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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. BERNACCHI :- My question is when will the plans be ready.
CHAIRMAN :- There are indications that things are progressing very smoothly!
DR. LEE :- I would like to ask a supplementary to my question. When will the practice of dressing animals on the floor cease?
CHAIRMAN :- I have no doubt that quite a lot of dressing still takes place on the floor. It is a question of teaching the staff how to do it in the correct sanitary manner. It is a difficult job but we are forging ahead as best we can.
DR. BELL :- Is it possible, Mr. Chairman, in any way to bring to Government's notice the intense need of the abattoir once again? If we bring it often enough we might...
CHAIRMAN :- I really feel these questions are digressing rather too far. I cannot be called upon to answer that.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following questions :-
"It is now more than 18 months since I first raised the question of unsightly and insanitary tea canteens in the Star Ferry Concourse, and nothing yet has been done to correct this unsatisfactory state of affairs. In view of the advanced stage in the redesign of this concourse, when is it likely that provisions can be made to correct it as given in the former Chairman's reply?"
"As this sort of nuisance also exists in the concourse of the North Point Estates can the Chairman take steps to resolve that too?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :-
"I propose to reply to questions (5) and (6) together as they both concern canteens at Bus Termini, one at the Star Ferry, Kowloon, and the other in the immediate vicinity of the Java Road Estate at North Point.
These questions involve other Departments, notably the Public Works Department, and were consequently referred to the Secretariat. I am advised that Government has this matter under consideration but
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that no final decision has yet been reached on the future sites for bus workers' canteens in these two concourses.
I would point out that the size of the canteen in Kowloon and the scope of its operations have been materially reduced."
DR. LEE :- Can the Chairman give any assurance to this Council when the canteens will be properly accommodated?
CHAIRMAN :- I think I have already answered that. I am afraid I cannot give any such assurance.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question :-
"In view of the need to make arrangements for the removal of bone factories from Kennedy Town before the onset of next summer, is the Chairman in the position to make recommendations as to where they might be removed, and if so, will he take the necessary steps to call for an early Select Committee meeting?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :-
"The Offensive Trades Select Committee has given a great deal of consideration to this problem, and the views of the District Commissioner, New Territories, have been sought as to the possibility of providing a new area for the trade. This is, however, a long-term project and involves future town planning schemes. A remote area would be the most desirable from the point of view of lessening the offensiveness of the trade, but economic considerations must be taken into account. It is hoped that it will be possible to discuss proposals with the Select Committee at an early date, but the problem is a complex one and I can hold out little hope of action before next summer.
In the meantime, departmental action is being taken with a view to rendering the trade less obnoxious. This might be achieved by requiring that all bones be processed within twelve hours of arrival on the premises, that bone stores be lined internally with metal, that the bones should be stored in wire mesh baskets, and that they should be stored in a dehumidified atmosphere.
Page 94 of 139
Page 94 of 139
Page 94 of 139
168
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. BERNACCHI :-My question is when will the plans be ready.
CHAIRMAN :-There are indications that things are progressing very smoothly!
DR. LEE:-1 would like to ask a supplementary to my question. When will the practice of dressing animals on the floor
cease?
CHAIRMAN:-1 have no doubt that quite a lot of dressing still takes place on the floor. It is a question of teaching the staff how to do it in the correct sanitary manner. It is a difficult job but we are forging ahead as best we can.
DR. BELL-Is it possible, Mr. Chairman, in any way to bring to Government's notice the intense need of the abattoir once again? If we bring it often enough we might..
CHAIRMAN :-I really feel these questions are digressing rather too far. I cannot be called upon to answer that.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following questions :-
"It is now more than 18 months since I first raised the question of unsightly and insanitary tea canteens in the Star Ferry Concourse, and nothing yet has been done to correct this unsatisfactory state of affairs. In view of the advanced stage in the redesign of this concourse, when is it likely that provisions can be made to correct it as given in the former Chairman's reply?"
"As this sort of nuisance also exists in the concourse of the North Point Estates can the Chairman take steps to resolve that too?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :-
"I propose to reply to questions (5) and (6) together as they both concern canteens at Bus Termini, one at the Star Ferry, Kowloon, and the other in the im- mediate vicinity of the Java Road Estate at North Point.
These questions involve other Departments, notably the Public Works Department, and were consequently referred to the Secretariat. I am advised that "Government has this matter under consideration but
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
169
that no final decision has yet been reached on the future sites for bus workers canteens in these two
concourses.
I would point out that the size of the canteen in Kowloon and the scope of its operations have been materially reduced."
DR. LEE-Can the Chairman give any assurance to this Council when the canteens will be properly accommodated?
CHAIRMAN :-I think I have already answered that. I am afraid I cannot give any such assurance.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question :-
"In view of the need to make arrangements for the removal of bone factories from Kennedy Town before the onset of next summer, is the Chairman in the position to make recommendations as to where they might be removed, and if so, will he take the necessary steps to call for an early Select Committee meeting ?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"The Offensive Trades Select Committee has given a great deal of consideration to this problem, and the views of the District Commissioner, New Territories, have been sought as to the possibility of providing a new area for the trade. This is, however, a long- term project and involves future town planning schemes. A remote area would be the most desirable from the point of view of lessening the offensiveness of the trade, but economic considerations must be taken into account. It is hoped that it will be possible
to discuss proposals with the Select Committee at an early date, but the problem is a complex one and I can hold out little hope of action before next summer.
In the meantime, departmental action is being taken with a view to rendering the trade less obnoxious. This might be achieved by requiring that all bones be processed within twelve hours of arrival on the premises, that bone stores be lined internally with metal, that the bones should be stored in wire mesh baskets, and that they should be stored in a dehumidi- fied atmosphere.
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