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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows: ---
I should like to take the first and third parts of the question together. The Council is responsible for private cemeteries in as far as it is required to enforce the provisions of the Private Cemeteries By-laws 1960. These by-laws have the limited purpose of seeking to ensure that graves in private cemeteries are properly marked and registered, and that nuisances will not arise from improper methods of burials.
In answer to the second part of the question, liaison between the Council and the private cemeteries is maintained through the supervisor of Cemeteries and Crematoria, an officer of the Urban Services Department.
In answer to the last part of the question, the Council is not consulted on the fees for burial plots and there is no provision for consultation in these matters.
Members may be interested to know that for several weeks past the department has been conducting a survey of the facilities offered by private cemeteries, and the information being sought in respect of each cemetery includes such matters as the terms of the conditions of grant of land, the remaining area of unallocated grave plots, the annual burial rates, eligibility for burial, and the fees charged for grave plots. When this information has been collated it is proposed to refer the matter to the Cemeteries, Crematoria and Funeral Parlours Select Committee for their consideration.
MR. CHEUNG:-Mr. Chairman, with regard to paragraph 3, can I seek clarification as to the manner in which there is liaison between the Urban Services Department and the other public bodies. Does the Supervisor of Cemeteries and Crematoria sit on a Board composed of representatives of other organizations?
CHAIRMAN:-Only, Sir, as far as I am aware--I would like to check this for you and let you know later but only so far as I am aware on the Permanent Cemeteries Board which is under the aegis of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.
I think in other matters of private Cemeteries he maintains a liaison with the persons in charge of these cemeteries. I would, as I say, like to check the matter and let you have a reply later.
DR. LEE:-Aren't you a member of this Board that you are talking about?
CHAIRMAN:--I was Sir. In 1965 a new Ordinance was introduced, and I was allowed to appoint a representative to the Board, and the representative is indeed the Supervisor of Cemeteries of the Department.
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MR. CHEUNG:-Do you think the Standing Committee of this Urban Council should be informed of all such facts as may be made available to the Department, as we take a keen interest in provision of burial plots for the people of Hong Kong?
CHAIRMAN:---That, Sir, is the intention of the paper which is described in the last paragraph of my answer.
(22) MR. FUNG HON-CHU asked the following question:-
Is the Chairman aware that cooked foods such as roast pig and bread are delivered to shops in open trucks without cover? Can anything be done to safeguard the health of the public by requiring them to be suitably covered so as to avoid their being contaminated?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:
I am aware that on occasion cooked foods such as roast pig and bread are transported without proper protection from contamination. It is, of course, a contravention of the Food Business By-laws if "open" food is not adequately covered or protected from risk of contamination and By-law 12 deals specifically with the transportation of such foods.
Departmental staff continually check on bakeries in the early morning and in the evening for this offence, and similar surveillance is kept over food factories dealing in roast meat. During the last 6 months of 1965, prosecutions were taken out against 28 offenders of by-law 12, all in respect of uncovered bread or cooked meat.
(23) MR. FUNG HON-CHU asked the following question:
Is the Chairman aware that some restaurants use electrical gimmicks to brighten some dishes and that this could be a source of contamination? Will the Chairman consider banning this practice?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
I am aware that some of the more expensive restaurants use ingenious battery operated contrivances to embellish certain food dishes.
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