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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MINUTES.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th August, 1963, 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 August 1963.

QUESTIONS.

DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question :-

Can the Chairman state what action Government has taken in respect to the recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Library Services, and can he indicate what steps have been taken so far to provide a public library in Kowloon?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:

The report of the Advisory Committee on Library Services is being considered by Government. It involves a consider- able expansion of library facilities over a period of time, including the provision of library facilities in Kowloon and elsewhere and is in considerable detail. It has been necessary to examine closely the practicability of meeting certain of the proposals made by the Committee, partic- ularly with regard to the availability of sites, and this has necessarily taken some time; but I understand that Government expects fairly shortly to be able to make a pronouncement of policy on the development of library services.

DR. LEE:-I want to thank you for your generally satisfactory answer to my question, Mr. Chairman, but I would like to invite your attention and also Government's to the extreme need for library facili- ties in the Sai Ying Pun area and also in Kowloon.

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, are you able to tell this Council whether in fact the greater number of people who use the facilities at the City Hall Library live in Kowloon?

CHAIRMAN:-No, Sir, not without notice of that question.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, if I were to hazard to guess I think they are in Hong Kong. (Laughter).

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MR. SALES: Is it because there is a greater lack of knowledge in Hong Kong?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: It is because they are knowledgeable, I believe.

DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-

In view of the impossibility of obtaining a food factory licence or a laundry licence in a building where a school exists, due to objections from either the Fire Brigade or the Labour Department, does not the Chairman agree that more publicity should be given so that prospective applicants for these licences would not waste money on planning or converting such premises?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:

It is correct that as a general rule licences are not issued for laundries and food factories if a school is already regis- tered in a part of the premises, because of objections raised by the Labour Department or the Fire Services Department on the grounds of fire and other hazards. The Urban Services Department is anxious that money should not be wasted on unsuitable premises, and in the book- lets issued to applicants for licences they are advised to spend no money on alterations, repairs, or decorations to premises until their application has been approved.

In the booklets no specific reference is made to schools, and I agree with you, Sir, that as the objection in such cases is general, it would be a good idea to draw attention to the fact in the booklets. Following receipt of your ques- tion this has been put in hand.

DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, does this sort of objection apply to, say, an application for running a restaurant or cafe?

CHAIRMAN:-I understand that the objections of the Labour Department and Fire Services Department relate to fire hazards, or heavy machinery which might shake the building, and I presume that in certain cases food factories are involved, in other cases different kinds of factories.

DR. LEE:---The reason why I ask this question, Mr. Chairman, is that, in my own personal opinion, a lot of applications come from people who apply for premises to be altered as restaurants or cafes,

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