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DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In Cantonese):-
This question concerns warnings given to cinema managements in November 1972. These were verbal.
The first originated from a defect in the compressor unit of the ventilating system in one cinema which resulted in insufficient cool air. This was rectified after the warning had been given to have the defect repaired. The second arose from insufficient air intake, the proprietor being advised to have things put right. He will be prosecuted if he does not heed this advice.
MR. BERNACCHI (In English):-Mr. Chairman, on the point of order, do I take it that MR. SALES is taking over all Mr. Lo's questions, because otherwise there are a series of answers to questions that had not been asked.
MR. SALES (In English):-Mr. Chairman, I signified at the start of the meeting that I would be putting the questions. But you, Sir, took over all the questions which was most generous of you. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN (In English):-That is so, MR. SALES. But I also took it upon myself to ask questions and call upon Dr. HUANG to reply.
MR. SALES (In English):-That, of course, is your authority, Sir. You have the right, and I congratulate you on your appointment to the Urban Council. (Laughter).
(4) In the absence of Mr. Lo Tak-shing, the Chairman put the following question of which notice had been given by Mr. Lo:-
What were the results of the 22 sea water samples taken for bacteriological examination in November last?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In Cantonese):-
The results of the sea water samples taken for bacteriological examination in November 1972 are given in the list which is now tabled. They were satisfactory. (Appendix I).
(5) MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (In English):-
Can consideration be given to adjust cooked food stall license fees to take into account the difference between areas?
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In particular I have had a representation that whilst total license fees of cooked food stalls in the Central area is considered fair, the same cannot be said for outlying Resettlement estates such as the Sau Mau Ping neighbourhood?
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In Cantonese):-
The introduction of a flat rate of fees was agreed by the Hawkers Select Committee in 1971 after consideration of a suggestion that the fee should be directly related to the scale of business. This suggestion was rejected because of the very considerable practical difficulties in implementation. The scale of business is very susceptible to changes arising from alterations in the environment. It is also directly affected by the standard of catering services and cooking, seasonal business trends, etc. In the same street, one stall may well do better than another for a variety of reasons. There are therefore simply too many indeterminate factors affecting the business to make a sliding scale of fees practicable.
(Miss Cecilia L. Y. YEUNG arrived at this point.)
However, if MR. BERNACCHI has any specific proposal, the matter can be considered at the Hawkers Select Committee, of which MR. BERNACCHI is a member.
MR. BERNACCHI (In English):-I thank the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee for his answer, Mr. Chairman. But would he now answer my question which concerns the different localities, not the sliding scale of business, so I can compare the Central area with that of, say, Sau Mau Ping Resettlement Estate.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (In English):-Mr. Chairman, as I said in the answer, there are so many indeterminate factors, even within a particular district, that, for instance, in Central District itself, and it is also entirely possible in some outlying area, especially the crowded areas, the business there could even be better than in the Central District. It is, therefore, a very complicated subject, Mr. Chairman. MR. BERNACCHI has been Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee in the past for many more years than I can remember, so I am sure he is very aware of this problem. As I said towards the end of my reply, Mr. Chairman, if MR. BERNACCHI has a specific proposal to make, I am sure that the Select Committee would be very glad to consider it.
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