1956 — Page 14

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Cleanliness) Select Committee. I am sure the Chair- man would be glad to invite you to be present at the Committee's discussions should you so wish."

DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question

"On reviewing the various classes of licence fees now imposed and controlled by this Council, I notice that there is a big irregularity in the rate at which these fees are imposed. For example, the licence fee for cooked-food stalls is $360 p.a. and that for fixed- pitch hawkers in the central district is $180 p.a., whereas the licence fee for all restaurants is $120 p.a. As the financial standing of a restaurant is much higher than that of a hawker, I think that the licence fee for hawkers is far too high. I understand that the law revision is not likely to be completed this financial

year. Would the Chairman consider recommending that the existing system of licence fees be revised before the next renewal period in the coming financial year?"

THE CHAIRMAN tabled the following written reply:-

"I agree, Sir, that a review is required of the amount of these fees, and as you have pointed out, this is a task which has already been noted for attention by the Law Revision Select Committee and the other Select Committees concerned. It is a complex question, and whilst I agree with you that the licence fee for a large restaurant should be higher than that for a cooked-food stall I do not think that sufficient information is yet available to conclude that the licence fees for hawker stalls and fixed-pitches are in general too high. It will necessarily take some time to assemble all the requisite information and put forward fully considered recommendations to the Council in this respect. The work will be pressed forward, but amending legislation will be required before any revision of fees can take effect. If the Select Committees concerned should decide that special legislation apart from the general process of law revision is justified, I shall of course be glad to recommend that it be given the necessary priority in drafting."

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MR. BERNACCHI, in the absence of Dr. A. M. S. BELL, asked the following two questions:—

"Will the Chairman request the Council's Representa- tive on the Traffic Advisory Board to have the present position of pedestrian crossings clarified? At present some vehicles, particularly public vehicles, stop for pedestrians to cross whilst others do not, and both motorists and pedestrians are now confused as to who has the right of way, several accidents having recently occurred at pedestrian crossings."

"Would the Chairman request the Council's Representa- tive on the Traffic Advisory Board to take up the question of a 10 minute car park outside the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in Mongkok or in Argyle Street next to this Bank? At present there is a rank of 12 taxis which is seldom utilized by more than one or two taxis at a time. People going to the Bank are forced to walk a considerable distance often carrying sums of money through side streets because of parking difficulties.'

"

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:

"Yes, Sir."

MR. BERNACCHI, in the absence of Dr. A. M. S. BELL, asked the following question :-

"Can steps be taken by the Commissioner for Resettle- ment to remedy the following defects in many of the multi-storied resettlement blocks?

(a) Dirty toilets and dirty drains.

(b) Inadequate lighting of the stairways which appears to have caused a number of burglaries recently.

(c) Covering over of the honyecomb partitions. (d) Washing places perpetually wet.

(c) Inadequate number of water points resulting in

fights for water."

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