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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, I am by no means an expert and that is why I ask this question. We are talking monosodium glutamate and in the average household, we don't use MSG in its pure form but essence of chicken, not Brand's Essence of Chicken but chicken cubes, I wonder if the Urban Council would look into the problem of the essence of chicken or chicken cubes as far as public health is concerned? Many Chinese families use these chicken cubes as flavour enhancer.
CHAIRMAN (in English):- The Chairman of Food Hygiene Select Committee will note what a good housewife you are, Joseph, and take on board what you have said.
MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):- No, Mr. Chairman, I do not reply this question as a housewife. But at the next Food Hygiene Select Committee meeting, the matter will certainly be raised for discussion. The question which is not provided in advance such as chicken cubes and other flavour enhancers will be looked into and we will see whether it is acceptable to the public or not.
4. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):— More and more shops are using loudspeakers broadcasting popular radio programmes into the street as an attraction to customers thereby adding considerably to noise pollution in what is already one of the noisiest cities in the world. Last year our Noise Control Unit was, at Central Government's request, transferred to the Environmental Protection Department. Is this the reason why there seems to be no longer any control over this type of noise pollution, and if not, what are the USD doing to prevent this sort of noise pollution?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):- The question concerns the Department's control over noise nuisances created by shops using loudspeakers to broadcast popular radio programmes into the street as an attraction to customers.
The answer to this question is that the Urban Council is only empowered under the provisions of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132 to deal with noise nuisances generated from ventilating system, hence the control of noise nuisances created by shops using loudspeakers lies outside the Council's jurisdiction. As pointed out, the Noise Control Unit of Urban Services Department was transferred to the Environmental Protection Department in 1986.
The Environmental Protection Department has advised that the existing legislative control of noise nuisances caused by loudspeakers operating from commercial premises are embodied in the Summary Offences Ordinance Cap. 228 section 4(13): ‘Any person who in, near or adjoining any public place ... makes any noise calculated to annoy or alarm any person ... shall be liable to a fine of $500 or to imprisonment for 3 months.' This provision is applicable to amplified music from record shops if it annoys people since the shop is adjoining to a public place, namely, the pavement. Note that this provision applies at any time of the day. Section 13(1)(a) stipulates that any person who between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. makes any noise whatever calculated to disturb or interfere with the public tranquillity or to annoy any person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of $5,000. This provision is applicable only if the noise is made between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. but it covers noise nuisances wherever generated.
Since the Environmental Protection Department at present has no statutory powers to control noise problems, the Royal Hong Kong Police Force is the authority under the Summary Offences Ordinance to enforce the law. Therefore, complaints in this regard to this problem should be directed to the nearest police station for speedy action against the offenders.
To further streamline the control procedures, provisions have been made in the draft Noise Control Bill, now at its final drafting stage for control over noise emanating from shops or business premises. Upon enactment of the Noise Control Ordinance, the Environmental Protection Department can appropriately deal with this type of noise pollution.
MR. WALTER M. SULKE (in English):— Mr. Chairman, since these nuisances have been growing quite considerably since we handed-over the Noise Control Unit and since it is a fact that before we handed-over the Noise Control Unit in regard to the legal position, our Health Inspectors managed to control this type of nuisance and that now this is not being done, would my friend not agree that we should now take the Noise Control Unit back?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):— Mr. Chairman, do you consider this as a supplementary question?
CHAIRMAN (in English):— No, it is bringing up a new item but it is up to you if you wish to answer.
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):- Mr. SULKE is well aware of the situation especially he mentioned in his question that it was at the request of Central Government that the Noise Control Unit was transferred to the Environmental Protection Department. So I think the magnitude of the problem of transferring back is much larger than he expects.
CHAIRMAN (in English):— Actually VCUC has pointed out to me that I should not have allowed this because you are asking for an opinion. Thank you, VCUC. You can't ask that, but it is already answered anyway.
5. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):— In view of the Secretary of Health and Welfare's statement in LEGCO regarding Government's concern about street sleepers, is it now possible to ask the Social
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