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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
That is a fact and I have already told the regional superintendent about it. If Mr. Ip wants to know about this in details, I can give the name or location to him. I have one more follow-up question. Is there a penalty if a Department staff fails to comply with the requirements?
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):--On the first point, I am in fact very interested in details of the case. I hope Mr. Lai can pass the details to me. I would follow up.
On the second point, if a Department staff is found to have disclosed the name of the complainant without his prior consent, I think the Department should take disciplinary action. It can be in the form of warning etc. As to whether dismissal is warranted, I have to check with the Department. If Mr. Lai wants to know the ultimate action, I would be happy to supply the information. I can say for sure that the Department will take strict action.
MR. TIM S. MANUEL CHAN (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I want to ask Mr. Ip a follow-up question. The present situation is not as light as that described by you. There are in fact many examples of disclosure of names of councillors when staff were carrying out their duties. I would like to ask Mr. IP whether he would consider suggesting at the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee that the names of complainants could be given openly. This would be better than having regulations not complied with and standing instructions not enforced. Non-compliance is actually a serious mistake and it should not be made frequently. The Chairman of the Select Committee was casual about it. He only mentioned standing instructions. In the past, control was not exercised. So, let me repeat my question. As Chairman of the Select Committee, will you bring out for discussion again whether hawker control staff should disclose names of people who send them on the job? This would be more clear cut.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):--If the suggestion is supported by the Select Committee, I won't mind at all. I just want to say that I have not been casual about the matter. It is only that there is no concrete case to tell me what has happened. If there is any such case, will Mr. CHAN supply me with the information? I promise you I will follow up. So far, the Department has revealed only one such complaint case.
MR. TIM S. MANUEL CHAN (in Cantonese):--My question is whether anyone has been in touch with the Department to get full statistics. If you say there is only one such case, I can tell you clearly that the information is incorrect. I lodged at least two complaints. I don't know the source of information. Have you asked the Department for information on all such complaints? I hope you will answer me.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):--You query whether I have asked the Department for information. I have. If not, I would not have been able to
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