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recommendations will be able to be put to the Select Committee. However, the Chairman of the Food Hygiene Select Committee, will try to expedite this review as I personally think that we should be tougher with those in the food businesses who do not pay attention to our simple hygiene rules and thereby put the public at risk.
MR. PAO (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, according to paragraph 3 of Mr SULKE'S reply, we understand that the Council has the power to take action against those who violate our Public Health Ordinance but we also learn that there is no clear definition of what constitutes a serious violation of our Public Health Ordinance and that in the last 25 years, there was only one such serious case. One possible reason for this is, that because we do not have a clear-cut definition, it is very difficult for us to enforce the regulation, so I would like Mr. SULKE and his committee to hurry up and come up with a clear definition of what constitutes a serious contravention of the regulation. I am recommending to Mr. SULKE, his committee and the U.S.D. to try and find a clear-cut definition of what constitutes a serious contravention of the regulation as soon as possible.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Will you take this as a supplementary, Mr. SULKE?
MR. SULKE (in English):-Well, yes, I would like to because, in fact, of course, there are definitions of what constituted serious health risks. Obviously there is serious contamination of food, illegally slaughtered meat, and that sort of thing and we do have quite firm definitions, but I do agree that my committee should look at this further because I think in the light of present scientific knowledge we may well have to expand that definition.
5. MR. L. H. KWAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):--In Yau Ma Tei, there are a number of unlicensed cooked food stalls which operate from 9 o'clock at night to 3 or 4 o'clock the next morning. Is the Urban Council aware of the situation and what steps are being taken to deal with the problem?
MRS. E. TU, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns a number of unlicensed cooked food stalls in Yau Ma Tei District which operate from 9 o'clock at night to 3 or 4 o'clock in the next morning causing environmental problems.
Yes, Council is aware of the problem. There are some unlicensed cooked food stalls operating in some of the side streets and backlanes in Yau Ma Tei and Tsim Sha Tsui areas after 9 o'clock in the evening. I am afraid the Council's present hawker control resources do not allow for around-the-clock surveillance to deal with all such illegal activities after midnight. Action has been limited to trying to cope with cases which attract repeated complaints. The Yau Ma Tei General Duties Team has made 27 arrests in connection with such cases in the last two months.
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6. MR. L. H. KWAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):—At Ferry Point in Yau Ma Tei, some food establishments also place tables and chairs on the pavement at night to extend their operation which then becomes a nuisance in the neighbourhood. Is the Urban Council aware of the situation and what steps are being taken to deal with the problem?
MR. WALTER M. SULKE, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE Select Committee, replied as follows (in English): This question relates to a number of food establishments in Ferry Point, Yau Ma Tei, which place tables and chairs on the pavement at night to extend their restaurant business giving rise to a nuisance in the neighbourhood. I am very glad that my friend asks the question, because the Department is aware of the situation. Summary action has been taken against the offenders to contain the problem since December 1984. For example,
(a) Between 1 January 1985 and 30 November 1985, 14 summonses and 2 summary arrests have been taken out against the unlicensed food business operators; 26 summonses have been issued to licensed food business operators for causing pavement obstruction: and 12 summonses were taken out under Food Business By-law 13(1) against licensed food premises for conducting food preparation and for having a scullery on the pavement.
(b) The Hawker General Duties Teams have regularly conducted operations against illegal cooked food stalls in that area in the evening. 29 arrests were made during the period from 21 September to 15 November 1985. Since last month, District hygiene and Hawkers and Markets staff have started more frequent operations to intensify enforcement action in an attempt to improve the situation. The area will be kept under close surveillance.
7. MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG asked the following question (in Cantonese):- We were told in the Urban Council Annual Report 1985 that Hong Kong's first boating park on the site of the now disused Wong Nei Chung Reservoir was nearing completion. Could this Council be informed of the opening date please?
MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG, Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question asks for information on the opening date of the Urban Council boating park at the Wong Nei Chung Reservoir.
Plans are now well-advanced for the Wong Nei Chung Reservoir Park to open next spring. A tender exercise is now being finalized to arrange a contract for the provision of pedal-wheel boats and rowing boats for hire, lifesaving and cleansing services, and the operation of the refreshment kiosk.
The Recreation Select Committee will be consulted before any contract is awarded and it is hoped to complete action at the next meeting in January.
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