f312
Page 135 of 312
246
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
the actual sign itself is, I understand, under the jurisdiction of the Urban Council.
DR. Woo:-But when the licensee sent the plans to the Public Works Department, did he mention this neon sign for the building?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-The Public Works Department are in no way concerned with neon signs, except with the structural aspect of the building. If the sign is approved by the Urban Council we will consider whether it is sufficiently strong.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, do these provisions allow for a charge to be made on signs that are to be put up on buildings or over the roads, as many of them do project tremendously over public thorough-fares?
CHAIRMAN:-Powers exist now, I believe, for the Council to prescribe fees for advertisements, but I do not think the fees have, in fact, ever been prescribed.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, do you recall that the last time this matter was discussed in public in this Council, I advanced the suggestion that fees should in fact be charged on advertisements as perhaps the only way of exercising proper control over their dimensions and their locations?
MR. BERNACCHI: -Mr. Chairman, do I take the supplementary questions and answers between Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in and yourself to mean that Mr. CHEUNG's committee-the Cemeteries Select Committee, think that the advertisement of a funeral parlour in such a big form is not spoiling the look of the landscape but is inappropriate? Now, does the Urban Council have jurisdiction over that kind of advertisement or not?
MR. CHEUNG: Mr. Chairman, if I may say so, I have gone into the legal aspects of the problem and I understand that the Urban Council has jurisdiction, provided they have by-laws to exercise their authority but at the moment there are no new by-laws regarding this aspect of advertisements and so our hands are tied. We have jurisdiction, but then we have to make by-laws to enforce our rights.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Taking Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in's words to be true and, as he is a lawyer and has gone into it, I am sure that they are true; surely the delay is on our part and I suggest that the advertisement section of the Urban Amenities Select Committee be formed into a separate select committee and empowered to get on with these new Advertisements By-laws.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I clarify the position? The Urban Amenities Select Committee has expressed some very clear views on this subject. The matter has been in the hands of the Department for some considerable time. That is, to the best of my knowledge, the position as it is. The delay does not arise because of any procrastination on the part of the Unofficial Members. My colleagues have never been known to procrastinate on anything at all; rather, the delay rests with the Department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in regard to the specific matter raised by Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in concerning this particular funeral parlour neon sign, could this be referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee?
CHAIRMAN: -Yes, Sir. I would like to agree with Mr. SALES in his disclaimer for responsibility on the part of the Select Committee. It is in fact the case that the drafting of these by-laws has been with the Department for a considerable time and I can only claim that the difficulty has been one of priorities. We are anxious to proceed with the matter and I will now ensure that some stimulation is applied. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, do I take it that Mr. BERNACCHI will accept that position, so that the honour of my Select Committee is saved in consequence? (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI:-Yes, indeed. As I have spoken on this matter, I would like to make a disclosure, not anything to do with the answer or the question, but I have been consulted in a professional capacity about certain advertisements and I saw the Solicitor-General on one occasion. That is entirely separate from the matter under discussion to-day but I think for the purpose of record I should make this disclosure.
(16) DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:
The kitchens and food-preparation rooms of some of the local restaurants, which number over 2,000, are in very deteriorated conditions, and in fact during the cholera epidemic this year, several cases of cholera were traced to one of the restaurants which was subsequently closed for 16 days, while cases of food poisoning as a result of unhygienic handling of food in restaurants were also reported. In view of this, would the Chairman consider forming a special team of Inspectorate whose duty is not to be concerned with prosecution proceedings, but to conduct food-hygiene courses to the food-handlers in the restaurants, and to supervise the day to day health
Page 135
Page 136
1312
f312
Page 135 of 312
246
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
the actual sign itself is, I understand, under the jurisdiction of the Urban Council.
DR. Woo:-But when the licensee sent the plans to the Public Works Department, did he mention this neon sign for the building?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-The Public Works Department are in no way concerned with neon signs, except with the structural aspect of the building. If the sign is approved by the Urban Council we will consider whether it is sufficiently strong.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, do these provisions allow for a charge to be made on signs that are to be put up on buildings or over the roads, as many of them do project tremendously over public thorough- fares?
CHAIRMAN:-Powers exist now, I believe, for the Council to prescribe fees for advertisements, but I do not think the fees have, in fact, ever been prescribed.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, do you recall that the last time this matter was discussed in public in this Council, I advanced the sugges- tion that fees should in fact be charged on advertisements as perhaps the only way of exercising proper control over their dimensions and their locations?
MR. BERNACCHI :---Mr. Chairman, do I take the supplementary questions and answers between Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in and yourself to mean that Mr. CHEUNG's committee-the Cemeteries Select Committee, think that the advertisement of a funeral parlour in such a big form is not spoiling the look of the landscape but is inappropriate? Now, does the Urban Council have jurisdiction over that kind of advertise- ment or not?
MR. CHEUNG: Mr. Chairman, if I may say so, I have gone into the legal aspects of the problem and I understand that the Urban Council has jurisdiction, provided they have by-laws to exercise their authority but at the moment there are no new by-laws regarding this aspect of advertisements and so our hands are tied. We have juris- diction, but then we have to make by-laws to enforce our rights.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Taking Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in's words to be true and, as he is a lawyer and has gone into it, I am sure that they are true; surely the delay is on our part and I suggest that the advertise- ment section of the Urban Amenities Select Committee be formed into a separate select committee and empowered to get on with these new Advertisements By-laws.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I clarify the position? The Urban Amenities Select Committee has expressed some very clear views
?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
247
on this subject. The matter has been in the hands of the Department for some considerable time. That is, to the best of my knowledge, the position as it is. The delay does not arise because of any procras- tination on the part of the Unofficial Members. My colleagues have never been known to procrastinate on anything at all; rather, the delay rests with the Department.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in regard to the specific matter raised by Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in concerning this particular funeral parlour neon sign, could this be referred to the Urban Amenities Select Committee?
CHAIRMAN: -Yes, Sir. I would like to agree with Mr. SALES in his disclaimer for responsibility on the part of the Select Committee. It is in fact the case that the drafting of these by-laws has been with the Department for a considerable time and I can only claim that the difficulty has been one of priorities. We are anxious to proceed with the matter and I will now ensure that some stimulation is applied. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, do I take it that Mr. BERNACCHI will accept that position, so that the honour of my Select Committee is saved in consequence? (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI:-Yes, indeed. As I have spoken on this matter, I would like to make a disclosure, not anything to do with the answer or the question, but I have been consulted in a professional capacity about certain advertisements and I saw the Solicitor-General on one occasion. That is entirely separate from the matter under discussion to-day but I think for the purpose of record I should make this disclosure.
(16) DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:·
The kitchens and food-preparation rooms of some of the local restaurants, which number over 2,000, are in very deteriorated conditions, and in fact during the cholera epidemic this year, several cases of cholera were traced to one of the restaurants which was subsequently closed for 16 days, while cases of food poisoning as a result of unhygienic handling of food in restaurants were also reported. In view of this, would the Chairman consider forming a special team of Inspectorate whose duty is not to be concerned with prosecution proceedings, but to conduct food-hygiene courses to the food-handlers in the restaurants, and to supervise the day to day health
Page 135Page 136
1312
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.