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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
I see no reason why we shouldn't review cases that have taken longer than three months, though I must point out that if the applicant does not make any attempt to carry out the requirements, we cannot speed the thing up. We do have applications from people for restaurant licences before the building has been built, and you cannot expect the thing to be hurried through if the building is going to take another fifteen months to put up. Many applicants apply for a licence in the planning stage of a building. But I quite agree that we should review the whole system.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask if it would be in order, and if anyone can answer the question, if the restaurant is delayed in opening, would there be a prosecution if it were to open without the final permission. Would there be a prosecution?
CHAIRMAN:-I am sorry, Mrs. ELLIOTT, that is a hypothetical question. (Laughter).
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, could I give a sort of hypothetical answer to it? (Laughter).
It depends entirely on where the restaurant is situated, and the type of restaurant it is. I would cite for example the one in the Ocean Terminal. (Laughter).
(13) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:-
Would the Chairman please state whether a multi-storey or other type of car park is likely to be available in the Mong Kok or Sham Shui Po districts in the near future?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
No car park financed from public funds is contemplated for these areas. For the reasons for this I would refer you to the Government statement on car parking issued last Friday.
DR. BELL:--Mr. Chairman, could I ask a supplementary? Have you answered my question sort of literally? When I said in the near future, what did you assume I meant by the near future, and what do I take your answer to be? Do you mean no, for ever, or do you mean near future, assuming a year or two?
CHAIRMAN:-As I recall, although I was not present last summer when this question was discussed in the Urban Amenities Select Committee, Mr. SALES will correct me if I'm wrong—mention was made of the need from time to time to re-evaluate mixed commuter and residential areas. In other words, for the next year or two I would not expect to see a car park in these districts, but the prospect of reviewing their eligibility for such is always open.
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DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, may I ask you a supplementary? Are you aware that this area is known amongst local people as Wong Kok and not as Mong Kok, because of the tremendous business which is done in the area, and therefore there is a tremendous need for parking space to be available for people who are involved in doing this business?
CHAIRMAN:-Those considerations will no doubt be taken into account by the Transport Advisory Committee when they consider this matter.
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, I suppose they will also consider that it is one of the older residential areas, where there have not been so many new buildings built with car parking facilities underneath them, properly or improperly used?
CHAIRMAN: -I trust that they will take that into account.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, I would ask you a question if I may. What is the Government's policy outlined in the statement which you referred to in your answer to Dr. BELL's question about car parks, I have not read it? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:--Sir, the only answer I can properly give to that is to ask you to read it. (Laughter).
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, one assumes that you would be able to answer it, other than that. (Laughter).
(14) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:
Whether the Members of this Council who have been appointed onto the Transport Advisory Committee have been appointed as individuals or as Members of this Council?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows: ----
All unofficial members of the Transport Advisory Committee were appointed in their personal capacity. This point was made clear in a memorandum dated 24th November, 1965, to Members of the Council.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, a supplementary question. Before this new Transport Advisory Committee was formed, was it not a fact that we had—this Council had—a representative on the then Traffic Advisory Select Committee?
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