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the Education Department should be placed under our control and responsibility? (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI :--I second that. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask Mr. SALES, through you, whether this has not been his own intention all along?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I think frankly that education in this Colony would make far greater progress if it were put under the responsibility of this Council.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in view of that devastating answer, I do not think I would like to ask any more supplementaries.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
(a) Item 33 of the Urban Council's Statement of Aims of 1964 calls upon the Council:
"To make recommendations to Government that there be a gradual enlargement of the Council's scope and for its representation on various other public bodies.”
(b) Will the Chairman agree to refer to the Committee of the Whole the question of appointing an ad hoc committee for the purpose of implementing Item 33?
(c) Will the Chairman agree to put this matter on the agenda of the Committee of the Whole meeting which will be held immediately after the May meeting of Council?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :
Sir, the answer to parts (b) and (c) of your question is 'Yes'.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, for the record, as a member of the Standing Orders Select Committee, may I suggest that the question be amended so that reference is made to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. The Committee of the Whole does not exist under Standing Orders. It is only a technical device for the Standing Committee of the Whole Council to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole. That is on a point of order. (Pause). Mr. Chairman, you need not search the books because I was a member of the committee which revised the Standing Orders and brought them up-to-date.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI:-Before asking the next question standing in my name on the Order Paper, I would again exercise my right to make a personal statement that I asked this question in writing of the
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Commissioner for Resettlement. It is down on the Order Paper as of the Chairman and the answer is to be given by the Vice-Chairman. But I am content to ask it of the Vice-Chairman if he is the one that is the appropriate authority in these matters.
MR. BERNACCHI's question is as follows:-
(i) In the squatter area at Yau Yat Tsuen between Tai Hang Tung Resettlement Estate and Begonia Avenue, are you aware that the public lavatories, i.e., 2 male and 2 female approximately, are persistently over-flowing into the actual squatter area, the contents coming out under the wooden walls of the lavatory huts?
(ii) Are you aware that already flies, bluebottles and other insects are infesting the squatter huts around these lavatories, presumably breeding in the conditions of the public lavatories?
(iii) What measures will be taken to improve the conditions before the onset of the really hot weather?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
There are now 32 temporary latrine compartments at five separate locations serving the squatters of this area. The latrine pails are emptied every night and a labourer cleans the compartments during the day. In addition, a departmental team, consisting of 1 ganger and 2 labourers, visits the area once a week to control fly breeding. Unfortunately, in this, as in other squatter areas, not everyone chooses to use the latrines, and when the latrines are used, they are not always used with care. A recent Resettlement screening of this area shows a population which has grown to 8,000, of whom 2,700 will be cleared between 14th May and the end of July. It is proposed that two of the latrines affected by the clearance be resited and, if necessary, enlarged.
In view of the large increase in population the whole question of the adequacy of provision of latrines in this and other areas is being re-examined. In the meantime improvements are now being made to two latrines by the construction of sumps to collect any foul matter which may overflow into the channels surrounding the site. Cement work has been repaired at one latrine. Anti-fly gauze covering the ventilation openings has been replaced where defective and creosote applied to all the latrine structures.
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Page 42 of 312
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the Education Department should be placed under our control and responsibility? (Laughter).
MR. BERNACCHI :---I second that. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask Mr. SALES, through you, whether this has not been his own intention all along?
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I think frankly that education in this Colony would make far greater progress if it were put under the re- sponsibility of this Council.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in view of that devastating I do not think I would like to ask any more supplementaries.
answer,
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
(a) Item 33 of the Urban Council's Statement of Aims of 1964
calls upon the Council:
"To make recommendations to Government that there be a gradual enlargement of the Council's scope and for its representation on various other public bodies.”
(b) Will the Chairman agree to refer to the Committee of the Whole the question of appointing an ad hoc committee for the purpose of implementing Item 33?
(c) Will the Chairman agree to put this matter on the agenda of the Committee of the Whole meeting which will be held immediately after the May meeting of Council?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :·
Sir, the answer to parts (b) and (c) of your question is 'Yes'. MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, for the record, as a member of the Standing Orders Select Committee, may I suggest that the question be amended so that reference is made to the Standing Committee of the Whole Council. The Committee of the Whole does not exist under Standing Orders. It is only a technical device for the Standing Committee of the Whole Council to resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole. That is on a point of order. (Pause). Mr. Chairman, you need not search the books because I was a member of the committee which revised the Standing Orders and brought them up-to-date.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI:-Before asking the next question standing in my name on the Order Paper, I would again exercise my right to make a personal statement that I asked this question in writing of the
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
63
Commissioner for Resettlement. It is down on the Order Paper as of the Chairman and the answer is to be given by the Vice-Chairman. But I am content to ask it of the Vice-Chairman if he is the one that is the appropriate authority in these matters.
MR. BERNACCHr's question is as follows:-
(i) In the squatter area at Yau Yat Tsuen between Tai Hang Tung Resettlement Estate and Begonia Avenue, are you aware that the public lavatories, i.e., 2 male and 2 female approximately, are persistently over-flowing into the actual squatter area, the contents coming out under the wooden walls of the lavatory huts?
(ii) Are you aware that already flies, bluebottles and other insects are infesting the squatter huts around these lava- tories, presumably breeding in the conditions of the public lavatories?
(iii) What measures will be taken to improve the conditions
before the onset of the really hot weather?
THE DEPUTY Director of MedICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
There are now 32 temporary latrine compartments at five separate locations serving the squatters of this area. The latrine pails are emptied every night and a labourer cleans the compartments during the day. In addition, a depart- mental team, consisting of 1 ganger and 2 labourers, visits the area once a week to control fly breeding. Unfortu- nately, in this, as in other squatter areas, not everyone chooses to use the latrines, and when the latrines are used, they are not always used with care. A recent Resettle- ment screening of this area shows a population which has grown to 8,000, of whom 2,700 will be cleared between 14th May and the end of July. It is proposed that two of the latrines affected by the clearance be resited and, if necessary, enlarged.
In view of the large increase in population the whole question of the adequacy of provision of latrines in this and other areas is being re-examined. In the meantime improve- ments are now being made to two latrines by the con- struction of sumps to collect any foul matter which may overflow into the channels surrounding the site. Cement work has been repaired at one latrine. Anti-fly gauze covering the ventilation openings has been replaced where defective and creosote applied to all the latrine structures.
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