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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Ladies and Gentlemen, in calling the meeting to order I feel that Members will wish me to record that this is the first time in the history of this Council that we have been honoured by the presence of four Members of Parliament. Messrs. ORBACH, MURRAY, REES-DAVIES and Sir John LANGFORD-HOLT have kindly come along to observe the proceedings of Council from the public part of this Chamber. I trust they will find our proceedings interesting. I understand that their attendance at our meeting must necessarily be short, as they have another appointment to fulfil.
Before taking the first item on the agenda I should like on behalf of Members to welcome Mrs. Ellen Li, Mr. BERNACCHI, Mr. Daniel LAM, Mr. Kenneth Lo and Mr. Alastair TODD back to Hong Kong.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th September, 1966 were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of September 1966.
MR. SALES: Sir, it is as Chairman of the Parks, Recreation and Amenities Select Committee that I wish to make a statement. The statistics which are available to Members show beyond doubt the tremendous pressure on all available recreational facilities and open space that the Council can provide in the urban areas. Therefore my Select Committee would like you, Sir, to press Government for an early decision on the development of open spaces in the New Territories in which this Council is greatly interested.
QUESTIONS.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, I rise to ask Questions Nos. 1-4 and I will have no objection if you lay your replies on the table instead of reading them out.
CHAIRMAN: ---May I inquire, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, whether this is a serious suggestion in the interest of our getting to the motions?
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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-It is not only serious Sir, but it is most practical.
CHAIRMAN:-Do members agree?
(Members agreed)
(1) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
I have received complaints from a number of parents living in resettlement estates that because of the large number of children in the family they cannot afford to have all their children join the School Medical Service; can the Commissioner for Resettlement advise:
Approximately how many school children are living in resettlement estates and how many of them are paying $7 each per annum to join the School Medical Service?
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT tabled the following written reply:-
Approximately 144,000 children living in urban resettlement estates are now attending school.
I have enquired from the School Medical Service Board, through the Vice-Chairman, how many of these children participate in the service, but regret that the Board is unable to give any figure. The Board has no knowledge of participants' home addresses and is only aware of the names of the schools which they attend. The Board could, therefore, work out the number of children participating who attend resettlement schools, but that would not be the answer to this question. Some 45,000 children living in urban resettlement estates attend schools outside these estates. Conversely, a number of children from outside are known to attend schools in the estates.
(2) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
Is the Chairman aware that some restaurants employ children to look after their toilets in the evening and even until 2 a.m. in the morning? Can the Chairman advise to what extent the Urban Services Department exercises any control over the employment of child labour to look after
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