HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Before we proceed with the agenda, I would like to welcome Mr. WRIGHT back to the Council after his leave. (Applause).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th October, 1964 were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of October 1964.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st July, 1964 to 30th September, 1964.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st July, 1964 to 30th September, 1964.
QUESTIONS.
(1) Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
(a) Will the Chairman please inquire from the Labour Department how many registered and unregistered factories are located in multi-storey domestic-type buildings in the urban areas?
(b) Can the Chairman indicate how many of these factories are harmful to residents living in the same premises from the public health point of view?
(c) Will the Chairman inquire from Government whether there is any long-term plan to establish industrial estates to which factories in multi-storey domestic-type buildings may be moved, so as to improve public health conditions for residents living in multi-storey buildings and at the same time releasing additional space for domestic accommodation?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
In answer to the first part of the question, I understand that there are 2,246 registered and provisionally registered factories in multi-storey domestic type buildings, most of which factories are situated on the ground floors. A further 3,000 factories, mainly situated on upper floors, are undergoing adaptation to conform with standards required for provisional registration. I am informed that there are in addition many other small workplaces in existence, which are not registrable under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, No. 34 of 1955, and that there are no doubt others which are registrable but whose existence is only brought to the knowledge of the Labour Department on complaint or in the course of inspection.
In answer to the second part of the question, under the Ordinance already mentioned, full registration is granted if the Commissioner of Labour is satisfied that the registrable workplace is suitably located and the undertaking can be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance and Regulations. Provisional registration is granted if the Commissioner is satisfied that although the location is not entirely satisfactory, the undertaking can be carried on with due regard to the safety, health and welfare of persons employed therein and of the public. In circumstances where a serious risk of bodily injury exists, a factory inspector is authorized to apply to a magistrate for an order to render inoperative such parts of the machinery, plant or process involved in the risk by means of locks, seals or other devices. The Commissioner of Labour has advised me that by these and other means, all known hazards are removed from registrable workplaces and special attention is given to those factories operating in domestic-type buildings.
With regard to the third part of the question, the efforts of Government have been mainly directed to those undertakings located in squatter areas, because these factories present the greatest hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the persons employed there and to the public in the vicinity. A total of 816 factories are now operating in resettlement factory buildings and additional buildings are under construction. However, my friend, the Commissioner for Resettlement, wishes me to point out that in addition to undertakings in squatter areas, his department has for some time been resettling an appreciable number of factories located on land held on Crown Land permits. These clearances occur when the land is required for housing or other development and the permits are of course terminated before the clearance takes place. The possibility of re-housing all factories operating in non-
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
Before we proceed with the agenda, I would like to welcome Mr. WRIGHT back to the Council after his leave. (Applause).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6th October, 1964 were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services
Department for the month of October 1964.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st July, 1964 to 30th September, 1964. (3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st July, 1964 to 30th September, 1964.
QUESTIONS.
(1) Mr. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
P
(a) Will the Chairman please inquire from the Labour Depart- ment how many registered and unregistered factories are located in multi-storey domestic-type buildings in the urban areas?
(b) Can the Chairman indicate how many of these factories are harmful to residents living in the same premises from the public health point of view?
(c) Will the Chairman inquire from Government whether there is any long-term plan to establish industrial estates to which factories in multi-storey domestic-type buildings may be moved, so as to improve public health conditions for residents living in multi-storey buildings and at the same time releasing additional space for domestic accom- modation?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
In answer to the first part of the question, I understand that there are 2,246 registered and provisionally registered
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
327
factories in multi-storey domestic type buildings, most of which factories are situated on the ground floors. A fur- ther 3,000 factories, mainly situated on upper floors, are undergoing adaptation to conform with standards required for provisional registration. I am informed that there are in addition many other small workplaces in existence, which are not registrable under the Factories and Indus- trial Undertakings Ordinance, No. 34 of 1955, and that there are no doubt others which are registrable but whose existence is only brought to the knowledge of the Labour Department on complaint or in the course of inspection.
In answer to the second part of the question, under the Ordin- ance already mentioned, full registration is granted if the Commissioner of Labour is satisfied that the registrable workplace is suitably located and the undertaking can be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Ordin- ance and Regulations. Provisional registration is granted if the Commissioner is satisfied that although the location is not entirely satisfactory, the undertaking can be carried on with due regard to the safety, health and welfare of persons employed therein and of the public. In circum- stances where a serious risk of bodily injury exists, a factory inspector is authorized to apply to a magistrate for an order to render inoperative such parts of the machinery, plant or process involved in the risk by means of locks, seals or other devices. The Commissioner of Labour has advised me that by these and other means, all known hazards are removed from registrable workplaces and special attention is given to those factories operating in domestic-type buildings.
With regard to the third part of the question, the efforts of Government have been mainly directed to those under- takings located in squatter areas, because these factories present the greatest hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the persons employed there and to the public in the vicinity. A total of 816 factories are now operating in resettlement factory buildings and additional buildings are under construction. However, my friend, the Commis- sioner for Resettlement, wishes me to point out that in addition to undertakings in squatter areas, his department has for some time been resettling an appreciable number of factories located on land held on Crown Land permits. These clearances occur when the land is required for housing or other development and the permits are of course terminated before the clearance takes place. The possibility of re-housing all factories operating in non-
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