HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
to break the law-"Insurrection caused by harsh laws", as the Chinese saying goes. Even if the Urban Council has every valid reason to justify its policy, it is still hard to convince the public and to appease their resentment, thereby placing itself in a most unfavourable situation.
Finally, I would like to commend some of my colleagues for their efforts in promoting activities in the field of culture and art. They have achieved impressive results, which have enabled Hong Kong to gradually shake off its outdated and ugly image of being a "cultural desert". Although a considerably large deficit is forecast in next year's budget, yet to spend money on the promotion of culture should be supported as it is a worthwhile cause.
I support the motion.
MR. KIM Y. S. CHAM (in English):- Mr. Chairman, food hygiene is the responsibility of this Council. In our dynamic society with its changing consumption pattern, consideration should be given to extending the existing health legislation for the protection of consumers.
The present Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance aims at controlling the marketing of food harmful to the human body, but it does not prevent retailers from selling outdated tinned or packaged food which may also be harmful to health. This type of processed food is of such a wide variety that for the consumer without professional knowledge, it would be difficult to detect any qualitative change in the product. The crux of the problem is that there is no way for the consumer to tell whether the outdated packaged food is harmful until after consumption. Thus, the consumer runs the unnecessary health risk. It is of paramount importance that this Council gives careful consideration to improving the existing legislation by prohibiting the sale of outdated food. Furthermore, the expanded legislation should not add much burden to our health inspectors who are at present already policing the market place regularly to enforce health legislation.
Expanding the health legislation may be construed narrowly as an extension of the jurisdiction of this Council. Under the complex structural organization of government departments, over-emphasis on their individual jurisdiction tends to promote the rigidity of bureaucracy. Such rigidity may run contrary to the interests of the public. It should therefore be replaced by a problem-oriented approach in serving the public. This broad approach tends to foster efficiency by preventing the possibility of shifting responsibilities between government departments.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 150 of 174
Besides expanding the work of this Council, this approach can also be applied to improve operating procedures. Existing procedures for the licensing of restaurants, for instance, involve three different government departments, thus diffusing responsibilities. By pinpointing the responsibility of a specific task in one unit, efficiency can be enhanced.
In retrospect, the forerunner of this Council was the Sanitary Board, with its responsibilities confined to cleansing and hygiene. The Urban Council of today has much wider responsibilities. The present state reflects the achievements of senior councillors, whose imagination has not been constrained by the above-mentioned rigidity. I consider their foresight highly commendable.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
ADJOURNMENT - 4.27 P.M.
CHAIRMAN (in English): The Annual Conventional Debate will conclude on Tuesday, 10th January 1978 at 4.00 p.m. I would like to wish Members and their families a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. Council stands adjourned.
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY D. R. RICK, GOVERNMENT PRINTER
AT THE GOVERNMENT PRESS, JAVA ROAD, HONG KONG
Page 150
Page 151
174
Page 151 of 174