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in his capacity as Director of Urban Services be prepared to circularize his staff requesting them to co-operate as much as they can with the Police?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Although the control of gambling is not strictly a function of the cleansing staff, during recent weeks reports have been made on four occasions by members of the Health Inspectorate to various police stations in respect of gambling. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kowloon, recently recorded his appreciation of the action taken in a case that was brought to his attention by a Health Inspector, and requested the assistance of officers of the Urban Services Department in reporting illegal activities such as gambling schools or narcotic offences which they might encounter in the course of their duties. An instruction has now been sent to members of the Health Inspectorate requiring the co-operation of all staff of the hygiene and cleansing divisions, from labourers upwards, in this matter.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN: -Mr. Chairman, what is the difference between gambling schools and mahjong schools, the latter which are operated by the Police under licence. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN: -This was illegal gambling, I understand, being conducted in back lanes, as reported.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN: -Thank you for clarifying with that adjective, Mr. Chairman.
DR. A. M. S. BELL: -Mr. Chairman, would it not be better if the inspectorate reported to you and for you to report to the Police?
CHAIRMAN: -That could be done and will be done in appropriate cases.
DR. A. M. S. BELL: -Thank you very much.
(5) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
I have received complaints from residents living in the more densely congested areas such as Tai Kok Tsui, Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po that many lanes are not only in a filthy state but are breeding grounds for mosquitoes as well. Will the Chairman please state whether the Urban Services Department has a regular schedule to clean up and wash all congested lanes in the urban areas? What is being done to minimize the breeding of mosquitoes in these congested lanes?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:
These lanes are included in the scavenging beats of cleansing labourers, but because of congestion in many of them, cleansing can only be carried out thoroughly by the use of special squads. These squads follow a fixed programme and cover all lanes in this area once in 29 working days. At these times obstructions are removed, drains are cleaned out and the lanes are hosed down. Many of the obstructions removed before the arrival of the special cleansing squad are returned to the site by their owners after the squad has passed.
As a result of the extensive redevelopment of properties in these areas there is a considerable amount of building debris in the lanes, and also trench works for the installation of service mains for gas, electricity and water. Lorries are employed permanently in Kowloon for the removal of illegally dumped debris and the attention of the Roads & Drainage Office is drawn to cases where there is undue delay in the reinstatement of the lane surfaces after the laying of service mains.
Senior staff of the Health Inspectorate recently made an inspection of the lanes in this area but were not able to locate any breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The health staff have been alerted to this problem and to the need to keep the water in drain traps covered with oil.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN: With reference to the last paragraph, Mr. Chairman, which area or areas is the Vice-Chairman referring to?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: -The areas you mention, Sir.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN: -Not all of Kowloon?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: -No, this was a special inspection.
(6) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
A number of tourists who have visited Hong Kong recently have expressed the view that Hong Kong, apart from its numerous shops, is sadly disappointing in that it lacks
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in his capacity as Director of Urban Services be prepared to circularize his staff requesting them to co-operate as much as they can with the Police?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
Although the control of gambling is not strictly a function of the cleansing staff, during recent weeks reports have been made on four occasions by members of the Health Inspectorate to various police stations in respect of gambling. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kow- loon, recently recorded his appreciation of the action taken in a case that was brought to his attention by a Health Inspector, and requested the assistance of officers of the Urban Services Department in reporting illegal activities such as gambling schools or narcotic offences which they might encounter in the course of their duties. An instruction has now been sent to members of the Health Inspectorate requiring the co-operation of all staff of the hygiene and cleansing divisions, from labourers upwards, in this matter.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN: -Mr. Chairman, what is the difference between gambling schools and mahjong schools, the latter which are operated by the Police under licence. (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:-This was illegal gambling, I understand, being con- ducted in back lanes, as reported.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN:-Thank you for clarifying with that adjec- tive, Mr. Chairman.
DR. A. M. S. BELL:--Mr. Chairman, would it not be better if the inspectorate reported to you and for you to report to the Police?
CHAIRMAN:-That could be done and will be done in appropriate
cases.
DR. A. M. S. BELL:-Thank you very much.
(5) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
I have received complaints from residents living in the more densely congested areas such as Tai Kok Tsui, Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po that many lanes are not only in a filthy state but are breeding grounds for mosquitoes as well. Will the Chairman please state whether the Urban Services Department has a regular schedule to clean up and wash
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
111
all congested lanes in the urban areas? What is being done to minimize the breeding of mosquitoes in these congested lanes?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
These lanes are included in the scavenging beats of cleansing labourers, but because of congestion in many of them, cleansing can only be carried out thoroughly by the use of special squads. These squads follow a fixed pro- gramme and cover all lanes in this area once in 29 working days. At these times obstructions are removed, drains are cleaned out and the lanes are hosed down. Many of the obstructions removed before the arrival of the special cleansing squad are returned to the site by their owners after the squad has passed.
As a result of the extensive redevelopment of properties in these areas there is a considerable amount of building debris in the lanes, and also trench works for the installa- tion of service mains for gas, electricity and water. Lorries are employed permanently in Kowloon for the removal of illegally dumped debris and the attention of the Roads & Drainage Office is drawn to cases where there is undue delay in the reinstatement of the lane surfaces after the laying of service mains.
Senior staff of the Health Inspectorate recently made an inspection of the lanes in this area but were not able to locate any breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The health staff have been alerted to this problem and to the need to keep the water in drain traps covered with oil.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN: With reference to the last paragraph, Mr. Chairman, which area or areas is the Vice-Chairman referring to?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-The areas you mention, Sir.
MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN: -Not all of Kowloon?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-No, this was a special inspection.
(6) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
A number of tourist who have visited Hong Kong recently have expressed the view that Hong Kong, apart from its numerous shops, is sadly disappointing in that it lacks
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