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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Once more I make the suggestion that the proceeds of the Govern-ment Lotteries should be allocated to housing and that steps should be taken, if they have not already been done, to provide facilities for housing of the white-collar group.
By chance or design another official event is taking place elsewhere this afternoon while we are in session. Is it perhaps a sinister plot to overshadow our meeting? Or is it mere coincidence?
Artless or perfidious, I feel that an explanation is due to the Members of this Council in view of the introductory remarks made by our Chairman concerning the reason for our change in date (Laughter).
In conclusion, I would like to thank the members of the Urban Services Department for their courteous manner in replying to what may seem to them uncalled for questions.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion. (Applause).
MR. LI FOOK-SHU:- Mr. Chairman, at the previous Annual Debate of this Council held earlier this year, I had the honour of addressing you, Mr. Chairman, amongst other things, on the question of food and food premises. I need hardly make any apology for returning to this subject again this afternoon, not only because I have the honour to be Chairman of the Select Committee of this Council which deals with this subject, but also because the work of this com-mittee is of vital importance to the health of our community. Just now we are facing two special difficulties. Each by itself would be serious enough, but together they severely test the efficiency of our urban services. We have an unparalleled shortage of water and there is the cholera epidemic. As a Council, we can do very little about water, because this is the province of the Water Authority, working under the Public Works Department. All we can do here in this Council is to reflect public concern at this problem. Water shortage affects us all, but it particularly hits those responsible for food premises and adds to the difficulties of maintaining the standards of cleanliness laid down in our By-laws. The incidence of cholera lends greater urgency to this problem. The Honourable the Director of Medical and Health Services has spoken strongly on the need for inoculation against cholera and the Kaifongs have earned out gratitude for doing their best to win public sympathy on this matter. His Excellency the Governor has also spoken on the problem of water. But I think the Council would be lacking in its duty if it did not express its deep concern at the continuance of our problems, and, if it did not continue to press for solutions. Food premises are among those most seriously affected by our present difficulties. One of the worrying things about this particular problem of food premises is that it lies at a focal point where the responsibilities of four Government departments meet and overlap. These four departments are those of the Urban Services,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Public Works, Medical and Health, and the Fire Services. I am not, of course, saying that this overlapping is the cause of our problems. On the other hand, I wish to draw the attention of the authorities con-cerned to the need to keep efficient liaison constantly in mind. As an example, I may mention that cases have been brought to my notice where it has taken periods of up to a year to obtain a restaurant licence because of departmental overlapping. Delays of this nature encourage resort to corrupt practices, and for this reason alone, they should be reduced to the minimum.
There are one or two further observations I should like to make on this subject of food hygiene. During the lunch hour, it is a common sight to see cooked food being carried in the street to various offices for consumption there. It seems, from what I have heard, that some of this food may be prepared in domestic premises which are not licensed. I should like to ask if the Health Inspectors have found any evidence of such a practice, and if so, what steps have been taken to deal with it.
Another point I wish to make is in connection with the sale of non-bottled drinks. One of the conditions of the issue of permits for the sale of non-bottled drinks is that they must be sold direct from the dispensing machines in expendable or non-returnable wax-paper cups. Complaints have been made that this condition is frequently disregarded and that glasses, which have been supplied instead, have been washed in an uncovered bucket of water which is changed at uncertain intervals. Some vendors also seem to have discouraged the use of the proper cups by charging an extra five cents for each paper cup supplied. I suggest we use all publicity methods to check this potentially dangerous practice and to educate the general public to refuse to accept such slovenly practices. Economic laws tell us that there can be no supply without demand and we should try to influence demand by educational methods before resorting to stronger measures. The demand is for a cheap drink at 10 cents, and our task is to get it across to people that they should demand cleanliness as well as cheapness.
Before I leave this subject, Mr. Chairman, I should like to refer to one other matter, mentioned in paragraph 6 of the Statement of Aims for 1964. Last April, a special training course for food service personnel was introduced and conducted by the Health Education Section of the Urban Services Department. I understand that since then, 14 courses, each lasting one week, have been completed, and over 400 food handlers have benefited from the instruction given. From com-ments which have reached me, this training course is a very successful one and I should like to offer a word of congratulation to those con-cerned on this very interesting and valuable addition to general health education,
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Page 131
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of 194
Page 130 of 194
242
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Once more I make the suggestion that the proceeds of the Govern- ment Lotteries should be allocated to housing and that steps should be taken, if they have not already been done, to provide facilities for housing of the white-collar group.
