Page 82 of 201
122
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Finance Chairman said we have to move on try to attract more business for some of the facilities we have and I do think that the Recreation Select Committee should review these charges for this tennis court and also the squash court so that it may be more utilized at least nine months a year would be fully utilized leaving about three months for repairing work if necessary and then it also enhance the image of the Council that we have these best facilities and it is put to the best use for the citizens and for the fare for everyone to enjoy and I do support the motion with these remarks.
THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I used to play tennis, and even I don't play now, I am still very keen and to that extent I declare an interest.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Make a note of his name for the match with the USD Please. Does any Member who wish to speak before I ask Mr. WONG to exercise his right of reply?
MR. SAMUEL P. W. WONG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, certainly, the Recreation Select Committee would like to look into the usage of the centre court in Victoria Park that is our top priority in the next month's meeting. As to the exhibition court and the squash court, as you may realize that it is only open a few days ago, we will give it a bit of time and then we'll come back maybe to Council with proper position in two months' time.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
5.
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN moved the following motion (in Cantonese):—
'RESOLVED that this Council recognises the good work done by the Urban Services Department in combating the recent cholera situation and requests the Director of Urban Services to convey our appreciation to all staff members who have put up extra effort in this successful exercise.'
He said (in Cantonese):—The Urban Services Department deserves a vote of thanks from the Urban Council for the prompt and efficient action it has taken to help combat the recent cholera outbreak.
It is no exaggeration to say that the Department has, through its vigorous efforts, played a major role in helping eliminate the potential sources of cholera infection.
Immediately after Hong Kong was declared a cholera-infected area on August 2, the Department has intensified its crackdown on illegal food and drinks hawkers in the urban areas, particularly in Kwun Tong, to ensure that no contaminated food was on sale to the consuming public. As a result, illegal cooked food hawking has virtually disappeared from the streets.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 83 of 201
123
The public, too, should be commended for having heeded our message by not patronising illegal food-for-man hawkers for the sake of their health. The Council is glad to learn that public health and food safety are now very much in the mind of the general public as a result of the recent cholera outbreak. We hope that the heightened public awareness of food hygiene will be maintained.
Other measures in the Department's stepped-up action to safeguard public health include strengthened inspections of all licensed food outlets and intensified checks on the water quality of Council swimming pools, as well as private swimming pools and beaches.
I understand the Department has only been able to achieve the present level of activities against illegal cooked food hawkers by deploying a great many staff members from other duties. The Department staff involved have done a great job and it is only fitting that the Council's appreciation be conveyed to all staff members who have put up extra effort in the successful operations.
Mr. Chairman, I move the motion.
MR. STEPHEN M. L. LAU seconded the motion (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
MR. WALTER M. SULKE (in English):—Mr. Chairman, in rising to wholeheartedly support the motion, I think it is pertinent to draw members and the public's attention to the lessons which may be learnt from the Department's excellent performance during the recent cholera outbreak.
First of all the facts: It was a huge operation, much of it out of the public limelight, which entailed more frequent inspections of licensed food premises and cooked food stalls, intensified enforcement action against unlicensed food premises and the ensuring of the safe supply of drinking water by stepping up action on the chlorination of wells and streams which might be used for drinking purposes, stepping up the routine sampling of water on public bathing beaches, swimming pools and those private swimming pools which cater for large numbers of residents. Intensified anti-pest measures, up-grading squatter sanitation by increasing the rate of removal of rubbish from squatter areas, and the more frequent cleansing and disinfecting of public toilets, and stepping up health education and publicity.
One feature of the control measures was the strong action taken against unlicensed food premises and unlicensed hawkers selling cooked food and drink. This was particularly focused in the Kwun Tong area where 14 cholera patients, either working or living in the area, were reported, and some of them had a clinical history relating to consumption of cooked food obtained from unlicensed hawkers. With the assistance of the Housing Department, door-to-door searches were carried out in the Sau Mau Ping Estate which successfully
Page 84 of 201