HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Commissioner has informed me that this question was discussed a year ago by the Resettlement Management Select Committee, in relation to correspondence with residents of Estates and Cottage Areas. The Committee considered that the volume of correspondence, and the delays which would occur if all letters had to be translated, would necessitate additional staff. It was also pointed out that many of the tenants could not read Chinese, and that the Estate staff could always assist with a verbal translation and explanation. The Committee therefore recommended no change in the existing system.
The Commissioner has said that in his view it is clearly desirable as a general principle, that Chinese who cannot read English should receive letters in Chinese. Where official replies to Chinese correspondents are short and simple, it should be possible for the staff in the Resettlement Department to produce their own Chinese translations without adding to the load of the two Interpreter/Translators. The Commissioner intends therefore to issue instructions that, as a trial measure, all replies to Chinese letters received in his department must in future also carry a Chinese version. If necessary, application will be made for an extra Interpreter/Translator.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, in regard to the Resettlement Department, is there not a prima facie case for the Commissioner to make application to Government for the services of another Interpreter/Translator?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:—I am not satisfied at this stage that it would be necessary to have another Interpreter/Translator, but I will certainly apply for one if it is necessary to do so.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Would the Commissioner be prepared, Mr. Chairman, to give a monthly report of the progress of his proposal to the Resettlement Management Select Committee?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:—Yes, certainly.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Thank you.
(3) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
Will the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services please state whether or not there has been any increase in radioactivity over Hong Kong within the past few weeks? Is it likely that any radioactive dust can fall over Hong Kong during the next few months as a result of any recent nuclear explosion?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:
Daily observations and tests at the Royal Observatory have shown no significant increase in atmospheric radioactivity over Hong Kong within the past few weeks.
It is possible that the radioactivity may increase during future months but meteorological considerations indicate that any increase is unlikely to be as much as that recorded following nuclear explosions on previous occasions.
(4) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
I have received complaints from several residents in Causeway Bay that the temporary parking area behind the Canal Road Market is in a filthy condition, with pools of stagnant water and accumulated rubbish. Will the Chairman please inquire from the Public Works Department whether it has any other plans for the use of this particular site? Also, has the Urban Services Department looked into the possibilities of securing this site for a sitting-out area, or for using it to expand the existing market or hawker bazaar facilities nearby?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
The area referred to forms part of a strip between Canal Road East and Canal Road West which extends from Bowrington Market at the Hennessy Road end to a petrol filling station at the Leighton Road end, and, together with an area in similar state on the other side of the building occupied by the Tramway Company, was formed by the decking of the Bowrington Canal earlier this year to a level somewhat below the previously existing hard-surfaced areas.
Planning for this strip of land as a whole is affected by a number of factors, including the possibility that it may be required for road works at some time in the future. However, discussions have taken place between the Public Works Department and the Urban Services Department on the short-term use of the land and these discussions have, amongst other things, envisaged the possibilities of a
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Commissioner has informed me that this question was discussed a year ago by the Resettlement Management Select Committee, in relation to correspondence with residents of Estates and Cottage Areas. The Committee considered that the volume of correspondence, and the delays which would occur if all letters had to be translated, would necessitate additional staff. If was also pointed out that many of the tenants could not read Chinese, and that the Estate staff could always assist with a verbal translation and explanation. The Committee therefore recommended no change in the existing system.
The Commissioner has said that in his view it is clearly desir- able as a general principle, that Chinese who cannot read English should receive letters in Chinese. Where official replies to Chinese correspondents are short and simple, it should be possible for the staff in the Resettlement Depart- ment to produce their own Chinese translations without adding to the load of the two Interpreter/Translators. The Commissioner intends therefore to issue instructions that, as a trial measure, all replies to Chinese letters received in his department must in future also carry a Chinese version. If necessary, application will be made for an extra Inter- preter/Translator.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in regard to the Resettlement Department, is there not a prima facie case for the Commissioner to make application to Government for the services of another Interpreter/ Translator?
COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT:—I am not satisfied at this stage that it would be necessary to have another Interpreter/Translator, but I will certainly apply for one if it is necessary to do so.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Would the Commissioner be prepared, Mr. Chairman, to give a monthly report of the progress of his proposal to the Resettlement Management Select Committee?
COMMISSIONER for ResettlemeNT:—Yes, certainly.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you.
(3) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:·
Will the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services please state whether or not there has been any increase in radioactivity over Hong Kong within the past few
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331
weeks? Is it likely that any radioactive dust can fall over Hong Kong during the next few months as a result of any recent nuclear explosion?
THE DEPUTY Director of Medical and HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:
Daily observations and tests at the Royal Observatory have shown no significant increase in atmospheric radioactivity over Hong Kong within the past few weeks.
It is possible that the radioactivity may increase during future months but meteorological considerations indicate that any increase is unlikely to be as much as that recorded follow- ing nuclear explosions on previous occasions.
(4) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
I have received complaints from several residents in Causeway Bay that the temporary parking area behind the Canal Road Market is in a filthy condition, with pools of stagnant water and accumulated rubbish. Will the Chairman please inquire from the Public Works Depart- ment whether it has any other plans for the use of this particular site? Also, has the Urban Services Department looked into the possibilities of securing this site for a sitting-out area, or for using it to expand the existing market or hawker bazaar facilities nearby?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The area referred to forms part of a strip between Canal Road East and Canal Road West which extends from Bowring- ton Market at the Hennessy Road end to a petrol filling station at the Leighton Road end, and, together with an area in similar state on the other side of the building occupied by the Tramway Company, was formed by the decking of the Bowrington Canal earlier this year to a level somewhat below the previously existing hard- surfaced areas.
Planning for this strip of land as a whole is affected by a number of factors, including the possibility that it may be required for road works at some time in the future. However discussions have taken place between the Public Works Department and the Urban Services Department on the short-term use of the land and these discussions have amongst other things envisaged the possibilities of a
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