Page 261 of 498
ΖΟΙ ΟΙ 498
256
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
prosecutions and implement the inspection programme. From experience, one or half an action was taken upon receiving a complaint. Following that, another complaint was received and then one other action was taken. However, the problem or the situation remains basically unresolved.
Smoking and sneezing, as mentioned by Mr. KAM Nai-wai, were often seen. I like eating at Siu Mei shops and restaurants. Each time I see people smoking or sneezing at these shops. I get torn between love and hatred. The hatred is towards ‘filthiness' and the love is for the delicious food served there. It makes me angry because I cannot find similar food elsewhere. So I talked to the Department about how such situations could be tolerated. I suggested the printing of leaflets to remind people not to smoke inside the kitchen. Basically, I think nothing has ever been done. So I think it is not a question of strengthening inspections, but that of the taking of immediate, effective measures and plans. Mr. Chairman, I support the motion by Mr. CHAN Kwok-leung.
MR. ALBERT LAI WING-NIN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I am very supportive of this motion except on one point. That's why I said just now that our next motion could again be related to accountability and that we might not be able to implement our policies properly. I am referring to 'study the possibility of requiring different staff to handle payment and Siu Mei and Lo Mei'. Basically, this is something very difficult to monitor. I think when we look around on the streets, we see a lot of problems and these problems seem to be immediate ones. I certainly know that money is the dirtiest and with most bacteria. It is something covered with a large quantity of bacteria. The bacteria of all sorts of diseases could cling on to money and anyone could get caught. However, under present circumstances, if we study the assignment of different staff to handle money and cut up Siu Mei, we are asking many small merchants of Siu Mei to stay out of the business. We may as well tell one-man operations not to operate at all.
Therefore, I support a large part of the original motion but not this line. I cannot amend it, Mr. Chairman. I don't know what to do.
MR. ST. STEPHEN WONG HON-CHING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I am definitely in support of this mild motion by the Democratic Party. I find this motion mild too. I have heard just now from the seconder Mr. Kam Nai-wai that inspection should be changed from once a month to once a fortnight. Personally, I feel that if a shop has all the problems mentioned in the motion, two weeks may be too long. Basically, I think if a problem is found to exist this day, we can go back tomorrow for another inspection. We should not wait a fortnight before going back. If the message is that after imposing punishment or issuing a summons or warning today, we won't go back until two weeks later, then I think that within the next two weeks, the shop with poor hygienic conditions will have made a lot of people victims.
Page 261 of 498
£198