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he would be more comfortable with far less of it. Modern living has undoubtedly increased the amount of noise and its reduction is certainly to be desired.
If you feel that the subject should be studied in greater detail by this Council, I am sure that the Chairman would have no objection to referring it to the Standing Committee or the appropriate Select Committee for consideration in the first instance.
MR. BERNACCHI :- Mr. Chairman, is it not correct that there is a report out in England now on the subject of noise?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES :— Mr. Chairman, I understand that a report certainly was being made, but I am unable to state now that it has actually been issued.
MRS. ELLIOTT :- Mr. Chairman, would you be willing to refer the matter to the Standing Committee to see if Members wish to pursue the matter further?
CHAIRMAN :- I would be glad to do so.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN : -- Would the Vice-Chairman, if he wishes to pursue the subject more thoroughly, be prepared to carry out a pilot survey among Members of the Urban Council to see whether Mah Jong is good for their mental health?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES :- I am not sure whether Mah Jong is good for mental health, but certainly Mah Jong to people who play it here may be just as welcome a sound as bagpipes are in Scotland to those who live over the border. (Laughter). I would not like to say anything more on this particular aspect.
DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question :-
The Report of the Working Party on sub-divided buildings has been published for over a year. Would the Chairman inquire from Government whether it has been accepted and if so, when the recommendations therein would be implemented?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Since a reply was last made in this Council on 6th August, 1963 Government has received a number of detailed comments and representations from organizations interested in the Working Party's recommendations. As the subject is one of very considerable complexity and still requires further consideration, it is not yet possible to indicate the date by which Government will be ready to announce its decisions on the implementation of the Working Party's recommendations, except as regards the apportionment of premium and Crown rent, for which the necessary legislation, as already announced, is at present under consideration.
MR. WILFRED S. B. WONG asked the following question :-
In view of the present severe water shortage, the low (absolute) humidity to be expected during the month of February, and the likelihood of fires both quick spreading and hard to contain, would the Chairman take all possible precautionary measures within the authority of this Council to discourage the discharge of fire crackers during the approaching Chinese New Year period?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
I replied to a similar question at the last meeting. Since then, my friend, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, has made arrangements to repeat a publicity campaign mounted last year to warn the public to exercise greater care in the discharge of fireworks. The campaign will start in a few days with Press releases, the showing of a new film, the broadcasting of appropriate slogans by Radio Hong Kong, Commercial Radio and Rediffusion, and the distribution of posters. The Director of Education issued a circular yesterday to all heads of schools requesting them to pass on publicity material and slogans. The Secretary for Chinese Affairs is also approaching Kaifong, District and Clansmen's Associations, together with Women's Welfare Clubs to seek their co-operation in further publicizing the need for care and in putting up Government posters.
In regard to the Urban Services Department, a circular has been issued to all staff asking them to assist, in their capacity as citizens, in stopping the careless use of fireworks. A similar circular has been issued by my friend, the Commissioner for Resettlement, to his staff. In addition, he and the Commissioner for Housing are assisting