1964 — Page 46

-

T

Page 46 of 312

70

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

clothing thus creating an unsightly appearance in these roads?

What steps does the Chairman propose to take to remedy the

situation?

THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:

Sir, I cannot find anything in the legislation which would allow this Council to stop such use of these fences. But I agree that such use is very unsightly, and I think that it could even be dangerous to persons or to traffic in circumstances where the view is blocked. In such cases an offender could, I think, be prosecuted by the Police under Section 3(4) of the Summary Offences Ordinance.

While I fear that there is little that the department can do to remedy the situation, I would be prepared to refer the matter to the appropriate Select Committee for further consideration, if you so wish.

MR. CHEUNG:-Mr. Chairman, would you also kindly refer the matter to the Police under the relevant section of the Summary Offences Ordinance?

CHAIRMAN: -Sir, the matter has already been referred to the Police. I have been advised that prosecution could possibly be under- taken in cases where an obstruction to view is likely to cause an accident.

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, why has it been referred to the Police before consulting the appropriate Select Committee, because there may be a contrary view on this subject? I view it, and I trust that my colleague will likewise regard it in the same light, as a service which a benevolent Government ever conscious and mindful of the needs of the taxpayer is offering to the public-a central fence on which the public can sun their clothes and otherwise dispose of their laundry.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask Mr. SALES, through you, whether he is proposing that the Ordinance be amended?

MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, in all seriousness, the Select Com- mittee has under consideration the planting of flowering shrubs along these fences in order to embellish them, so that the clothes can be hung in a better setting. (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, may I ask, through you, whether the Chairman of the appropriate Select Committee would put forward a suggestion, to make it more practical, that there be a free provision of clothes pegs and clothes lines as well?

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. CHEUNG WING-IN asked the following question :-

71

It was stated in the newspapers on 27th April, 1964 that 58 children were taken to hospital with food poisoning from eating ice cream sold by an unlicensed hawker near Kow- loon City.

Will the Chairman state whether an investigation has been made into this incident and, if so, what is the result of such investigation?

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

The incident was thoroughly investigated and it appeared that the victims had bought and eaten popsicles from a hawker who made them himself in his squatter hut. A sample of ice cream which was left over was tested and found to be heavily contaminated. Police investigation is continuing and legal action will be taken if it is appropriate. Details will be given as soon as possible to the Food and Food Premises Select Committee.

MR. CHEUNG-Mr. Chairman, I understand from some of the papers that this particular hawker has been hawking in the area for the last 14 years. Is there any reason why he could not have been detected by the staff of the Urban Services Department?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: --Until this hawker is found, Sir, I do not think we can accept the press state- ment.

MR. BERNACCHI:-As a matter of interest to the Hawkers Select Committee, is the hawker in question licensed or unlicensed?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-Un- licensed.

MR. SALES: -The honour of the Select Committee has been saved. (Laughter).

MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:

(a) When land is granted to civic bodies for use as children's playgrounds, is there any regulation to prevent those bodies using the land for profit-making ventures such as theatres?