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678
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 8th March, 1966, 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 February 1966.
(2) Reference to Committees in Urban Council Standing Orders.
(3) Report on "Keep Your District Clean" Campaign, Wong Tai Sin District.
(4) Analyses of Urban Services Department Other Charges and Resettlement Department Personal Emoluments and Other Charges proposed in the draft Estimates for 1966/67.
MR. SALES: With all the events that have taken place in the City Hall recently, I am sure that Council will expect the Chairman of the Select Committee to make a statement. We wish to be associated with all the happy events that took place. We are indeed sorry that despite section 55 of the Ordinance, the management took upon itself to lay in a private arsenal. (Laughter). That, Sir, I assure members was done without the consent of the Select Committee concerned. However, the Pest Control Officers, under the instructions of your Department, covered themselves with glory when they discovered the stock of arms which the management had put in for purposes totally unconnected with the work of the Urban Council.
Sir, may I therefore congratulate the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee for having come to the rescue of the City Hall in its unfortunate plight.
CHAIRMAN: May I rise in breach of Standing Orders (Laughter) and say that I understand that the staff of the City Hall behaved extremely well yesterday during a very difficult occasion.
MR. SALES: I would like to be associated with you in that remark. I would also like to put the thought forward to members of the Council, that it is not true that the Select Committee is contemplating creating a para-military force for the City Hall, to be in line with the Hawker Control Force, under the control of the senior Elected Member. But the appointed members at all times have sought parity in this Council, and if the senior Elected Member does not object to it, we will set about creating also a private force under the control of the Appointed Members. (Laughter).
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, if the senior Appointed Member so wishes, he can also apply to use part of the Hawker Control Force for the purpose he has in mind.
MR. SALES: Sir, there are hawkers at the City Hall at the moment. They are under the parapet; they are, I think, engaged in the motor car industry. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Sir, so far the Chairman of the City Hall Select Committee has not complained to the Hawkers Select Committee.
CHAIRMAN: They have the consent, Sir, of the City Hall Select Committee, hawkers or not. May I ask Dr. LEE to ask his first question?
QUESTIONS.
(1) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:
Is the Chairman aware of the insanitary condition of Kim Shin Lane near No. 475 Castle Peak Road? Is it a private or public lane, and who is responsible for its proper maintenance of cleanliness?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
I am aware that the conditions in this lane have not been entirely satisfactory. This is a private lane but as there is completely free access for the public through the lane it is treated in the same way as a public thoroughfare, and the Urban Services Department takes responsibility for its cleansing. The lane is swept twice daily. The first sweeping is completed in the forenoon and the second sweeping during the afternoon. There is heavy littering from the upper storey dwellings of the multi-storey buildings which overlook it.
After receipt of your question, Sir, a special operation was carried out on the 23rd February by officers of the Cleansing and Hygiene Divisions in conjunction with the Police. The whole lane was thoroughly cleansed, using street washing vehicles. Large quantities of refuse and junk were removed from the lane and from the shades and ledges of the buildings. 41 summonses were taken out in the lane; 18 of these were concerned with dumping of refuse, 3 were cases of spitting, and 20 cases concerned the failure of house-holders to provide dustbins. It is expected that as a result of the action taken, the recently improved conditions and supervision in this lane will be maintained. It will be kept under observation.
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