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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. LEE: Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask the Vice-Chairman a supplementary in regard to his reply to the original question. Can he give the public an assurance that water with a salinity higher than 600 parts per million will not cause diarrhoea to a large percentage of the population?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: It is not intended that the salinity shall be higher than 600 parts per million. That is the limit we have set.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Will the Chairman of the Urban Council seek information from the Director of Fire Services as to what anti-fire campaign and education programmes are planned for the rest of 1964 and in what manner can the Urban Council and the Urban Services and Resettlement Departments be of assistance?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
I have been informed by the Director of Fire Services that he is arranging to continue the fire prevention campaign and to increase the fire prevention education programmes for 1964.
With regard to the education programmes, I understand that it is intended to use the following aids:
(a) Mobile film shows on open air sites near to high risk areas.
(b) Mobile slide shows at street corners drawing attention to risks close by discovered by Fire Services cameramen.
(c) Loudspeaker appeals in the more densely populated areas, by means of portable tape recorders and loud hailers.
(d) Exhibitions at suitable sites throughout the Colony.
(e) Visits of inspection to all schools and short talks on fire prevention to the children.
The Fire Prevention Bureau which was organized in April 1963, has carried out research into the requirements for the next few years and the Director of Fire Services will be in a position to discuss details with Government shortly.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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As you will be aware, Sir, from the reply I gave to a question asked by you at the Council meeting on 6th June, 1961, liaison exists between the Fire Services Department and the Urban Services Department in regard to the matter of fire hazards which, when discovered by Health Inspectors in the course of their duties, are reported to the Director of Fire Services.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, could not the Director of Fire Services have been invited to come to this Council to-day to answer this particular question?
CHAIRMAN: I must confess, Sir, that he has certainly supplied a detailed reply.
MR. SALES: Would the reply not have been perhaps more significant had he been physically present here to give it? (Laughter).
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
I understand that many residents are under the impression that the Hawker Control Force is a special type of municipal police force. As a member of the Urban Council Hawkers Select Committee, I know that this is not the case, but in order to clarify this matter with the public, will the Director of the Urban Services Department be good enough to confirm that the Hawker Control Force (whose name it has been suggested should eventually be changed if a better name can be found) is in fact an integral part of the Urban Services Department staff?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Yes, Sir, I can confirm that the Hawker Control Force is in every respect an integral part of the Urban Services Department staff. Furthermore, it is clear that the Legislature intended this to be the case, for Section 5 of the Hawker Control Force Ordinance 1960 states that "The Force shall be a part of the Urban Services Department and shall be subject, in matters of policy and as to the scope of its duties, to the directions of the Director [of Urban Services]".
The Hawker Control Force exists to carry out the policies of the Urban Council on hawker matters and its members are vested with the legal powers which they need for this purpose. The Force is concerned with hawkers only
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