Page 3 of 35
210
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 4th December, 1956, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid on the table the following paper :-
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of December, 1956.
MR. BERNACCHI :- Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Air-Conditioning Select Committee, I feel that a short word is called for in respect to the difficulties we have encountered and which, I hope, have now been clarified at the meeting to which your report makes mention. It will be recalled that in the earlier part of last year I expressed the hope that we should have legislation introduced in time to control air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation generally during the past summer in cinemas, theatres, restaurants, dance-halls and dancing schools. Unfortunately, the matter got bogged down by various changes in policy in respect to which this Council had little control. The present position is that mechanical ventilation apart from air-conditioning in cinemas and theatres is controlled by regulations made by the Governor-in-Council, but air-conditioning in cinemas and theatres and air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation in restaurants, dance-halls and dancing schools are not controlled at all. Consent was obtained for a new Ordinance to enable air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation to be brought under control but this was delayed, firstly on account of differences of opinion as to licensing generally of these establishments, and subsequently because it was felt that provision could be made in the general draft of our new Urban Services and Public Health Ordinance. Subsequently it was decided to go back to the old decision of a separate Ordinance under which it is proposed that air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation will not be subject to licence as such but will be controlled by this Council regardless of who is the licensing authority for the particular establishment. In practice, of course, apart from any steps this Council may take against those who offend its by-laws, obviously we will expect co-operation from the particular licensing authority even to the extent of cancelling a licence where offences are being persistently committed on particular premises.
More or less final instructions in respect to the drafting of this Ordinance from my Committee are now in the hands of Crown Counsel, but it must be appreciated that the Legal Department has a vast amount of work on hand and I regret that the Ordinance in question is not as yet top priority. However, Ordinance and by-laws will be drafted together and we have stressed the need for these to be brought into force in time for the hot weather this year. I might add in conclusion that there will have to be certain interim provisions, in respect of air-conditioning plant in particular, which may not be of a standard we shall expect in future years; and of course, my Committee will give every consideration to any representations that may be made to us on this subject from those in the trade, and from the public in general.
CHAIRMAN :- Thank you, Mr. Bernacchi. I think no Member will feel that the difficulties are being exaggerated. I am not myself in a position to comment on your remarks, being by no means as familiar as you yourself with the subject, but no doubt all Members will be given the chance to comment when the legislation is prepared.
QUESTIONS.
Mr. Li Yiu BOR asked the following question :-
"Are our multi-storey estates and other resettlement areas provided with fire-fighting equipment? If the answer is in the negative, will the Chairman, Urban Council, ask the Commissioner for Resettlement to state what necessary precautions have been taken to guard against fire risks in these areas?"
THE CHAIRMAN tabled the following written reply supplied by the Commissioner for Resettlement:-
"Yes, sir. The multi-storey estates and the cottage resettlement areas are provided with fire fighting equipment in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief Officer, Fire Brigade."
211
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 4 of 35
Page 3 of 35
210
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 4th December, 1956, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid on the table the following paper :-
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of December, 1956.
MR. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Air- Conditioning Select Committee, I feel that a short word is called for in respect to the difficulties we have encountered and which, I hope, have now been clarified at the meeting to which your report makes mention. It will be recalled that in the earlier part of last year I expressed the hope that we should have legislation introduced in time to control air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation generally during the past summer in cinemas, theatres, restaurants, dance-halls and dancing schools. Unfortunately, the matter got bogged down by various changes in policy in respect to which this Council had little control. The present position is that mechanical ventilation apart from air-conditioning in cinemas and theatres is controlled by regulations made by the Governor-in-Council, but air-conditioning in cinemas and theatres and air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation in restaurants, dance-halls and dancing schools are not controlled at all. Consent was obtained for a new Ordinance to enable air-con- ditioning and mechanical ventilation to be brought under control but this was delayed, firstly on account of differences of opinion as to licensing generally of these establishments, and subsequently because it
ne time felt that provision could be made in
the general draft
our new Urban Services and Public Health Ordinance. Subsequently it was decided to go back to the old decision of a separate Ordinance under which it is proposed that air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation will not be subject to licence as such but will be controlled by this Council regardless of who is the licensing authority for the particular establishment. In practice, of course, apart from any steps this Council may take
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
211
against those who offend its by-laws, obviously we will expect co-operation from the particular licensing authority even to the extent of cancelling a licence where offences are being persistently committed on particular premises.
More or less final instructions in respect to the drafting of this Ordinance from my Committee are now in the hands of Crown Counsel, but it must be appreciated that the Legal Department has a vast amount of work on hand and I regret that the Ordinance in question is not as yet top priority. However, Ordinance and by-laws will be drafted together and we have stressed the need for these to be brought into force in time for the hot weather this year. I might add in conclusion that there will have to be certain interim provisions, in respect of air-conditioning plant in particular, which may not be of a standard we shall expect in future years; and of course, my Committee will give every consideration to any representations that may be made to us on this subject from those in the trade, and from the public in general.
CHAIRMAN :-Thank you, Mr. Bernacchi. I think no Member will feel that the difficulties are being exaggerated. I am not myself in a position to comment on your remarks, being by no means as familiar as you yourself with the subject, but no doubt all Members will be given the chance to comment when the legislation is prepared.
QUESTIONS.
Mr. Li Yiu BOR asked the following question :-
"Are our multi-storey estates and other resettlement areas provided with fire-fighting equipment? If the answer is in the negative, will the Chairman, Urban Council, ask the Commissioner for Resettlement to state what necessary precautions have been taken to guard against fire risks in these areas?"
THE CHAIRMAN tabled the following written reply supplied by the Commissioner for Resettlement:-
"Yes, sir. The multi-storey estates and the cottage resettlement areas are provided with fire fighting equipment in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief Officer, Fire Brigade.”
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