1963 — Page 77

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Page 77 of 194

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

health education, but in the case of bathing beaches spit- ting is so offensive that I have instructed the staff to take firmer action to try and stop it, if necessary by prosecu- tions against some of the more blatant offenders.

DR. LEE: Mr. Chairman, I wonder what reason can be offered for the late use of these motorized catamarans, and also what is the experience obtained from their use?

CHAIRMAN:-Sir, with regard to the first part of your question, I only know that we obtained the engines early in July and they were installed with great speed after that. As regards experience gained from their use, they obviously clear the refuse more quickly than manual methods can, but we are not yet in a position to state any definite conclusions. In calm water the refuse is collected by the net drawn by the catamaran. In choppy weather there is a tendency for some of it to escape, and we are studying this problem.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary in regard to your statement that "I propose to ask the Committee to con- sider the desirability of forbidding the playing of transistor radios and other musical instruments on beaches"? Do I read into this statement that the Department is going to make this proposal to the Select Committee?

CHAIRMAN: -Yes, Sir.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Then what about mahjong playing? Does the Department also want to propose that mahjong playing should be stopped on beaches as well?

CHAIRMAN:-It will depend upon whether the Committee decides that it is a beach nuisance.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-And also singing as well?

CHAIRMAN:-Sir, you are introducing new matter I think. It is a question of the definition of a beach nuisance.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, if an opera singer sings on the beach at the top of his voice, would you consider that as music or noise?

CHAIRMAN:-Sir, you are asking for an expression of personal

opinion.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, may I refer back to the playing of transistor radios on beaches. If a transistor radio plays a record of opera singing, would you consider that as noise?

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN:-That, Sir, is a hypothetical question. (Laughter)

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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:--I would like to ask another supplementary, Mr. Chairman. What is your definition of a blatant offender in regard to spitting as opposed to an ordinary offender?

CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I am protected by Standing Orders. I can let questions pass without an answer.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN :—Sorry, Mr. Chairman, I am not so sure which Standing Order you are referring to. But I do not insist on this ques- tion, Sir.

CHAIRMAN:-I can give you chapter and verse. (Laughter) Sir, will you ask question No. 4 or do you wish me to give you the reference?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I rise to ask question No. 4. (Laughter),

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

According to the Director of Medical and Health Services, there are still 1.5 million people in Hong Kong who have not yet come forward for cholera inoculation: (a) Has the Medical Department yet asked the Urban Services Department to co-operate by having Health Inspectors during the course of their regular house visits urge residents to be inoculated against cholera? (b) Has the Medical Department yet asked the Resettle- ment Department to co-operate by having the Depart- ment's officers during the course of their daily in- spection tours urge resettlement residents to be in- oculated against cholera?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:

The answer to the first part is that until recently Health In- spectors in the course of their routine house inspection visits advised residents to obtain cholera inoculation, just as they advise other inoculations at the appropriate time. It was necessary to suspend house inspection after the oc- currence of the first case of cholera this year, in order to free staff for emergency duties; consequently this oppor- tunity for contact with the public is no longer available. The main effort of the Urban Services Department in this matter has been directed towards those who handle food in licensed food premises, and I believe that virtually every food handler has now been inoculated.