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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. LEE:-I think, to my own positive knowledge, that someone has forgotten about this matter in the Secretariat. It is only comparatively recently that active interest has been taken. Am I right or am I wrong?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I cannot say. I have no particular insight into the workings of the Secretariat. I know that the matter is under active consideration now.
DR. LEE:--A supplementary to the third paragraph of your reply. Is the Chairman aware that one Clerical Assistant was transferred to the New Territories Administration on 22nd October, 1963 because of better prospects there, and another Clerical Assistant, a very good worker with considerable experience in library work, was also transferred to the New Territories Administration? One experienced Typist is expected to go to the Information Services very shortly at a higher salary, and one Clerical Assistant who has been with the Library from the beginning, has applied for another post with better prospects. Now, in view of these very important losses, Mr. Chairman, do you not consider it a very serious handicap to the efficient operation of the Library?
CHAIRMAN:--Sir, transfers such as you have mentioned are not uncommon in the Service. People in the grade of Clerical Assistant are probably looking frequently for opportunities to transfer to more remunerative appointments. No information has been given to me recently (and I have enquired into this matter following receipt of your question) to suggest that there is anything to be unduly alarmed about in the staffing situation in the City Hall Library, as far as transfers are concerned.
DR. LEE:--I have been requested to ask Government to give immediate consideration to this matter of providing better prospects for persons who have a liking to work in the library service, so that promising candidates and personnel working in the Library will not be lost because of that fact.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, while I share Dr. LEE's concern over the loss of staff, I do think, Mr. Chairman, if I might suggest it to Dr. LEE's Select Committee, through you, that we should take into account the fact that so many people are receiving good training in the Urban Council and then leaving us to improve the service given to the public in other Government departments. I would rather see more people being trained by the Urban Council and then joining other departments. The standard of service given to the public would immediately rise. (Laughter).
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MR. WATSON:-Mr. Chairman, in view of the disclosures by Dr. R. H. S. LEE, are you aware of any intention by the District Commissioner to start a library in the New Territories? (Laughter).
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-
Is the Chairman aware of caged and uncaged bedspaces in newly developed tenement houses? Will the Chairman find out from the inspectorate the prevalence of this practice and do they conform to the health regulations in respect to lighting, ventilation and other statutory requirements?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
The subdivision of tenement floors into bedspaces is a long-standing practice which provides accommodation for workers at prices within their reach. The practice is found in new buildings just as in older ones.
All tenement houses are visited once in 6 months in the course of routine house inspection. Where a breach of the Ventilation By-laws is discovered, appropriate action is taken, that is, by warning or prosecution; in other cases verbal advice is given.
A local newspaper recently published a photograph and description of "caged" bedspaces in Wan Chai. The practice of enclosing bedspaces with wire-mesh appears to be a fairly recent one and is purely a security measure designed to prevent theft of the occupant's belongings while he is at work. It does not in itself interfere to any great extent with light or ventilation.
After publication of the report a rapid, but, I think, a fairly accurate survey was made by the health inspectorate and 58 floors with "caged" bedspaces were found, 41 in the industrial areas of North Kowloon. 54 of them, including the one described in the press, were seen to have adequate light and ventilation; action is being taken to remedy matters in the other four.
DR. LEE:-Can the Vice-Chairman supply me with information in respect to the rent range of a bedspace in a new building?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-Yes, Sir. The one I visited this morning had 3-tier bunks, the lower bunk is the
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