XN000022-1979-07-18 — Page 17

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1979

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PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL SUPPORTED

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DUE TO THE SHORTAGE OF LAND IN THE URBAN AREAS, THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS PLANS TO BUILD MORE MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING WHERE MARKE FACILITIES AND COOKED FOOD CENTRES CAN BE COMBINED WITH CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES SUCH AS DISTRICT LIBRARIES AND INDOOR GAMES HALLS, THE HON, HILTON CHEONG-LEEN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN SAID THE COMBINED COOKED FOOD CENTRES AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WERE A NEW CONCEPT WHICH COULD BE TRANSPLANTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN ORDER TO MAKE OPTIMUM USE OF AVAILABLE LAND.

+MANY URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARIES ALREADY HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS STORY HOURS FOR CHILDREN, ADULT EDUCATION TALKS, FILM SHOWS AND VARIOUS EXHIBITIONS,+ HE SAID.

+RECORD LISTENING SECTIONS AND VIDEO CASSETTE FACILITIES ARE ALREADY PROVIDED IN SOME OF THE LARGE URBAN COUNCIL LIBRARIES. THERE ARE ALSO ROTATING MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS AT MANY LIBRARIES.+

MR. CHEONG-LEEN ADDED THAT THESE EXTENSION SERVICES HAVE ARISEN OUT OF NEW AND CHANGING DEMANDS ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC LIVING IN DIFFERENT URBAN DISTRICTS.

BAN ON EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN FACTORIES GETS SUPPORT

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THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN WELCOMED THE EMPLOYMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL 1979 WHICH EXTENDS THE PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN TO NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS, BUT WAS CONCERNED THAT A 13-YEAR-OLD CHILD IS PERMITTED TO WORK DURING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS FOR UP TO EIGHT HOURS BETWEEN 7 A.M. AND 7 P.M.

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE SAID THESE EIGHT HOURS WOULD ACTUALLY BE 6 A.M. TO 6 P.M. DURING SUMMER TIME AND IF THE CHILD LIVES SOME DISTANCE FROM WORK, HE WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE TO WAKE UP AT 5 A.M.

+WORKING EIGHT HOURS A DAY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, ESPECIALLY IF A CHILD HAS TO RISE AT SUCH AN EARLY HOUR DAILY, GOES" AGAINST THE SPIRIT AND PURPOSE OF SCHOOL SUMMER HOLIDAYS, HE SAID.

HE ASKED THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TO MONITOR THE SITUATION CAREFULLY TO SEE WHETHER ANY CHANGE IS REQUIRED NEXT YEAR.

/HE ALSO