1
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CONFIDENTIAL
Urban Council Proposals
3 -
Government's views and
Proposals
Para. in Exco Memo
ASSISTANCE TO COUNCILLORS
Some assistance should be given to Unofficial Members to cover secretarial, stationery and transport expenses as might be required.
FUNCTIONS
1. All existing functions to remain
with the following extensions :
Phase I
(a) Public Housing all forms of
public housing to be placed under one department controlled by the Council. The Director of the department should be a member of the Council.
(There would be no further need for the Housing Authority which would become part of the Housing Department)
(b) Licensing the present scope
of the Council should be expanded to include the licensing of barber shops, liquor licensing, billiard saloons, bowling alleys, cinemas, dance halls, mahjong shops, money lenders, pawnbrokers, skating rinks, table tennis saloons.
(Note: Before acceptance of these additional licensing responsibilities, the Council should have a proper licensing unit. This unit would include the Council's own Health Officers, Health Inspectors, Fire Prevention Officers and Building Surveyors).
(c) Street lighting. The
Council already advises on street lighting. This should be made a statutory function.
This proposal has already been agreed.
The size, complexity and geographical spread of the housing problem would suggest that the logical step would be to sever the Urban Council's existing formal connection with housing matters rather than extend its interest in them. However this is a matter which will need closer study and it is recommended that in the mean time the Council's authority in this area should remain as it is.
The Council's licensing function should be extended to include :.
went
Liquor licensing (Police to
retain power to give temporary extensions of licensing hours) Barber shops (not yet
licensable) Billiard saloons Cinemas (Police to retain
power to censor live shows) Bowling alleys Skating rinks Table tennis saloons
This is too closely linked to the road building programme and security considerations to allow it to be efficiently managed by any body other than the Public Works Department. There would be no objection to the Public Works Department seeking the Council's advice in the same manner as the Department seeks advice from other departments.
CONFIDENTIAL
10 and 11
8(c)
8(c)