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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN:-- I think you will find, Mr. FORSGATE, that it is usually more than one man, and I think also that, at the time of the estimates, all these somewhat extraneous matters to the actual estimates have to be delayed until the estimates are prepared. I think this is the main reason why there has been this delay. I can say we are pressing the officers in the Secretariat; there is no doubt about that, because we still think it is most urgent that this be handled promptly.
MR. T. S. LO:- Mr. Chairman, will the Chairman, Mr. LOBO perhaps, confirm that when a recent visit was made by his committee to one of the abattoirs a few days ago, the urgency of providing a night-shift, perhaps in August, certainly not later than August, was brought out, and I do not know whether he would care to confirm that. Certainly a night-shift should be introduced long before the third line which one hopes to be introduced at the end of the year?
MR. LOBO:- Yes, I confirm that, because there is a great need to relieve some of the mechanization going on at the moment as we have no way of carrying out any repairs should the need arise.
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I just have one question. In the middle of the page "These improvements have already been approved as a composite Category E item in the Public Works Programme". Instead of Category E, I have heard in Select Committee Category A. Is there any mistake in this?
CHAIRMAN:- No mistake on Category E.
(The Hon. Director of Public Works left the meeting at this point.)
(11) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:-
Besides punishing proprietors of dirty restaurants or food premises which are operating against Urban Council's Regulations, have we taken any measures in the past to encourage proprietors of clean and up-to-standard restaurants? Would it be worth-while to consider taking such measures?
MR. PETER P. K. NG, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Mr. Chairman, I can appreciate the concern reflected in Mr. Hu's question. So far, it has not been thought necessary to offer encouragement to proprietors of restaurants of a high standard.
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The Council does offer free courses in food handling (designed to encourage a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene in restaurants) to all proprietors and their staff, and each person who attends such a course is presented with a certificate.
But I shall be quite happy to refer this matter to my Select Committee for consideration-though, for my part, I can see considerable difficulties in this connection.
MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, I would ask how many persons do attend the free courses in food handling each year organized by the Urban Council?
MR. NG: Mr. Chairman, I think I would need notice of that question.
CHAIRMAN:- So do I, Mr. Hu.
(12) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:—
Is the Chairman prepared to make a statement concerning the Go-Slow Movement of Library Staff and Work-To-The-Rule Movement of Cleansing Staff of the Urban Services Department so far as to the smooth functioning of the Department is concerned?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
This question concerns the effect on services provided by the Council as a result of "go slow" and "work-to-rule" action taken by library and cleansing staff.
The action taken by the staff was intended not to disrupt any service provided to the public but as a token gesture to draw attention to certain staff matters. As a result, there was very little effect on the smooth running of the library and cleansing services.
MR. HU: --Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Your answer is very encouraging, but did their action draw the attention of your Department to improve their pay scale?
CHAIRMAN: --We had already had petitions from them before that.
MR. HU: Did you take any action on them? CHAIRMAN:- Certainly, we forwarded them to the appropriate authority.
(Mr. Peter P. K. NG left the meeting at this point.)
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