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operators to get better hygienic standard, and allow them to get a licence, i.e. we should take more positive steps. But right now, we know of their existence, and perhaps we have more free time these days, we take out prosecutions. This would just make the matter worse and not a good way out. So could the Food Hygiene Select Committee urge the U.S.D. to assist these pig roasting suppliers actively to make sure that they could improve their service and enhance the hygienic standard?
MISS MARIA TAM (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, as to why there is a sudden jump in prosecutions, I have done an investigation and found that these three or four premises (I have their address here) were prosecuted as early as 1980, so it is not a sudden jump. The second question is on actively helping these operators. The first method is to make them understand that except residential areas, we do allow pig roasting factories to operate in industrial buildings, i.e. they should roast pigs in industrial buildings and refrain from residential buildings. It is workable. Of course, in the urban area, because of town planning, a lot of areas have been zoned and in Kwai Chung, there is a special industrial building provided with such facilities, i.e. to allow a food factory to conduct pig roasting in the premises, this is a way out. The third point is on these factories in the Southern District. Actually from past records, we noticed that they have never attempted to apply for a licence at all. If they come to apply, then we would certainly be happy to explain to them how they could find legitimate premises.
8. DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG asked the following question (in Cantonese):--It is reported in the press that of the new acquisitions of the Urban Council libraries, there are far more English books than Chinese books. May I be informed that:- (a) How many Chinese and English books did Urban Council purchase last year? (b) How much was spent on the purchase of Chinese and how much on English books last year?
MRS. E. ELLIOTT, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-The question deals with the acquisition of books for the Council's libraries, and is in two parts:-
(a) the number of Chinese and English books purchased last year; and (b) expenditure on these purchases.
In 1982-83, 85,460 Chinese books and 50,040 English books were purchased for the Council's libraries. Expenditure on Chinese books was just over $1.38 million, whilst the cost of the English books was approximately $2.76 million, reflecting the difference in the average cost of a Chinese and an English book.
The Council's declared policy is to provide more Chinese than English books in its libraries, and as at 30 June 1983 the Council's libraries had 1,178,019 books of which 839,286 books were Chinese books. In short, 71% of the total bookstock were Chinese books.
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The Libraries Select Committee is aware of the demand for more Chinese books, and during the current year orders have been placed for some 203,720 Chinese books, as against orders for some 70,983 English books.
9. DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, asked the following question (in Cantonese):----It is learnt that the Hongkong Society for the Deaf has applied to Urban Council for the issue of coffee shop licence in a certain park in order to provide jobs for the deaf and to enable them to serve the community. Has Urban Council approved or rejected the application?
MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):―This question concerns whether or not the Urban Council has rejected the issue of a coffee shop licence to the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf in a certain park.
Correspondence from the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf started in July 1982 as a result of which the Department now gives advance warning to the Society whenever tenders are to be invited for a kiosk franchise in a Council facility. Invitations to tender for the sale of light refreshment at Victoria Park were published on 15 July 1983 and in response to this 10 tenders were received the lowest of which came from the Hong Kong Society for the Deaf. In view of the special nature of the bid from the Society the matter was discussed at a recent meeting of the Tender Board Panel which reaffirm that it should be considered on equal terms with the other tenders. These tenders will be submitted to the Finance Select Committee for consideration at the meeting on 30 September 1983, and without wishing to pre-empt the decision of that Committee it seems most unlikely that the tender will be accepted.
DR. DENNY HUANG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, could I ask Mr. YOUNG the following question. Of course, we all understand that it is more difficult for the deaf to find jobs. Can the Recreation Select Committee also take welfare into consideration when considering the tenders so that we can find jobs for the deaf and for them to be incorporated in our society?
MR. HOWARD YOUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, all along the Urban Council has a very close relationship with all sectors of the community and we have also paid special attention to the requirements of the deaf and other handicapped. Of course, we understand that it is mainly up to the Social Welfare Department to take care of the interests of these people, but at the same time, the Urban Council has provided all sorts of assistance to the handicapped so that they can have a better living environment. On the other hand, the U.S.D. has also employed a large number of handicapped, in fact the greatest number, among all the Government departments. It has a total enrolment of 405 handicapped in the urban area, so that shows that we have not ignored the interest of the handicapped. In addition, the handicapped have always said that they are not asking for special treatment, in fact, they would like to be treated
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