1966 — Page 139

of 279

Page 139 of 279

252

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Page 139 of 279

253

toilets in restaurants at night? Are there any labour regulations governing the employment of children in restaurants until such late hours?

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES tabled the following written reply:-

The answer to the first part of the question is that no cases of the employment of children to look after toilets in restaurants have come to the notice of the health inspec- torate recently, either during routine or night inspections. In general, staff are employed to look after toilets only in the larger, better class restaurants, and children have not been found in this occupation.

The answer to the second part of the question is that the Urban Services Department has no official control over However, the employment of children in restaurants. since April 1962, instructions have been issued to the Health Staff to report any instance of obvious misemploy- ment in restaurants of children under the age of 14 years to the Commissioner of Police and the Commissioner of Labour, for their investigation and action if necessary.

In answer to the third part of the question, the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance controls the employ- ment of children in factories but there is no specific labour legislation to govern the employment or working hours of children in restaurants.

(3) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-

Can the Chairman advise what steps are taken to reduce the nuisance of air-conditioners in office buildings in the Central District from persistently dripping water onto members of the public who are passing by?

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES tabled the following written reply:

The estate of affairs mentioned is undoubtedly a nuisance-

though not in any sense a health hazard.

The Health Staff have Standing Instructions to watch out for any such nuisances wherever they may occur and to take action against any that are discovered. When definite cases are found they are dealt with under Section 12 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance: a verbal

warning or letter from the Senior Inspector is first issued, and if this is ignored a Statutory Notice is sent, which may be followed by a summons if necessary.

In the past 12 months, from 1st October, 1965, to 30th September, 1966, 51 such cases in the Central District were found to warrant action. No summonses were necessary in any case.

(4) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question :

(a) In the early half of this year the Commissioner for Resettlement advised this Council that there were over 21,000 children of primary school age in resettlement estates who were unable to go to school despite the fact that there were over 17,000 vacant primary school places in these estates; can the Commissioner for Resettlement advise whether there has been an improvement of the situation, or whether it is worse?

(b) Is the Director of Social Welfare aware that there are wel- fare agencies operating in resettlement estates which assist families to send their children to primary school either by way of scholarships or monthly family subsidies? Can the Director of Social Welfare inquire from these welfare agencies whether they are in a position to expand their present resources so that the approximately 21,000 resettle- ment children of primary school-age who are not going to school can be given a primary education? If the resources of these agencies are insufficient, will the Director of Social Welfare be prepared to seek from Government a special subvention for this purpose?

THE COMMISSIONER FOR RESETTLEMENT tabled the following written reply:-

I regret that it has not been possible to provide the informa- tion requested in the first part of the question in the time available. I shall let Mr. CHEONG-LEEN have a written reply as soon as possible.

2.

As for the second part of the question, the Director of Social Welfare tells me that he is aware that there are agencies that provide assistance towards school expenses for children in resettlement estates. It is believed that some of these agencies may have a limited capacity for further expansion. As regards further action on the lines proposed by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, the Director of Social Welfare has indicated that he will be prepared to see that