Page 58 of 279
94
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN:-No, Sir, I regret that I cannot.
I have not concentrated upon the squatters and hawkers, because there is as yet no plan to move them.
MR. LI:-Thank you.
(4) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:
Can the Chairman say what steps can be taken in respect of mosquito and sanitary nuisances produced by the ground floor restaurant, and heat and smoke nuisance from an extended restaurant kitchen on the first floor of 45A, Tam Kung Road, Kowloon?
THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:
On the 6th of May, before this question was received, a complaint of similar nuisances was received by Dr. LEE at his Ward Office from residents of the Po Hing Building, 45-63 Tam Kung Road, and was referred to the Urban Services Department for investigation and action.
2.
3.
To deal first with the mosquito and sanitary nuisances: the restaurant in question is situated on the ground floor of Nos. 53 and 55 and the mezzanine floor of Nos. 45-63 Tam Kung Road and is licensed by the Council. When the complaint was received a survey was carried out by departmental staff but neither mosquito breeding places nor sanitary nuisances were found, although there was a certain accumulation of egg shells and other refuse in the back lane. The complainant was contacted in person and she explained that she was not complaining about existing nuisances but, seeing the egg shells and other refuse, feared that they might cause the breeding of mosquitoes. The lane has been cleared of refuse by Cleansing Division staff, and it will be kept under observation.
As regards the complaint of heat and smoke, I should explain that the kitchen referred to is, in fact, a food factory producing meals for consumption off the premises, and is an entirely separate business from that of the restaurant. It is under different management and in possession of a licence from the Council. However, the food factory does, with permission, share the chimney of the licensed restaurant referred to. Since the complaints of heat and smoke were received the coal and kerosene pressure burners formerly used by the food factory have been replaced with butane gas stoves by the voluntary efforts of the licensee, who is also planning to provide an asbestos hood over the stoves to improve conditions further. Recent inquiries of the complainant and other tenants on the second floor of the building have revealed that the heat and smoke nuisances have been considerably reduced, and that the tenants are quite satisfied with the present situation.
A formal inspection of the two establishments concerned made by a Health Officer and other staff on the 18th of May also indicated that conditions were satisfactory.
DR. LEE: Mr. Chairman, may I ask Dr. van de LINDE a supplementary through you? May I know when was the butane gas stove first installed in this kitchen. Was it before my question or after my question?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-Mr. Chairman, I have not got the exact date, but I understand it was after the first complaint was received from the residents on the second floor.
DR. LEE: -You refer to a catering establishment operating on the first floor. May I know what type of licence they applied for from this Council?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: —Mr. Chairman, the food factory possesses a Food Factory Licence for the serving of meals off the premises. The food factory is on the first floor, the restaurant is on the ground and mezzanine floors, and they are, in fact, in a different block. It is a multi-storey building in several blocks. The restaurant is on the front of Tam Kung Road, the factory is up a further staircase which has to be reached by a separate access, and it has a Food Factory Licence for meals being served off the premises.
DR. LEE:--And has this catering firm or establishment got the approval of the Building Authority?
CHAIRMAN: Sir, I must rule this question out of order. It is too far away from the original question.
DR. LEE:--After all, in order to obtain a licence from this Council, the person must obtain the permission of the Building Authority.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, the question concerns mosquito and sanitary nuisances and heat and smoke nuisance.
DR. LEE: Sir, the smoke does come from this food factory.
95
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 59 of 279
1
Page 58 of 279
94
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
CHAIRMAN:-No, Sir, I regret that I cannot.
I have not concen-
trated upon the squatters and hawkers, because there is as yet no plan to move them.
MR. LI:-Thank you.
(4) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:
Can the Chairman say what steps can be taken in respect of mosquito and sanitary nuisances produced by the ground floor restaurant, and heat and smoke nuisance from an extended restaurant kitchen on the first floor of 45A, Tam Kung Road, Kowloon?
THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:
On the 6th of May, before this question was received, a com- plaint of similar nuisances was received by Dr. LEE at his Ward Office from residents of the Po Hing Building, 45-63 Tam Kung Road, and was referred to the Urban Services Department for investigation and action.
2.
3.
To deal first with the mosquito and sanitary nuisances: the restaurant in question is situated on the ground floor of Nos. 53 and 55 and the mezzanine floor of Nos. 45-63 Tam Kung Road and is licensed by the Council. When the complaint was received a survey was carried out by departmental staff but neither mosquito breeding places nor sanitary nuisances were found, although there was a certain accumulation of egg shells and other refuse in the back lane. The complainant was contacted in person and she explained that she was not complaining about existing nuisances but, seeing the egg shells and other refuse, feared that they might cause the breeding of mosquitoes. The lane has been cleared of refuse by Cleansing Division staff, and it will be kept under observation.
As regards the complaint of heat and smoke, I should explain that the kitchen referred to is, in fact, a food factory producing meals for consumption off the premises, and is an entirely separate business from that of the restaurant. It is under different management and in possession of a licence from the Council. However, the food factory does, with permission, share the chimney of the licensed restaurant referred to. Since the complaints of heat and smoke were received the coal and kerosene
4.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
95
pressure burners formerly used by the food factory have been replaced with butane gas stoves by the voluntary efforts of the licensee, who is also planning to provide an asbestos hood over the stoves to improve conditions further. Recent inquiries of the complainant and other tenants on the second floor of the building have revealed that the heat and smoke nuisances have been considerably reduced, and that the tenants are quite satisfied with the present situation.
A formal inspection of the two establishments concerned made by a Health Officer and other staff on the 18th of May also indicated that conditions were satisfactory.
DR. LEE: Mr. Chairman, may I ask Dr. van de LINDE a supple- mentary through you? May I know when was the butane gas stove first installed in this kitchen. Was it before my question or after my question?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-Mr. Chairman, I have not got the exact date, but I understand it was after the first complaint was received from the residents on the second floor.
DR. LEE: -You refer to a catering establishment operating on the first floor. May I know what type of licence they applied for from this Council?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: —Mr. Chairman, the food factory possesses a Food Factory Licence for the serving of meals off the premises. The food factory is on the first floor, the restaurant is on the ground and mezzanine floors, and they are, in fact, in a different block. It is a multi-storey building in several blocks. The restaurant is on the front of Tam Kung Road, the factory is up a further staircase which has to be reached by a separate access, and it has a Food Factory Licence for meals being served off the premises.
DR. LEE:--And has this catering firm or establishment got the approval of the Building Authority?
CHAIRMAN: Sir, I must rule this question out of order. It is too far away from the original question.
DR. LEE:--After all, in order to obtain a licence from this Council, the person must obtain the permission of the Building Authority.
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, the question concerns mosquito and sanitary nuisances and heat and smoke nuisance.
DR. LEE: Sir, the smoke does come from this food factory.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.