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MR. SIN (in English):-Wasn't there a basic price and then the maximum price.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-For every item there was a floor price and a ceiling price as well.
Mr. Forsgate (in English):—Was there any champagne served at this auction. (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-I don't think in the afternoon. I think there was some before the evening auction for pictures.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-That probably explained why the picture was also overbid. (Laughter) Now, does any other Member wish to have the floor on this subject? No? Then, may I close this question. Before I do so, I would like to make a statement from the chair.
To close this matter permanently for the Council, this statement should go on record for consideration by the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. First, because of the importance of this particular object (the Chairman was referring to the "Famille Verte" vase) for the collection of the Urban Council in the City Museum and Art Gallery, a number of Members of this Council thought that the Council should retain the particular article notwithstanding the fact that the Standing Committee had not agreed to its purchase. The Advisers set a ceiling of £5,500. This was exceeded by £3,000. There were matters involving our Financial By-laws and also the legal procedures applicable to this case. So, to set the matter at rest, a number of Councillors spoke to me saying that they would be prepared to come together and cover the difference between the price actually paid and the ceiling suggested by the Advisers. This offer still stands. But, it has been overtaken by events. And, I have now an offer by two very distinguished citizens to pay the difference entirely, if the Council would pay the original £5,500, so that this vase could be retained by the Museum. Thus, whatever the outcome, the vase now belongs to the Council if you so agree at the next meeting of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. I think this is the only practical course to take. I believe you will agree with me that the matter has now been very carefully considered. Many of you have expressed great concern over the procedures governing the Council at auctions, and I am grateful to you. I was also gravely concerned as you know—it is a matter of record. Nevertheless, it is one thing to be concerned about the procedures of the Council, and I have called for these procedures to be examined very carefully and for a new set of rules to be drawn up as you are aware, but there is still another matter: in the public interest, this vase should be kept by the Museum. Hence, steps are being taken to ensure that it is not lost to the public of Hong Kong.
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(3) MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):-
I have it on good authority that many of these so-called illegal food caterers operating in domestic premises, albeit hygienically, would turn to doing public kitchen business once the necessary arrangements are made.
I would therefore like to ask the Chairman of the Food Hygiene Select Committee why the Council is taking active steps to suppress these food caterers when no such alternative arrangement has as yet been established.
MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-
Mr. Chairman, I do not understand the statement preceding the question as I do not know what is meant by "doing public kitchen business". No such business is covered in the Food Business By-laws, and this term has never been used in Select Committee. Consequently, I must admit that I do not know what are the necessary arrangements Mr. BERNACCHI is referring to.
With regard to the action against food caterers by the Department, this is in line with the decision of the Council in this matter which was that emphasis on prosecution should be against illegal caterers operating from co-tenancies, roof-tops, lanes, and common parts of buildings.
MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-First of all, does the Chairman of the Food Hygiene Select Committee mean by "emphasis on prosecution against illegal caterers of four different types", that emphasis is not being put on the prosecution of the other illegal food caterers?
MR. SIN (in English):-Emphasis implies priority of prosecution. As we know, it has been discussed in Standing Committee of this Council, there are illegal caterers operating from domestic flats which are occupied by the caterers and there are those who operate from co-tenancies, namely with other tenants, and there are those, the third class of caterers, operating from common parts of building, roof-tops, etc.