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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.

Before we proceed with the business on the agenda, may I extend to all of you-somewhat belatedly but nonetheless sincerely--my best wishes for good health, prosperity and happiness in the New Year.

I now have the pleasure of referring to an honour bestowed very recently upon one of our Members. You will, I am sure, wish me to express our very hearty congratulations to Mr. Li Fook-shu, on the award to him in the New Year's Honours of the O.B.E. by Her Majesty the Queen. (Applause).

MINUTES.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 4th December, 1962, were confirmed.

PAPERS.

THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:

Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services

Department for the month of December 1962.

QUESTIONS.

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-

With a view to preventing injury to the eyesight and limbs of children and adults, will the Chairman please advise what steps the Urban Services Department can take to assist the authorities concerned in preventing the careless use of fire- crackers and fireworks during the forthcoming Chinese New Year holidays?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:

The throwing or setting fire to any firework to the damage or danger of any person is an offence under section 3(14) of the Summary Offences Ordinance, the penalty for which is a fine of $500 or imprisonment for 3 months. Only the Police have the power to apprehend offenders under this section and the most that Urban Services Department staff could do to assist them would be in their capacity as citizens, that is, they could remonstrate with the offenders and, in flagrant cases if the advice was ignored, report the matter to the nearest police officer or station. I shall bring this matter to the notice of all the staff in the department and ask them to assist, in the way I have mentioned above, in stopping the careless use of fireworks.

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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:---May I ask, Mr. Chairman, how soon and in what manner do you propose to bring this matter to the attention of

the staff?

CHAIRMAN:-I propose to issue a circular, Sir.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Very soon, Sir?

CHAIRMAN:-Yes.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-And will that be to all of the more than 5,000 members of the department's staff?

CHAIRMAN:-As far as possible, it will be distributed to every member of the department.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I think that it would be quite an effective contribution if the contents of the circular were taken to heart by the department.

CHAIRMAN:-I agree, Sir. The staff of the department consists of over 9,000 persons.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I beg your pardon. I should have said 9,000.

MR. SALES: May I suggest that a copy of the circular be sent to Urban Councillors so that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN may have one. (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I am rather more concerned, Mr. Chairman, over Kowloon since there are more people living there.

MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:

At the last Urban Council meeting, the Chairman stated that the first floor of the new multi-storey Sai Ying Pun Post Office Building will be used as a public playground of some 5,000 sq. ft. Since the early completion of this play- ground is most desirable, will the Chairman please advise how soon the Sai Ying Pun Post Office Building will be completed and this indoor playground thereby made avail- able for use by the public?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows: -

-

This project has now been upgraded to Category A(ii) in the Public Works programme which means that authority has been given to proceed with working drawings and to call for tenders. The site will not, however, be available until

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