1960 — Page 69

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

of other Government Departments concerned in licensing with a view to speeding up the licensing procedure.

Is the Chairman now in a position to report to this Council the progress made in such discussions?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-

"This concerns licensing procedure.

Shortly after the adoption by Council of the Report of the Sub-Committee on Delegated Powers, action was taken to obtain the views of the Fire Brigade and Building Authority on the recommendations contained in paragraphs 6 and 7 of that Report. Though there are other departments concerned with licensing, such as the Labour Department, Marine Department and Social Welfare Department, the Fire Brigade and Building Authority were approached in the first instance since they are the departments primarily concerned.

These two departments have since replied to the effect that the internal procedure for handling all applications is under continual review in an effort to remove delays. They have pointed out, however, that with other heavy licensing commitments from Government Departments such as Police, Education and Labour they cannot in all fairness impose time limits on applications affecting Urban Services Department, though they will endeavour to deal with files in the least possible time. Consequently this department has decided to examine its own licensing procedure (which has also been streamlined as a result of the recommendations of the Report on Delegated Powers) so that specific proposals might eventually be put to the other departments concerned.

The present position is that the new licensing procedure in the Urban Services Department is experiencing its own teething trouble, as can be seen from Committee Paper CW32/60, dealing with unlicensed premises, which was recently forwarded to members, and until all difficulties in the system have been overcome a further approach to the departments concerned is not thought advisable. Members are assured, however, that the necessity of a further approach will be kept in constant view."

MR. CHAN SHU-WOON asked the following question:-

"Mr. Chairman, I have received information concerning the vent pipes at the roof of the Resettlement Estates, which produce strong offensive smell affecting those living at the upper part of the blocks and the students who attend the schools which are situated at the roofs. Is the Chairman aware of this unhealthy condition and to take measures to remedy it? Is it possible to extend the vent pipes a few feet higher than the flushing tanks so as to avoid the bad smell?"

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT replied as follows:

"I have had no previous complaints of the smell emanating from these pipes, which are soil and vent pipes designed to permit the escape of foul air. They are at present carried up to a height of about three feet above the latrine roof. It would be possible to extend them still higher and this proposal will be referred to the appropriate Select Committee with an estimate of the cost of the alterations required."

MR. CHAN SHU-WOON asked the following question:-

"In view of the disagreeable condition at the Urban Services Department wharf at the waterfront of Gloucester Road where strong offensive odour and decomposed materials are ever present, I wish to know, Mr. Chairman, whether you have a plan in mind as to have this particular wharf removed to some other place out of town, away from densely populated area so that the unhealthy effect will be eliminated?"

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:

"This question concerning an offensive smell at the Gloucester Road Dustboat Station has often been raised in the past and I am glad to have the opportunity now of making the position clear. As all members will be aware, almost all refuse collected from Hong Kong Island is conveyed to dustboat stations on the waterfront where it is discharged into barges for transport to the controlled refuse tip at Gin Drinkers' Bay. There are current proposals for discontinuing this practice, which suffers from a number of major disadvantages, and instead, for disposing of all Hong Kong refuse in an incineration plant on the island. A major undertaking of this expensive nature requires considerable planning. A number of officers from the Public Works Department and also from this department have recently paid a series of visits to similar incineration plants in the United Kingdom and Europe, and I hope to receive their reports shortly. If favourable, and if Government approves the scheme, it is possible that the Hong Kong

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