1964 — Page 152

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Page 152 of 312`

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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Referring to the point made by Mr. FUNG, Mr. Chairman, do you know whether this is still under careful con- sideration?

CHAIRMAN: -Sir, I can assure you that the question of an allowance was considered in the discussions to which I have referred in reply to Question No. 8, that is, the discussions between officers of the Depart- ment and the Colonial Secretariat.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, did the Urban Services Department put up any specific proposals to Government by way of increased salaries or allowances?

CHAIRMAN: ---No specific proposals were made, except insofar as a petition from a Staff Association, which contained a request for a cer- tain increase, was forwarded to the Colonial Secretary. Otherwise the discussions, as far as the Department has been concerned, have been in general terms, examining the cause of the trouble and emphasizing the need for an early decision.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, the Department having time and time again made representations to Government pointing out that this is a matter for urgent consideration, has Government so far given you any idea when it expects to give you a reply and when it expects to finish considering this very urgent matter?

CHAIRMAN: ---No, Sir. I cannot make a statement regarding any definite assurance.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, since this matter is urgent, would you be prepared to inquire from Government approximately when it will be prepared to give this Council a firm reply?

CHAIRMAN: -I will be glad to do so, Sir.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and if a reply is forthcoming by the next meeting of this Council, may I ask that the reply be tabled at that meeting?

CHAIRMAN:----Yes, Sir.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Thank you.

(10) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-

In view of the present deplorable state of affairs in cleansing operations due to insufficiency of cleansing staff, which might possibly be the focal cause of an epidemic if

remedial measures are not taken urgently, will the Chair- man please inquire from Government whether Government will be prepared to assume full responsibility in case an epidemic breaks out?

THE DEPUTY Director of MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-

There is no doubt that uncleared collections of refuse are potential breeding places for flies and harbourages for vermin. Such conditions, should they continue unabated, certainly constitute a sanitary nuisance and could become a serious hazard to health by contributing to the spread of epidemic disease if the other factors involved in the trans- mission of such diseases were present.

The collection of refuse by the Cleansing Staff of the Urban Services Department-in normal times a task of con- siderable dimensions-has been much hampered by the recent typhoons which have added large amounts of vegetable matter to the usual refuse. Most of this has been removed before decomposition set in, and where it was difficult to remove large collections quickly, the refuse has been treated with chloride of lime pending removal.

I entirely agree that Government should take all the steps it can to prevent and control the occurrence of such un- hygienic conditions, and to do so it is essential that the Cleansing Staff should be brought up to full strength as soon as possible. As you are no doubt aware, Sir, it is Government's responsibility, if and when an epidemic breaks out, to deal with it as expeditiously and effectively as possible.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, I apologise to the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services, in that I could have been more specific in my original question. What I really meant was that by full responsibility was full blame and when I was referring to Government I was referring to Government excluding the Urban Council. (Laughter). Would the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services be good enough to give me an answer? (Laughter).

-I do not

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: think, Sir, you could blame Government for being the cause of an epidemic.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in the context in which my original question was phrased, may I clarify that it is posed and framed in a manner which I think does deserve a fair reply.