HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN:-Order, order. Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. Before we go on to the business of the day, I would like to welcome Mr. Denis BRAY, the acting Secretary for Home Affairs, who I don't think needs introducing to anybody around this table. I would also like to welcome Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN back from his journeyings. I hope he had a pleasant holiday and did some good business.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 7th July, 1970, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of July, 1970.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st April, 1970 to 30th June, 1970.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st April, 1970 to 30th June, 1970.
QUESTIONS.
(1) DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG asked the following question:-
There are two private funeral parlours on the Hong Kong Island to serve approximately a million inhabitants while in Kowloon where the population approaches three millions there is only one private funeral parlour. Would the Chairman inform us what are the Council's plans to provide more such services to the public, and if so could the process be expedited?
MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK, CHAIRMAN OF THE CEMETERIES, CREMATORIA AND FUNERAL PARLOURS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Mr. Chairman, this question concerns the provision of private funeral parlours in Kowloon. In 1968 a site was proposed for a funeral parlour on the reclamation at Ma Tau Kok, Kowloon. As soon as the draft plan proposing the zoning of the site for such purpose was published early 1969, strong objections were received by the Town Planning Board from the Hung Hom Kaifongs and many large industrial concerns in the area. As a result, the site was rezoned for other use.
Efforts have, therefore, been made to find sites elsewhere in Kowloon where similar objections are unlikely to be raised and I understand that the Town Planning Board hopes to be able to include a number of such sites in draft zoning plans to be published later this year.
It is not the Council's policy to restrict the number of private funeral parlours operating in the Colony but any application for licence will have to be carefully considered along with possible objections from residents in the neighbourhood. In fact, no new application for a licence has been received for the past 5 years.
Apart from the services offered by the private funeral parlours, the USD is providing similar services to the public. Relatives of deceased persons can always request the use of the farewell pavilion and the coffin repository at any one of the two cemetery depots at Hung Hom, in Kowloon and Oil Street in Hong Kong for the performance of the last rites, and this will cost them nothing.
For the very poor, a completely free service is provided covering every need, including the provision of a coffin and transport to either Wo Hop Shek or Sandy Ridge.
(Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN arrived at this point).
DR. HUANG: Mr. Chairman, I must thank Mr. RAFEEK, who has given me a very clear and detailed reply. It is rather surprising for me to know that no new applications for licences have been received for the past five years, because funeral parlours must be one of the most profitable businesses. However, I am grateful to learn that this Council has no intention to restrict the number of private funeral parlours, therefore I am hoping that after this reply the public will know this fact and then some people might be interested. Thank you.
(Messrs. B. A. BERNACCHI and Raymond Y. K. KAN arrived at this point).
(2) DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG asked the following question:-
I am deeply disturbed by the filthy condition in our Resettlement Estates, and particularly after seeing some of our newly built Estates' hygienic condition deteriorating
Page 78 of 241
134
135
Page 79 of 241
2