17259
388
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 207 of 259
resettlement estates. I am pleased to be able to say that in the near future it will be possible to extend the number and type of hot dishes permitted to be sold by Light Refreshment Restaurants in resettlement estates. I would like to make it clear, however, that I think it essential for the protection of public health that such premises should meet minimum requirements for the hygienic preparation of food and this problem is receiving close attention. Further efforts are being made to reduce the numbers of illegal food hawkers by making provision to allow the setting-up of certain food preparation businesses on a limited scale in resettlement estates and the establishment of adequately designed temporary restaurant structures in resettlement department licensed or resite areas.
As Mr. WONG has said, the problem of unlicensed food premises, particularly restaurants, has engaged our attention for a long period of time, and he stressed the fact that Council's requirements are designed to safeguard public health. This cannot be too strongly emphasized, nor can the fact that such requirements are under continuous review in the light of experience and of changing conditions. There may be those who criticize our requirements as so much "red-tape" but I wish to assure you that every single one has the same objective—the protection of public health. Our record of freedom from widespread epidemics of enteric diseases for some years past must be attributable to a large degree to Council's firm implementation of its licensing policy for food businesses.
I am pleased to endorse Mr. WONG's report on the satisfactory progress that has been made by the Food and Food Premises Select Committee with regard to the licensing of food businesses. Licensing procedure is under continuous review, and ways and means for streamlining it are constantly being explored to ensure that licences are issued as quickly as possible. A number of improvements have already been made with gratifying results; not only have appreciative comments been received from many applicants but I myself, when acting as a delegated member, have been very impressed by the speed with which the rather complicated procedures involved are now dealt with. Mr. WONG mentioned the production of pamphlets in Chinese for the guidance of applicants for licences of various types of food business. I am pleased to say that since the date of his speech a third pamphlet has been published, covering food factories; more are to follow. I should mention as an added feature of the revised licensing procedure that a free copy of the Food Business Bylaws is sent to each applicant for a Food Business Licence.
Mr. FORSGATE referred to the rat menace. I wish to assure you that although we have no idea of the total rat population in Hong Kong, we are waging a continuous war against this pest. Figures are kept of the numbers of rats trapped, collected during poisoning disinfestations and collected from public rat bins in the urban areas and the New Territories. From April 1st, 1962 to March 31st, 1967 the average kill of rats was 314,000 in the urban areas and 37,500 in the New Territories. Taking into account the many factors involved, the individual yearly totals do not show a variation from the average to a degree which might indicate that the rat population was either decreasing or increasing. We keep abreast of the latest developments in the field of rodent control, and our techniques are subject to continuous assessment and review by highly skilled staff. Rodent control work is also carried out by Port Health Staff with regard to shipping and aircraft. Ships and cargo from areas in which plague has been formally notified are strictly controlled and fumigation is carried out if there is any evidence of rat or flea infestation. Dead rats recovered from such ships after deratization are subject to post-mortem examination and bacteriological testing. I can assure members that all possible precautions are taken to maintain our freedom not only from plague but also from all other epidemic diseases which prevail in South East Asia. (Applause).
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
389
Page 208 of 259
ACTING SECRETARY FOR CHINESE AFFAIRS: -Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, because one of the principal roles assigned to the office of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs for over a century has been the maintenance of a direct channel of communication between Government and all levels of Chinese society in Hong Kong, I would like to deal first with the many interesting points raised by my unofficial colleagues in the course of this debate related to this subject. So much has been said on or about this subject that I feel I might usefully enumerate some of the points made first before offering my appreciation or comments.
Mr. SALES questioned whether the Government is harnessing properly all its resources to reach the minds of the people. Mr. BLAKER pleaded the desirability of providing an area of discussion where different sections of the community can bring comments to bear on Government policy. Dr. Woo expressed frustration over Government's apparent silence of its intentions regarding the introduction of a local government system, the expansion of Medical and Educational services, a "social security" scheme etc. Mr. H. Hu spoke about the "gap", which Dr. BELL suggested that "canyon" would be a more appropriate description, which needed bridging badly.
Mr. Brook BERNACCHI stressed the importance of bilingualism and re-advocated the making of Chinese into an official language. Mr. RAFEEK suggested the translation of departmental Annual Reports into Chinese. The Hon. Mrs. LI felt that the vacuum created by the language barrier needed to be filled, but went on to speak about the practical difficulties she has experienced in the using of two languages in a community like ours which, as she rightly pointed out, is made up