant with the issue of public toilets. CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Is there any Member who objects to my answering this question? MR. LA HOK-LIM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I am not raising any objection. I am only seeking clarification from you. Does it mean that in future, Chairmen of the Select Committees may authorize the Chairmen of their Working Groups to answer questions on their behalf? As you have set such a precedent, there might be many more Committee Chairmen who allow the Chairmen of those Working Groups under them to answer questions on their behalf. I am not objecting to this. I only want you to clarify this and whether you consider this arrangement appropriate. MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese); Mr. Chairman, this has been a long-standing practice of the Urban Council, unless we revise it. MR. LAI HOK-LIM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I consider that if this is the practice, the Standing Order concerned will have to be amended, because it stipulates that Councillors might direct any question to the Chairman of any Committee or the Chairman of the Urban Council. As the Chairman of the Urban Council, you may today answer any question in the capacity of the Chairman of the Urban Council but as far as l'understand, the Standing Order Page 590 of 654 Page 590Page 591

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age 590 of 654

Page 590 of 654

580

HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-I was answering as the Chairman of the Working Group on Public Toilets.

Chairman (in Cantonese):--Good. I understand.

CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Is there any Member who objects to my answering this question?

MR. LA HOK-LIM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I am not raising any objection. I am only seeking clarification from you. Does it mean that in future, Chairmen of the Select Committees may authorize the Chairmen of their Working Groups to answer questions on their behalf? As you have set such a precedent, there might be many more Committee Chairmen who allow the Chairmen of those Working Groups under them to answer questions on their behalf. I am not objecting to this. I only want you to clarify this and whether you consider this arrangement appropriate.

MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese); Mr. Chairman, this has been a long-standing practice of the Urban Council, unless we revise it.

MR. LAI HOK-LIM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I consider that if this is the practice, the Standing Order concerned will have to be amended, because it stipulates that Councillors might direct any question to the Chairman of any Committee or the Chairman of the Urban Council. As the Chairman of the Urban Council, you may today answer any question in the capacity of the Chairman of the Urban Council but as far as l'understand, the Standing Order

1997 — Page 590

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