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men) instead of, as in the past, having to share him with other beaches. Action is being taken to recruit the supervisory staff. In common with other departments, the Urban Services Department is having difficulty in recruiting labourers for the cleansing work and in fact has at present 12 vacancies.
Secondly, the purchase of 300 more litter-bins has been approved. This will almost double the number of bins now in use.
Thirdly, the department has obtained literature on beach cleaning machines with a view to approaching the Government for funds to buy a model for experimental purposes. The department has also written to authorities in the United States, Australia and Britain to find out what methods they use to prevent sea-borne refuse from contaminating their beaches. Replies are awaited.
Fourthly, the department has consulted the Government Information Services about mounting a beach cleanliness campaign in August, or earlier if it can be arranged. Proposals will be made to the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee when ready.
(18) MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG asked the following question : —
Could the Council be informed when the operation of simultaneous translation is to be implemented (a) in public meetings of this Council (b) meeting of the select committees?
THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-
I am informed that in this connection, progress to date has
been as follows :·
a full-time Chief Interpreter, a Chinese previously employed by the BBC, has been engaged by the Government and has recently arrived in Hong Kong. He is now training a team of three part-time inter- preters:
it is the intention to introduce simultaneous inter- pretation (English/Cantonese and vice versa) into public meetings of this Council as soon as possible after the arrival and installation of the necessary equipment: its ETA is mid-July.
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It must, however, be appreciated that we are now breaking new ground and no one can, at this stage, say exactly what trial and training period, both for the interpreters and Members of the Council, will be required.
In answer to part (b) of this question, I can only repeat what I have told Members before that there are no plans at present to introduce the system into Standing or Select Committee meetings. Government, as a first step and following the recommendation of the Chinese Language Committee, has only so far approved the system for public meetings.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, I can only express my deep regret at the present situation.
CHAIRMAN:-Mr. Hu, are you asking a supplementary?
MR. HU:-I am asking whether you agree with me or not I should think this has defeated the principal aim of introducing the Chinese language in the Urban Council if this has not been extended to Select Committees and the Standing Committee?
CHAIRMAN:-That will come later, Mr. Hu.
MR. HU:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. How much later?
CHAIRMAN:-I am not sure.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, since the official use will be time next year, and since I heard a long story about the last experiment of this simultaneous translation, when will there be an informal experiment of this simultaneous translation?
CHAIRMAN:-As soon as the interpreters are ready for it.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, surely it would be very good fun to have another mock meeting as we had the last time?
CHAIRMAN:- This will be necessary; probably more than one, because one has to condition oneself to simultaneous interpretation.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could you ensure that the term "mock" used by Mr. SALES is not taken literally, but that it will be a trial meeting. (Laughter).
MR. SALES-Perhaps Mr. CHEONG-LEEN should realize that it is the correct term to call it a "mock" meeting, that is the technical expression, and if Members choose to mock it, well, that is their own look out.
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