HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. Before we move on to the Agenda I am sure Members will wish me to congratulate Mr. Wilson WANG on his appointment to the Legislative Council, also to welcome back Dr. WYILE after his illness from which we hope he has fully recovered.
MINUTES.
The Minute of the meeting held on 4th June, 1968, were confirmed.
PAPER.
The Chairman laid upon the table the following paper:
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of June, 1968.
DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a brief comment on the work of the Urban Council for the month of June, the report on which you have just tabled. My comment concerns the work of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee.
As you are aware, Sir, this Committee has been considering what action, if any, it can take to abate the nuisance and health hazard which is caused by the accumulation of refuse on shades which are erected in yards and open spaces. You are also aware, Sir, that a number of complaints have been received against this potential health hazard, and although the Council has endeavoured, by several changes of policy, to find some effective measures to cope with this nuisance, we have to admit complete failure in this task to-date. The Council finds itself in the position at present of being able to take no effective measures against this potential health danger.
These shades and structures, which are evidently erected with the blessings of the Buildings Ordinance Office in most cases, are designed to protect the ground floor tenant from falling refuse ejected from the upper floors of tenement and multi-storey buildings. Whilst one must sympathize to a certain extent with ground floor tenants who wish to protect themselves, this Council cannot ignore the fact that the erection of these shades merely pushes the problem up ten feet or so to the tenants on the first floors. In many respects this is as much a health education matter as it is a matter for the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, and I will be asking Dr. Woo, as Chairman of the Health Education Select Committee, if his Committee will organize, at frequent intervals, campaigns directed to upper floor residents against the anti-social, unhygienic and dangerous habits of disposing of refuse by means of the window.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
This problem incidentally highlights some of the difficulties we face in this Council by having the responsibility for certain health matters without having the complete executive authority. In this case it seems that most of the authority is vested in the Building Ordinance Office over whom this Council has no control.
Meanwhile, as you know, Sir, my Committee has asked that the matter be referred to the Legal Department to advise what powers are necessary to enforce the removal of these shades where they are causing a very real menace to the health of the community. This problem has been with us for some considerable time, and I sincerely hope that, although the monthly report for June makes no mention of the fact, the matter has indeed been referred already to the Legal Department. From our experience in the matter of requesting legislation to cope with the management of multi-storey buildings, we have come to expect prolonged and inefficient delays from the Government Legal Department, and I hope, Mr. Chairman, that the Urban Services Department has already presented the case to the Attorney General and that you will press for his early advice.
MR. SALES: - Mr. Chairman, it is as Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee that I would like to invite Council's attention to the functions held by the Council in the month of June as listed in the Report which is tabled this afternoon. It is easy enough to overlook the concern which this Council shows in providing entertainment for the people of Hong Kong because of undue publicity given to one feature of its manifold activities. Now, in June no less than 12 band concerts were organized and 9 other functions were held, making a total of 21. In addition to that impressive figure, 11 new television sets were installed in various parts of Hong Kong. Moreover, the City Hall held 3 popular concerts in addition to the exhibitions organized in our museum, art gallery and libraries. The total performance is a very impressive figure indeed and it should be brought out in this meeting at this point.
MR. BERNACCHI : - Mr. Chairman, I rise on a point of query rather than anything else as I see from the Ward system that whereas 3 Wards have had nil cases this previous month, some Wards have had very many cases; in fact 83 for the Shek-O Ward and 81 for the Mong Kok Ward. I wonder if consideration can be given to changing the areas because I am sure that Urban Councillors as such are very keen to make the Ward system work and I am certain, therefore, that the reason for these three noughts, is that the present areas are not really good enough. I would suggest consideration be given to changing them to the Police wards, or Police areas, which are the same I think as the District Officer areas.
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