By chance or design another official event is taking place elsewhere this afternoon while we are in session. Is it perhaps a sinister plot to overshadow our meeting? Or is it mere coincidence?
Artless or perfidious, I feel that an explanation is due to the Members of this Council in view of the introductory remarks made by our Chairman concerning the reason for our change in date (Laughter).
In conclusion, I would like to thank the members of the Urban Services Department for their courteous manner in replying to what may seem to them uncalled for questions.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion. (Applause).
MR. LI FOOK-SHU:-Mr. Chairman, at the previous Annual Debate of this Council held earlier this year, I had the honour of addressing you, Mr. Chairman, amongst other things, on the question of food and food premises. I need hardly make any apology for returning to this subject again this afternoon, not only because I have the honour to be Chairman of the Select Committee of this Council which deals with this subject, but also because the work of this com- mittee is of vital importance to the health of our community. Just now we are facing two special difficulties. Each by itself would be serious enough, but together they severely test the efficiency of our urban services. We have an unparalleled shortage of water and there is the cholera epidemic. As a Council, we can do very little about water, because this is the province of the Water Authority, working under the Public Works Department. All we can do here in this Council is to reflect public concern at this problem. Water shortage affects us all, but it particularly hits those responsible for food premises and adds to the difficulties of maintaining the standards of cleanliness laid down in our By-laws. The incidence of cholera lends greater urgency to this problem. The Honourable the Director of Medical and Health Services has spoken strongly on the need for inoculation against cholera and the Kaifongs have earned out gratitude for doing their best to win public sympathy on this matter. His Excellency the Governor has also spoken on the problem of water. But I think the Council would be lacking in its duty if it did not express its deep concern at the continuance of our problems, and, if it did not continue to press for solutions. Food premises are among those most seriously affected by our present difficulties. One of the worrying things about this particular problem of food premises is that it lies at a focal point where the responsibilities of four Government departments meet and overlap. These four departments are those of the Urban Services,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
243
Public Works, Medical and Health, and the Fire Services. I am not, of course, saying that this overlapping is the cause of our problems. On the other hand, I wish to draw the attention of the authorities con- cerned to the need to keep efficient liaison constantly in mind. As an example, I may mention that cases have been brought to my notice where it has taken periods of up to a year to obtain a restaurant licence because of departmental overlapping. Delays of this nature encourage resort to corrupt practices, and for this reason alone, they should be reduced to the minimum.
There are one or two further observations I should like to make on this subject of food hygiene. During the lunch hour, it is a common sight to see cooked food being carried in the street to various offices for consumption there. It seems, from what I have heard, that some of this food may be prepared in domestic premises which are not licensed. I should like to ask if the Health Inspectors have found any evidence of such a practice, and if so, what steps have been taken to deal with it.
Another point I wish to make is in connection with the sale of non-bottled drinks. One of the conditions of the issue of permits for the sale of non-bottled drinks is that they must be sold direct from the dispensing machines in expendable or non-returnable wax-paper cups. Complaints have been made that this condition is frequently disregarded and that glasses, which have been supplied instead, have been washed in an uncovered bucket of water which is changed at uncertain intervals. Some vendors also seem to have discouraged the use of the proper cups by charging an extra five cents for each paper cup supplied. I suggest we use all publicity methods to check this potentially dangerous practice and to educate the general public to refuse to accept such slovenly practices. Economic laws tell us that there can be no supply without demand and we should try to influence demand by educational methods before resorting to stronger measures. The demand is for a cheap drink at 10 cents, and our task is to get it across to people that they should demand cleanliness as well as cheapness.
Before I leave this subject, Mr. Chairman, I should like to refer to one other matter, mentioned in paragraph 6 of the Statement of Aims for 1964. Last April, a special training course for food service personnel was introduced and conducted by the Health Education Section of the Urban Services Department. I understand that since then, 14 courses, each lasting one week, have been completed, and over 400 food handlers have benefited from the instruction given. From com- ments which have reached me, this training course is a very successful one and I should like to offer a word of congratulation to those con- cerned on this very interesting and valuable addition to general health education,
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