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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
a large number of poultry cages by unlicensed poultry hawkers at the construction site of 165 Bulkeley Street, Hung Hom causing sanitary nuisances to the inhabitants of the neighbourhood? How long has this state of affairs been in existence, and what steps does the Department intend to take to eradicate it?
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
This question concerns conditions at 165 Bulkeley Street. I do not really know how to pronounce Bulkeley Street.
MR. SALES-On a point of explanation, this proves the danger of using Scottish names for our roads. (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI continued:
The answer to the first part of the question is that the Urban Services Department as the executive arm of this Council is well aware of the illegal storage of poultry crates on the vacant site at Nos. 165-167 Bulkeley Street (which is private land) and has served notice on the owner of the site to remove them, together with other refuse which has accumulated there over the last few months. This notice has not yet been complied with and further action is now being taken. The department is also aware of the hawking and dressing of poultry which goes on in this section of the road. It is correct that the brick stove mentioned by you is a piece of equipment used by the illegal hawkers.
As regards the second part of the question, so far as I can ascertain these poultry hawkers have been operating for several months. Since the Hawker Control Force does not operate in this area, the Police were asked on 6th February to assist the Council in taking action against the illegal poultry hawkers and street butchers who use this section of Bulkeley Street. Since then four prosecutions have been taken out against them for illegal hawking of meat and 71 prosecutions for obstruction. In fact, planning began late last year for action to be taken in this matter in conjunction with the Police, as part of a major hawker cleansing and resiting operation which is necessary in connection with the laying of a trunk water main throughout Bulkeley Street during the next month or so.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
15
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, are you aware that these crates and other subsidiary matter are the cause of much complaint in respect to the breeding of mosquitoes and flies?
CHAIRMAN:-No, Sir, I was aware that there was much complaint about the condition of this street, but I was not aware of this specific point about mosquitoes and flies. I will have that looked into.
DR. LEE-I shall be most grateful, Mr. Chairman, if you would direct your staff to do that, because this is the subject of a complaint by a member of the public who visited my ward.
CHAIRMAN:-Yes,
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, may I say something? (Laughter).
MR. SALES has reported "Bulkeley" being a Scottish name, but as far as I can make out, it is more likely to be a Chinese name being mis-pronounced by the likes of Mr. SALES, resulting in "Bolkly" Street being its name. You know it is rather like Tsim Sha Tsui becoming "Shim Shat Shui", or Sham Shui Po being "Shan Shui Poo" on the wireless. I think it is the mis-pronouncing of Bulkeley. This street is called Bo Kai Lai Kai in Chinese, and I think probably he hasn't been able to say that and it has resulted in Bulkeley. (Laughter).
MR. SALES--Sir, may I say that I always like to give Dr. BELL the last word, but in this instance I have not yet pronounced the name of this street in this Council or outside, so I don't know how Dr. BELL has reached this conclusion that she has so eloquently put forward in this Council. That, I take it, was done by female logic. (Laughter).
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, I was under the impression that this street may well be in Mr. SALES' ward. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: ----Sir, it is not. My ward is in Tsim Sha Tsui, and this street is not in my ward at all. It is in Dr. LEE's empire. (Laughter).
DR. LEE:-Since there is much confusion in names, may I ask you to refer this to the Street Names Select Committee?
CHAIRMAN:-That committee is defunct, Sir. (Laughter).
DR. LEE:-Then may I refer it to the Committee which has taken it over?
MR. SALES:—Sir, as I am responsible for the naming of streets in the future, after consulting the Select Committee concerned, may I assure Dr. LEE that it will be given a proper English name in the future.
MR. BERNACCHI:-On a point of clarification, Mr. Chairman, the future name of the committee apparently is Parks, Recreation and ...
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