1966 — Page 182

of 279

Page 182 of 279

338

# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

mention that we have the full co-operation of the Secretary of this Council.

Another procedure which has been instituted is that every rejection will bear the signature or initial of the Delegated Member as well as every approval. This new procedure should be effective in eliminating malpractices.

I am aware that a number of restaurants have been operating without a licence and that minor fines imposed on them are insufficient to deter them from constantly breaking the food laws. The Committee will now go into the matter of these unlicensed restaurants.

We are thinking of severe measures for those people who habitually flout the food regulations and who may be a menace to public health.

While the system could solve half of the problems, the continuous training and guidance of Health Inspectors is essential for the proper application and observance of the Food By-laws without the by-product of malpractices.

I would urge the institution of continuous training and indoctrination of our own Health Inspectors as well as the training courses which we are holding for food handlers who consist of cooks, waiters and supervisors.

## Environmental Hygiene:

In previous years I mentioned 5 streets in Hong Kong and 5 streets in Kowloon which required special attention in cleaning. I am not going to pinpoint them again this year other than to say that a recent inspection showed that they were better than last year.

I would like to comment on our first mechanical sweeper, and this I do with apologies to the Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, as I received the exact and relevant figures after the last meeting. Evidently the mechanical sweeper was out of commission 106 days out of the first 293 days or 36% of the time. Eighteen days as the result of accidents, 15 days on weekly inspection, 35 days on repairs, 31 days on replacing brushes and 7 days on waiting for spare parts.

As you know, I would be the last one to discourage mechanical sweepers, but if the record of the second sweeper turns out anything like the first one, I would rely on our own good old labour, i.e., manpower.

In 1962, Mr. Li Yiu-bor spoke about pornographic literature and ended up by saying, "Keep the City Clean Physically and Morally." How this was linked with the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee on Boarding Houses, I fail to trace. However, an Ad Hoc Committee on Boarding Houses was created and I remember serving as a member and making an Ad Hoc Committee report which was submitted to other departments of Government.

339

# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Boarding Houses, I fail to trace. However, an Ad Hoc Committee on Boarding Houses was created and I remember serving as a member and making an Ad Hoc Committee report which was submitted to other departments of Government.

In the same light I would refer to certain types of barber shops and bath-houses which have sprung up like bamboo shoots in spring time in the Mong Kok, Sham Shui Po and Wan Chai districts. Those who read the minor Chinese newspapers would be shocked to notice the nature of the advertisements. For natural reasons I seldom frequent the barber shops, (Laughter), but it may be more appropriate for those who are endowed with more verdant growth to further the investigation of the matter.

The barber shops need close watching not so much for physical hygiene as for moral hygiene. The people in my ward said they are a menace to the morals of our young people, and for that matter, old people as well. I think this Council should find ways to cope with the situation where houses of this nature are operating under the guise of barber shops.

About two weeks ago, on November 16th, there was a tremendous disturbance of peace in the Central District of Hong Kong which happens to be my ward. The loud noise was traced to the firing of firecrackers almost one hundred feet high at the front entrance of a well-known hotel. I can produce dozens of people in the district who objected to this loud and continuous disturbance of peace from 3.00 p.m. to 3.15 p.m. Evidently, one department of Government had given the approval for the firing of firecrackers in celebration of a certain happy event. I would be the last one to propose the banning of firecrackers as I recall that I was for many happy years a lighter of firecrackers several decades ago. However, I believe the hundred dollar fee is too low for those who have money to burn. (Laughter). If indeed fire-crackers have to be a hundred feet tall, the rate of charges should be proportionate to the height of the firecrackers. In other words, so much per foot. We can certainly use the extra revenue to advantage for social welfare purposes.

With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I have much pleasure in supporting the Statement of Aims for 1967. (Applause).

DR. R. H. S. LEE:-Mr. Chairman, even though its Standing Orders are suspended for the occasion, those who are not familiar with the history and the work of the Urban Council will naturally question the value of this annual conventional debate, because the Council's scope and powers are limited, and that it is a statutory body

Page 182 of 279