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MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):-I'd still like to ask are they subject to prosecution?
MISS TAM (in Cantonese):-Thank you for reminding me. Yes, they will be prosecuted, but I have talked about this in October 1981. At that time, Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN has asked whether there is the possibility of prosecution, the answer is the same, they may be prosecuted. But if they met the criteria and have tried their best to improve the conditions, then we may not prosecute them.
MRS. CHOW (in English):-Have I got the figures right in saying that out of the 71 canteens in operation, there are a total of 45 which are unlicensed?
MISS TAM (in Cantonese):—Of the 71, we should minus the 26 licensed canteens. The 44 canteens may be improving their conditions.
MRS. CHOW (in English):—Then may I ask is the committee satisfied that the applications of these 45 canteens are efficiently processed? May I ask how many of these have been outstanding for over 6 months?
MISS TAM (in Cantonese):—As for the first part of the question, we deal with each case separately. We will see the date between the letters of the applicants and the departments, and whether the department deal with the layout plans. This will reflect on the performance of other departments and their co-operation. As for the second part of the question, I cannot answer but will check it and give the answer to Mrs. CHOW later.
MR. C. K. CHAN (in Cantonese):-From what I know, some of these canteens have met all the conditions, there is just a problem with a crown lease on the factory canteen, saying that they cannot use a certain part of the land for the use as a factory canteen, and before they get a letter authorizing the use, we cannot issue a licence to them. Is there such a condition?
MISS TAM (in Cantonese):-There is such a possibility. In that case, the applicant can get an authorized letter from the Crown Land & Survey Office and after they have got this letter, they can operate.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):—I have found it rather anomalous that on the one hand, we are given information on canteens, figures of something operating illegally, and on the other hand, we don't seem to be getting on with the job of licensing. Can I ask Miss TAM if she will press her committee to check why it has taken so long, and see if they can get them licensed before we start using figures to prove something?
MISS TAM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the answer is not used to keep it silent. Of course, I am willing to refer Mrs. ELLIOTT's opinion to our committee.
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MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):—May I ask Mr. SHUM what he means when he said that he will encourage development of fast food shops. Since these factories are in areas where there are no shops, can he tell us where the fast food shops are going to be?
MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I just put it forward as an example. If the buildings can be converted into fast food shops, and a licence is applied for, we will grant them the licence. We are also considering other means such as mobile canteens. As the Kwun Tong District Board has taken action, we will try our best to remedy this situation. The fast food shop is only one of the means. We shall discuss this with the local district boards and the local administration. We did ask them whether their action of dismantling can be postponed until the cooked food canteens are built, but they said that this could be discussed only after the 2nd or 3rd phase have been completed. After the completion of the 3rd phase, we shall see whether anything can be done to remedy this, or whether there are enough stalls at present to replace the dismantled ones. This will depend on the District Officers' views. As far as we are concerned, we are trying to encourage the setting up of fast food shops or mobile canteens to facilitate the provision of lunch.
MRS. ELLIOTT (in English):—Mr. Chairman, since that area is totally factories, I am wondering if Mr. SHUM has in mind that we might open fast food shops in the factories because there are simply no shops in the area. However, I'd like to ask Mr. SHUM whether his committee, of which I am a member, will press very closely on this because my impression of the district committee is that they are going to go ahead with operation, regardless of the consequences. Can this committee please fulfil and implement that promise?
MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, the dismantling work on stalls is not within the jurisdiction of the Urban Council. It is in the jurisdiction of the local district board and the local administration. What we can do is to do our best to remind them. I know that the Urban Services Department has reminded them twice or thrice, and the Kwun Tong District Officer has agreed that after several phases of dismantling, he will review the situation again and he hopes by that time, they can hold up the situation. I understand that the 2nd and 3rd phases of dismantling work have been fixed already and postponement would be difficult. I think that's all we can do.
DR. CHAM (in Cantonese): -----Mr. Chairman, I'd like to ask Miss TAM that if an applicant was delayed by the amendment of lease conditions, can the Council liaise with the Crown Land & Survey Office in order to solve the applicant's problem? Perhaps this can facilitate the issue of the canteen licence in the interest of our factory workers?
(Mr. Peter P. F. CHAN left at this point-5.05 p.m.)
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