Page 318 of 382
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(3) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-
Is the Chairman aware that the Library Select Committee has approved two branch libraries--one for Shau Kei Wan and another for Sham Shui Po? Can he inform this Council as to when they would be ready for use by the public?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
I am aware of the Library Select Committee's recommendations; these were conveyed to Government. The matter is, I understand, still under consideration.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, in view of the popularity of public libraries, I wonder whether you would draw Government's attention to the fact that these libraries were recommended in the Working Party's report? It has been accepted as a matter of fact that we should be guided by that report. I wonder why it takes so long for Government to make up its mind? As far as the Library Select Committee is concerned this decision was made several months ago.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I will if you like, address or have another inquiry addressed to Government. I would point out that the matter was referred to Government at the beginning of December. It is, I think, a fairly important decision to reach, because considerable expenditure is involved. Anyway, I will ask.
DR. LEE: Sir, the Working Party's recommendation is nothing new.
(4) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:
In view of the growing public demand for books will the Chairman inform this Council what is the total vote for the two libraries in the forthcoming year?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Approval has been given to include the same amount as last year, namely $400,000, in the department's draft estimates for 1966-67. In addition, provisional approval has been given to include $15,000 for "other materials", e.g., micro-films and records for the libraries.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, I wonder whether you are aware of the fact that the book provision for Government departmental libraries far exceeds the total vote-libraries vote given to the two public libraries that we run on behalf of Government?
CHAIRMAN:-No Sir.
615
DR. LEE:-Are you aware, Sir, that the total sum allocated for departmental libraries exceeds the sum of $600,000, whereas our vote for the forthcoming year is a meagre $400,000, and this sum is meant to serve the whole public of Hong Kong? I wonder whether you would be good enough to request Government to increase this vote, as we have great difficulty in buying books for the two libraries, both the City Hall and the Kowloon library.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I understand that the matter of revising the figure has been referred to the Library Select Committee again for consideration, and the proposal made recently in a paper issued to the Library Select Committee has yet to be considered. While I am prepared to make known to Government the views you express today, I think that they would be re-inforced if they could be backed by the opinion of the Library Select Committee before they are forwarded.
DR. LEE: I am the Chairman of the Library Select Committee, Mr. Chairman. I have not seen that paper as yet.
(5) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
I understand from a recent press report that commencing January 1966, all of the 110 million cigarette packages produced in the United States each day must by law bear the warning "Caution: Cigarette Smoking may be hazardous to your health" or some similar warning. Can the Chairman of the Health Education Select Committee state whether similar steps are being recommended to the Hong Kong Government in respect of cigarettes sold in Hong Kong?
DR. P. F. Woo, CHAIRMAN OF THE HEALTH EDUCATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
The requirement of such notices has not been made the subject of discussion by the Health Education Select Committee, although it was mentioned at the first meeting of the Committee held last year when the question of smoking was discussed. As the Committee were then uncertain of the attitude of Government, we were not able to make any recommendation to Government in respect of cigarettes sold in Hong Kong.
The Health Education Select Committee is naturally interested in any measures which can be introduced to draw the attention of the public to the hazards of smoking. I am
Page 318 of 382
Page 318 of 382
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(3) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-
Is the Chairman aware that the Library Select Committee has approved two branch libraries--one for Shau Kei Wan and another for Sham Shui Po? Can he inform this Council as to when they would be ready for use by the public?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
I am aware of the Library Select Committee's recommenda- tions; these were conveyed to Government. The matter is, I understand, still under consideration.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, in view of the popularity of public libraries, I wonder whether you would draw Government's attention to the fact that these libraries were recommended in the Working Party's report? It has been accepted as a matter of fact that we should be guided by that report. I wonder why it takes so long for Government to make up its mind? As far as the Library Select Committee is concerned this decision was made several months ago.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I will if you like, address or have another inquiry addressed to Government. I would point out that the matter was referred to Government at the beginning of December. It is, I think, a fairly important decision to reach, because considerable expenditure is involved. Anyway, I will ask.
new.
DR. LEE: Sir, the Working Party's recommendation is nothing
(4) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:
In view of the growing public demand for books will the Chairman inform this Council what is the total vote for the two libraries in the forthcoming year?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Approval has been given to include the same amount as last year, namely $400,000, in the department's draft estimates for 1966-67. In addition, provisional approval has been given to include $15,000 for "other materials", e.g., micro- films and records for the libraries.
DR. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, I wonder whether you are aware of the fact that the book provision for Government departmental libraries far exceeds the total vote-libraries vote given to the two public libraries that we run on behalf of Government?
¡
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN:-No Sir.
615
DR. LEE:-Are you aware, Sir, that the total sum allocated for departmental libraries exceeds the sum of $600,000, whereas our vote for the forthcoming year is a meagre of $400,000, and this sum is meant to serve the whole public of Hong Kong? I wonder whether you would be good enough to request Government to increase this vote, as we have great difficulty in buying books for the two libraries, both the City Hall and the Kowloon library.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I understand that the matter of revising the figure has been referred to the Library Select Committee again for considera- tion, and the proposal made recently in a paper issued to the Library Select Committee has yet to be considered. While I am prepared to make known to Government the views you express today, I think that they would be re-inforced if they could be backed by the opinion of the Library Select Committee before they are forwarded.
DR. LEE: I am the Chairman of the Library Select Committee, Mr. Chairman. I have not seen that paper as yet.
(5) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
I understand from a recent press report that commencing January 1966, all of the 110 million cigarette packages produced in the United States each day must by law bear the warning "Caution: Cigarette Smoking may be hazardous to your health" or some similar warning. Can the Chairman of the Health Education Select Com- mittee state whether similar steps are being recommended to the Hong Kong Government in respect of cigarettes sold in Hong Kong?
DR. P. F. Woo, CHAIRMAN OF THE HEALTH EDUCATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
The requirement of such notices has not been made the subject of discussion by the Health Education Select Committee, although it was mentioned at the first meeting of the Committee held last year when the question of smoking was discussed. As the Committee were then uncertain of the attitude of Government, we were not able to make any recommendation to Government in respect of cigarettes sold in Hong Kong.
The Health Education Select Committee is naturally interested
in any measures which can be introduced to draw the attention of the public to the hazards of smoking. I am
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