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ment be taken over by this Council (Laughter) rather than offending Standing Order 8(12)—that a question must not be made a pretext for a debate?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I remind Mr. BERNACCHI that you, as Chairman, decides on procedures at meetings under Standing Orders, and you explicitly gave me permission to make my statement as Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee. Now I am glad that Mr. BERNACCHI has suggested to me that we should take over the Marine Department. I have in my midst a group of very talented members. We have a highly qualified doctor, and now we have another more highly qualified prospective Director of Marine, and I am quite sure he would do an excellent job.
CHAIRMAN: -Sir, may I say I was waiting for you to ask a question at the end of your statement. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask a supplementary question which is relevant to the question?
MR. SALES: I haven't answered yet―
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I thought you made a statement, Sir.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I would like the Secretary to read to you the question I put to you, and the permission you gave me. You at no time qualified your permission by stating that I should ask a question, and that you should suddenly swing to the side of the elected members at your very last meeting is to be deplored. (Laughter). Such conduct by an Official Member of this Council Sir, should not pass without the Appointed Members recording their displeasure. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: May I say, Sir, that Mr. SALES did ask permission to make a statement, but he didn't wait for that permission to be given. (Laughter).
In view of the disclosures which have been made by various members, am I to assume then, that the question posed was factual, and that your original reply was somewhat evasive and hypothetical?
CHAIRMAN: No Sir, I can assure you that the Department will take a very close and keen interest in getting this oil pollution cleaned up now, with I hope the active assistance and direction of the Urban Amenities Select Committee.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Are you suggesting Sir that you intend to delay your leave?
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask when Mr. FORSGATE'S question was received-on what date-and if any investigation was made?
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CHAIRMAN: Mr. FORSGATE's question must have been received, I should think, at least two or three weeks ago, and no particular investigation was made. The information regarding this pollution reached me today at lunchtime.
MR. SALES: Was the question referred to the Marine Department in the usual manner when it was received, since it concerned the harbour and the seas surrounding the southern part of the Island?
CHAIRMAN:-I understand the Marine Department is aware of the position.
MR. SALES—And being aware of the position, they allowed the pollution to develop?
CHAIRMAN: ---Unwillingly so, of course.
(20) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:-
Is the Chairman aware that Hong Kong has now become a very noisy city? Do we have any legislation to control the noise in the Urban Area? I refer particularly to the noise emitted from Mahjong playing, Radio, Rediffusion or any other sound instruments during the night.
DR. P. F. Woo, CHAIRMAN OF THE HEALTH EDUCATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
I am aware of the fact that noise is an inevitable symptom of a crowded city, and that Hong Kong is no exception. Legislation to control noise of the type referred to in the question, namely Mahjong playing, Radio, Rediffusion or any other sound instruments, is contained in the Summary Offences Ordinance, Section 3, Sub-Section (13) of which prohibits wanton or unnecessary noise in or near a public place calculated to annoy or alarm any person or to frighten any animal, while Section 12 restricts noise calculated to disturb or annoy any person or to interfere with the public tranquillity between 11.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m.
If an individual is harassed or annoyed by noise he is at liberty to complain to the police who, if such an offence is disclosed, will take the necessary action. Alternatively, if troubled by a noise which does not constitute an offence under the Summary Offences Ordinance a member of the public is at liberty to complain to a magistrate.
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