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CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, this motion has been moved and seconded and under Standing Order 24 the motion stands adjourned, without discussion, until the next Ordinary Meeting of the Council which will take place in November.
(3) MR. PETER P. K. NG, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved:
"That the Food Business (Amendment) Bylaws 1972 be made under section 56 of the Public Health & Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
He said: The main purpose of these amendments is to prohibit the presence on food premises of any colouring matter which is unfit for use in food.
I beg to move.
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG-Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
(4) MR. R. H. LOBO, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND ABATTOIRS SELECT COMMITTEE, moved:
"That the Abattoirs (Amendment) Bylaws 1972 be made under section 77 of the Public Health & Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
He said:-The main effect of the amending Bylaws is, in short, to (a) introduce a revised scale of fees at the Government Abattoirs,
and
(b) to make delivery of dressed carcasses and offal by Government transport discretionary instead of mandatory.
MR. PETER P. F. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, I beg to second.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, I am going to abstain on this motion for the same reason that I gave last week at the meeting where the substance of the motion was discussed. My reason was, and is, that we have not been given enough time to study it and discuss it with other authorities concerned. The meat trade has long been making representations on the inadequacy of facilities in the abattoirs. I have not previously been informed of the outcome of these representations although the case was referred through my Ward office. I do not know if the meat trade has been informed of the decisions reached by the Department. On the surface it appears that because the trade asked for improvements they are being punished by having costs raised. That may not be true, I am only saying how it appears. I recall that one official of the Department repeatedly referred to the lucrative nature of the meat trade, a factor that had no relevance to their complaint about inadequate service, but it gives rise to suspicions when prices are raised. I cannot vote against the motion, because it may be that the meat trade is satisfied with the conclusions reached, nor can I vote in favour because nothing has been said about the reactions of the meat trade or even whether they have been informed of the conclusions. I have therefore no other way than to abstain and to try to make my own investigations from the trade.
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MR. B. A. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, the objection having been made to the motion that there has not been enough time to consider, and that the meat traders have not been made aware of the conclusions of the Department, I would invite the mover of the motion to reply to Mrs. ELLIOTT's speech.
MR. LOBO:-Mr. Chairman, I am indeed surprised that up to now members think that they have not had a chance to study the matter, but the report produced by Mr. FORSGATE'S Committee was approved by Standing Committee about five months ago. Subsequently, it was raised again in the Standing Committee and passed, and now I am moving this motion after all the members have had considerable time and after discussion has been held between your Department, Mr. Chairman, and members of the meat trade and if, up to now, members feel that they have not had time to read or study the papers, then I am really surprised.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, could Mr. LOBO clarify whether we were given the final conclusions earlier than one week ago when we discussed it in Standing Committee. The final conclusions I mean?
MR. LOBO:-The rates proposed by the study group were given in the papers some time ago. In fact, they have been cut down considerably from those which the Standing Committee accepted six months ago.
MR. SALES:-Mr. Chairman, may I rise on a point of clarification? At the last meeting of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council, the Assistant Director concerned with this project gave a very comprehensive reply to all the questions which were raised by members of this Council. I raised a number of them and I was satisfied with those answers that the trade would be fully consulted and that adequate
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