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worthwhile; there is a better appreciation of responsibilities regarding restaurant sanitation and food hygiene and also of the economic value of clean catering. While welcoming the proposal that more comprehensive courses should now be offered, I feel that, for the present, we should first strive to achieve our aim of training at least one representative from every eating place in the urban area. I do agree, however, that improvements in the content of the courses must be constantly sought and I will arrange for the inclusion in the present courses of additional instruction in the legal requirements relating to this subject.
MR. FUNG: Mr. Chairman, I am glad to learn that efforts are being made to encourage the participation of those managements who have so far not made use of this opportunity. May I ask the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services, through you, Mr. Chairman, as to what measures are actually being taken? Perhaps a paper could be issued for the information of Members if the matter is too complicated.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: I can say that a letter has been sent to all these restaurants.
MR. FUNG: Is that the only way to try to encourage them?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: At the moment, yes.
MR. FUNG: May I suggest that this question be referred to the Food and Food Premises Select Committee for further consideration.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: Yes, Sir.
MR. FUNG: Thank you.
INTERIM REPORT BY THE STANDING ORDERS AND PROCEDURE SELECT COMMITTEE.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, I would, with your consent, like to refer back to the paper that has been laid on the table---the Interim Report by the Standing Orders and Procedure Select Committee. I would like to draw Members' particular attention to paragraph 2 because it is not in any way to be considered as a final report. As is said in paragraph 2 it may well be that our final report will recommend a totally different system for the franchise. This interim report has therefore been prepared with a view to at least some enlargement of the electorate being effected before the Urban Council elections in March 1965. We have been guided particularly by the Commissioner of Registration and our recommendations are in accordance with his view as to the capability of his Department for effecting these amendments should he be so directed by Government. Our recommendations would increase the number of eligible voters, automatically registered, by 5,560, that is at page 3 of the report, but in paragraphs 10 and 11 of the report we also recommend a further extension to the electorate of 6,546 persons whom we recommend be automatically registered, so the total number is approximately 12,000 more voters, quite apart from the Jury List, for the 1965 elections. In a way, I am sorry that automatic registration cannot be achieved for the March 1965 elections for the three large groups, the Civil Servants, the Teachers, and the Auxiliary Services. That is referred to in paragraphs 8 and 9 of the report, but nevertheless they are free and should be encouraged to register themselves during this month and the month of August and they will thereby be automatically put on the Register of Voters but unfortunately for the March 1965 elections they must take the initiative themselves and register themselves. However, for the first time, I think the Commissioner of Registration has sent out letters to the heads of Government departments, all the headmasters and the heads of the Auxiliary Services, asking them to bring to the attention of those under them, their rights to seek registration. I hope that those letters will have the effect of increasing very considerably the number of applications to be registered in this month and next month and therefore again increase the Electoral Roll in March 1965.
I would again draw attention to paragraph 2 of the report and the Introductory which quotes the motion "and that their report be laid on the table for discussion at a future meeting of Council." Now, I know this is only an interim report, but I can but assume that as no one has yet spoken on this report, it is acceptable to this Council as a whole and it will now be forwarded to Government as the interim recommendations of the Urban Council dealing with, and in order to improve the turn-out at the March 1965 elections.
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MOTION.
THE CHAIRMAN moved the following motion:
RESOLVED, under section 59 of the Urban Council Ordinance, No. 14 of 1955 that the list of Select Committees appointed by resolution of the Council dated 7th April, 1964 be amended by the addition thereto of the name of Mr. Solomon RAFEEK as a member of the following Select Committees--
Environmental Hygiene Select Committee.
Hawkers Select Committee.
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worthwhile; there is a better appreciation of responsi- bilities regarding restaurant sanitation and food hygiene and also of the economic value of clean catering. While welcoming the proposal that more comprehensive courses should now be offered, I feel that, for the present, we should first strive to achieve our aim of training at least one representative from every eating place in the urban area. I do agree, however, that improvements in the content of the courses must be constantly sought and I will arrange for the inclusion in the present courses of additional instruction in the legal requirements relating to this subject.
MR. FUNG: Mr. Chairman, I am glad to learn that efforts are being made to encourage the participation of those managements who have so far not made use of this opportunity. May I ask the Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services, through you, Mr. Chairman, as to what measures are actually being taken? Perhaps a paper could be issued for the information of Members if the matter is too complicated.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I can say that a letter has been sent to all these restaurants.
MR. FUNG: Is that the only way to try to encourage them? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH Services:-At the moment, yes.
MR. FUNG:-May I suggest that this question be referred to the Food and Food Premises Select Committee for further consideration. DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-Yes, Sir.
MR. FUNG:-Thank you.
INTERIM REPORT BY THE STANDING ORDERS AND PROCEDURE SELECT COMMITTEE.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, I would, with your con- sent, like to refer back to the paper that has been laid on the table--- the Interim Report by the Standing Orders and Procedure Select Com- mittee. I would like to draw Members' particular attention to paragraph 2 because it is not in any way to be considered as a final report. As is said in paragraph 2 it may well be that our final report will recommend a totally different system for the franchise. This interim report has therefore been prepared with a view to at least some enlargement of the electorate being effected before the Urban Council
:
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175
elections in March 1965. We have been guided particularly by the Commissioner of Registration and our recommendations are in accord- ance with his view as to the capability of his Department for effecting these amendments should he be so directed by Government. Our recommendations would increase the number of eligible voters, automa- tically registered, by 5,560, that is at page 3 of the report, but in paragraphs 10 and 11 of the report we also recommend a further extension to the electorate of 6,546 persons whom we recommend be automatically registered, so the total number is approximately 12,000 more voters, quite apart from the Jury List, for the 1965 elections. In a way, I am sorry that automatic registration cannot be achieved for the March 1965 elections for the three large groups, the Civil Servants, the Teachers, and the Auxiliary Services. That is referred to in paragraphs 8 and 9 of the report, but nevertheless they are free and should be encouraged to register themselves during this month and the month of August and they will thereby be automatically put on the Register of Voters but unfortunately for the March 1965 elections they must take the initiative themselves and register themselves. However, for the first time, I think the Commissioner of Registration has sent out letters to the heads of Government departments, all the headmasters and the heads of the Auxiliary Services, asking them to bring to the attention of those under them, their rights to seek registra- tion. I hope that those letters will have the effect of increasing very considerably the number of applications to be registered in this month and next month and therefore again increase the Electoral Roll in March 1965.
I would again draw attention to paragraph 2 of the report and the Introductory which quotes the motion "and that their report be laid on the table for discussion at a future meeting of Council." Now, I know this is only an interim report, but I can but assume that as no one has yet spoken on this report, it is acceptable to this Council as a whole and it will now be forwarded to Government as the interim recommendations of the Urban Council dealing with, and in order to improve the turn-out at the March 1965 elections.
MOTION.
THE CHAIRMAN moved the following motion :
RESOLVED, under section 59 of the Urban Council Ordin- ance, No. 14 of 1955 that the list of Select Committees appointed by resolution of the Council dated 7th April, 1964 be amended by the addition thereto of the name of Mr. Solomon RAFEEK as a member of the following Select Committees--
Environmental Hygiene Select Committee. Hawkers Select Committee.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.