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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 5th January, 1960, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:-
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of January, 1960.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st October, 1959 to 31st December, 1959.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st October, 1959 to 31st December, 1959.
(4) Analysis of the recommendations of the Estimates Select Committee on the staffing requirements of the Urban Services and Resettlement Departments for the financial year 1960/61.
He said: Included in the papers laid on the table today is the analysis of staff increases proposed in the draft Estimates 1960/61. In accordance with the established convention of this Council any member who now wishes to do so is free to speak on general questions related directly to the department's establishment. There is no formal motion and no vote will be taken.
There are several points which I might briefly mention in this connexion. The progress of planning for the administration of the City Hall is reflected in the provision of the posts of Manager, City Hall and Librarian, the latter being already filled and the former under recruitment. Three months' provision is also made for the Curator of the Art Gallery and Museum, who will be required about the end of the year. A clerk and a secretary-stenographer are also provided for, and two posts of Assistant Librarian are under consideration.
The increasing use of special vehicles is responsible for the provision of 50 new posts of Special Driver, but the overall increase is in fact only 13, as 37 posts of driver are offset. 12 more life-guards are provided, to strengthen the staff on existing beaches and to cover new beaches under development.
The first posts for the Hawker Control Unit were shown in last year's Estimates, and additional provision is now made for a Superintendent, a Chief Inspector, and 8 inspectors. Recruitment of constables is now in hand.
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The increases which have been sought this year are modest. In seeking additional staff there must be borne in mind the general economy of the Colony, the need for training, for untrained staff are an embarrassment, and the need for office accommodation. Three posts in connexion with Parks and Playgrounds are still under consideration with Government.
Members are now welcome to address the Council and I shall look forward with interest to the various points raised by them.
DR. R. H. S. LEE: Mr. Chairman, if this Council has powers to levy rates as in most other local councils I am sure today's debate would attract far more public attention than it has because where the pocket book of the taxpayer is affected public interest is unavoidable. Although the power of raising money to finance the Council's work is not one of its duties, it is just as important to examine carefully the Estimates Select Committee's recommendations on the staffing requirements of the Urban Services and the Resettlement Departments because the staff of these two departments do in fact carry out the policies of this Council. I need not stress, Mr. Chairman, its importance because the ultimate health of the community and the resettlement of more than 300,000 settlers depend upon the satisfactory discharge of these duties.
Mr. Chairman, there must be very few cities in the world which grow at so rapid a pace as Hong Kong. As so many new buildings are going up it is important that the public services provided by the Urban Services Department should keep up with this rapid development. Many of them contain licensed premises. The present target, of course, is for each health inspector to visit 1,200 floors per quarter. With the current programme of training 50 health inspectors at a time it is doubtful whether this target can be achieved and, if achieved, whether the proper action has been taken in every case. It seems to me, Mr. Chairman, that far too many licensed premises are being allowed to flout the Council's by-laws without the proper action being taken, and many new buildings very quickly develop into slum buildings. When we are not in a position to wipe out all the infectious diseases in this very overcrowded Colony we cannot afford at present to relax any regulation to lower the standards of health. To keep the field staff on their toes, and to reduce irregularities, Mr. Chairman, I suggest the formation of a small experienced headquarters staff to make regular surprise visits to all areas and all types of premises to ensure that they are doing their job.
If a higher standard of health is our aim, Mr. Chairman, we must seek co-operation in our health measures from the people. Unless this is forthcoming, whatever we do, I am afraid, must be futile. For this reason we must pay particular attention to health education, and concentrate our efforts in this field.
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