Page 97 of 118
176
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
awaiting resettlement is to-day larger than it was reported to be five years ago?
THE COMMISSIONER for Resettlement replied as follows:
"I should be glad to make the inquiry as requested in the first part of this question.
With regard to the second part, which has to do with squatters, Government is of course well aware of the extent of the squatter problem and the need to increase the rate of clearance."
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I have several supplementaries to ask, so with your permission, Mr. Chairman, I will keep on standing. With due deference, may I ask my colleague, the Commissioner for Resettlement, that since seven days' notice was given of this Question, was it not possible for him to inquire from Government on the first part of this Question earlier?
COMMISSIONER for RESETTLEMENT:---Inquiry has been made, Mr. Chairman, but I have not had an answer yet.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you, that clarifies it. Another supplementary, Mr. Chairman: how long ago was it that the Urban Council initiated this particular aspect of the resettlement programme? Was it not about a year ago?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:—Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that MR. CHEONG-LEEN's question is framed in the form of a specific request and I have agreed to this request. I suggest that further questions on this matter will be out of order.
CHAIRMAN:-I agree.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, is the Commissioner for Resettlement afraid of supplementary questions?
(Mr. CHEONG-LEEN resumed his seat).
MR. LI YIU-BOR asked the following question :-
"As a result of the action taken by the Urban Services Department against certain restaurants and food premises which have repeatedly broken the Public Health Ordinance, there has been much criticism in the local Chinese press. Will the Chairman, in the public interest, inform this Council how many restaurant and cafe licences have been suspended for the last three months, and whether there has been a sudden and unduly large increase in the number of suspensions?"
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
177
"In the months of September, October and November there were thirty-five cases of suspension of restaurant licences. This figure is much larger than that for the previous three months, and has resulted from the determination of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee to tighten up control over food businesses, in order to achieve satisfactory standards of hygiene. In my opinion the Select Committee had every justification for their concern over this matter.
It is of interest, however, that of these thirty-five suspensions only five occurred in November, which gives reason to hope that persistent offenders have learnt their lesson and that the number of suspensions may not have to be large in future.
I should like to emphasize that it is not the policy of either the Council or the Department to victimize anyone. A restaurant owner who keeps his premises clean and adheres to the conditions attached to his licence has nothing to worry about. Also, except where there is urgency because extreme health risks are involved, suspension is not usually imposed until a number of warnings have been given."
MR. LI YIU-BOR:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think the last part of your answer has helped to allay the fears of many restaurant and cafe owners.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a supplementary question. Is the Chairman aware that the Health Inspectors of the Department are paid by the public to do a job and why do they allow restaurants to reach the stage where the licence has to be suspended?
VICE-CHAIRMAN:-It is a bit difficult to answer that question at the moment. As you know, I myself was largely responsible for getting this policy implemented and I really can say little more than that.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Would it be a case of the chicken coming before the egg, or the egg coming before the chicken?
MR. SALES:-May I have that clarified, Mr. Chairman. (Laughter).
MR. CHAN SHU-WOON:-I am sure the Inspectorate make regular inspections very often and the restaurants should not therefore be getting so dirty. If you find a restaurant very dirty, that is to say in some place in the restaurant, can you say that it is worthwhile to suspend that licence for a month or two? Would that be too serious a penalty?
Page 97 of 118
178
...
Page 97 of 118
176
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
awaiting resettlement is to-day larger than it was reported to be five years ago?"
THE COMMISSIONER for Resettlement replied as follows:
"I should be glad to make the inquiry as requested in the first
part of this question.
With regard to the second part, which has to do with squatters, Government is of course well aware of the extent of the squatter problem and the need to increase the rate of clearance."
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I have several supplementaries to ask, so with your permission, Mr. Chairman, I will keep on standing. With due deference, may I ask my colleague, the Commissioner for Resettle- ment, that since seven days' notice was given of this Question, was it not possible for him to inquire from Government on the first part of this Question earlier?
COMMISSIONER for ResettlemENT:---Inquiry has been made, Mr. Chairman, but I have not had an answer yet.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you, that clarifies it. Another supple- mentary, Mr. Chairman: how long ago was it that the Urban Council initiated this particular aspect of the resettlement programme? Was it not about a year ago?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:—Mr. Chairman, may I sug- gest that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's question is framed in the form of a specific request and I have agreed to this request. I suggest that further questions on this matter will be out of order.
CHAIRMAN:-I agree.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, is the Commissioner for Resettlement afraid of supplementary questions?
(Mr. CHEONG-LEEN resumed his seat).
MR. LI YIU-BOR asked the following question :-
"As a result of the action taken by the Urban Services Depart- ment against certain restaurants and food premises which have repeatedly broken the Public Health Ordinance, there has been much criticism in the local Chinese press. Will the Chairman, in the public interest, inform this Council how many restaurant and cafe licences have been suspended for the last three months, and whether there has been a sudden and unduly large increase in the number of suspensions?"
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
177
"In the months of September, October and November there were thirty-five cases of suspension of restaurant licences. This figure is much larger than that for the previous three months, and has resulted from the determination of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee to tighten up control over food businesses, in order to achieve satisfac- tory standards of hygiene. In my opinion the Select Committee had every justification for their concern over this matter.
It is of interest, however, that of these thirty-five suspensions only five occurred in November, which gives reason to hope that persistent offenders have learnt their lesson and that the number of suspensions may not have to be large in future.
I should like to emphasize that it is not the policy of either the Council or the Department to victimize anyone. A restaurant owner who keeps his premises clean and adheres to the conditions attached to his licence has nothing to worry about. Also, except where there is urgency because extreme health risks are involved, suspen- sion is not usually imposed until a number of warnings have been given."
MR. LI YIU-BOR:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think the last part of your answer has helped to allay the fears of many restaurant and cafe owners.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a supplementary question. Is the Chairman aware that the Health Inspectors of the Department are paid by the public to do a job and why do they allow restaurants to reach the stage where the licence has to be suspended?
VICE-CHAIRMAN:-It is a bit difficult to answer that question at the moment. As you know, I myself was largely responsible for getting this policy implemented and I really can say little more than that.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Would it be a case of the chicken coming before the egg, or the egg coming before the chicken?
MR. SALES: -May I have that clarified, Mr. Chairman. (Laughter).
MR. CHAN SHU-WOON: -I am sure the Inspectorate make regular inspections very often and the restaurants should not therefore be getting so dirty. If you find a restaurant very dirty, that is to say in some place in the restaurant, can you say that it is worthwhile to suspend that licence for a month or two? Would that be too serious a penalty?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.