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MR. BERNACCHI:- Of course Mrs. ELLIOTT when you come to irregularities, it is easy enough for a member, a dishonest member of the Urban Services Department when he appreciates the goodness of the site to say to the applicant "Oh, but somebody has already applied". Whereas, of course, a ballot obliterates that temptation because the ballot means that everyone gets an even chance.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- In that case Mr. Chairman would the person saying "Somebody else applied first" not have to produce the letter and the envelope?
MR. BERNACCHI:- Not to the applicant of course, but certainly Mrs. ELLIOTT your suggestion will be considered by the Hawkers Select Committee; and the suggestion really is not to go by the points system that is being introduced but to go by "first come, first served" in every case.
(19) DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, I don't think there's any need for me to ask Question 19 which stands in my name on the Order Paper. It's out of date.
(20) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:-
What progress has been made in improving access to the Diamond Hill Crematorium, its general appearance and the facilities which are available there for members of the public? Is the Chairman satisfied that the staff of the Crematorium are competent, that they are at all times helpful to the public and that the Crematorium is efficiently organized? Could the Council also be advised on the progress of the project for reprovisioning this Crematorium as Members will recall that the Standing Committee agreed in June last that there was an urgent need for a new and modern crematorium in Kowloon and that this project should be upgraded to Category B of the Public Works Programme.
MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK, CHAIRMAN OF THE CEMETERIES, CREMATORIA AND FUNERAL PARLOURS SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows:
This question concerns the Diamond Hill Crematorium. This part of north-east Kowloon has been under development for some time, including the Hammer Hill Road leading to the Crematorium. The development, naturally, has detracted very considerably from the appearance of the area.
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I understand however that a contract has just been let to complete the outstanding work on the road. This means that, within the next 4 months, the whole of the new road ought to be ready between Choi Hung and the Crematorium.
As regards general appearance, I have always been most impressed by the strenuous efforts of the staff to maintain the tidiness, dignity and greenness of the Crematorium grounds. There is nothing wrong with the facilities of the Crematorium, barring the fact that they are too small. It was for this reason that an item was inserted some time ago in the Public Works Programme for the construction of a new enlarged crematorium comparable in every way with the Cape Collinson one on a site close to the existing one. This project is still in Category C but a request was made some weeks ago for its upgrading to Category B. The request has first to be considered by the Building Priorities Committee before upgrading can be recommended by Public Works Sub-Committee. Here we come up against difficulties. The Building Priorities Committee is not due to meet till October. I have asked if the papers can be circulated to members of that Committee so that the matter may be settled earlier. However even this delay means that we miss the review this month of the Public Works Programme by Public Works Sub-Committee which is not due to meet again till December. I am hoping that upgrading can be approved without waiting till then.
There is little point in my saying that I am satisfied that the staff of the Crematorium are competent, that they are at all times helpful to the public and that the Crematorium is efficiently organized if Dr. BELL is going to draw attention to some specific case of which I have no detailed knowledge. I will, therefore, be grateful if she could send full details of any complaint she may have received to the Secretary so that I can have the matter looked into.
DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, my first supplementary question is why did we miss the bus? Why, if we asked this in June of last year, did we wait until only a few weeks ago so that we are now going to miss the Building Priority Sub-Committee?
CHAIRMAN:- This is a new matter Dr. BELL and I will look into it, I haven't the answer offhand.
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MR. BERNACCHI:-Of course Mrs. ELLIOTT when you come to irregularities, it is easy enough for a member, a dishonest member of the Urban Services Department when he appreciates the goodness of the site to say to the applicant "Oh, but somebody has already applied". Whereas, of course, a ballot obliterates that temptation because the ballot means that everyone gets an even chance.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-In that case Mr. Chairman would the person saying "Somebody else applied first" not have to produce the letter and the envelope?
MR. BERNACCHI: --Not to the applicant of course, but certainly Mrs. ELLIOTT your suggestion will be considered by the Hawkers Select Com- mittee; and the suggestion really is not to go by the points system that, is being introduced but to go by "first come, first served" in every case.
(19) DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I don't think there's any need for me to ask Question 19 which stands in my name on the Order Paper. It's out of date.
(20) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:-
What progress has been made in improving access to the Diamond Hill Crematorium, its general appearance and the facilities which are available there for members of the public? Is the Chairman satisfied that the staff of the Crematorium are competent, that they are at all times helpful to the public and that the Crematorium is efficient- ly organized? Could the Council also be advised on the progress of the project for reprovisioning this Crem- atorium as Members will recall that the Standing Committee agreed in June last that there was an urgent need for a new and modern crematorium in Kowloon and that this project should be upgraded to Category B of the Public Works Programme.
www.
MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK, CHAIRMAN OF THE CEMETERIES, CREMATORIA AND FUNERAL PARLOURS SELECT COMMITTEE replied as follows:
This question concerns the Diamond Hill Crematorium. This part of north-east Kowloon has been under development for some time, including the Hammer Hill Road leading to the Crematorium. The development, naturally, has
area.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
97
detracted very considerably from the appearance of the I understand however that a contract has just been let to complete the outstanding work on the road. This means that, within the next 4 months, the whole of the new road ought to be ready between Choi Hung and the Crematorium.
As regards general appearance, I have always been most im- pressed by the strenuous efforts of the staff to maintain the tidiness, dignity and greenness of the Crematorium grounds. There is nothing wrong with the facilities of the Crematorium, barring the fact that they are too small. It was for this reason that an item was inserted some time ago in the Public Works Programme for the construction of a new enlarged crematorium comparable in every way with the Cape Collinson one on a site close to the existing one. This project is still in Category C but a request was made some weeks ago for its upgrading to Category B. The request has first to be considered by the Building Priorities Committee before upgrading can be recommend- ed by Public Works Sub-Committee. Here we come up against difficulties. The Building Priorities Committee is not due to meet till October. I have asked if the papers can be circulated to members of that Committee so that the matter may be settled earlier. However even this delay means that we miss the review this month of the Public Works Programme by Public Works Sub-Com- mittee which is not due to meet again till December. I am hoping that upgrading can be approved without waiting till then.
There is little point in my saying that I am satisfied that the staff of the Crematorium are competent, that they are at all times helpful to the public and that the Crematorium is efficiently organized if Dr. BELL is going to draw atten- tion to some specific case of which I have no detailed knowledge. I will, therefore, be grateful if she could send full details of any complaint she may have received to the Secretary so that I can have the matter looked into.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, my first supplementary question is why did we miss the bus? Why, if we asked this in June of last year, did we wait until only a few weeks ago so that we are now going to miss the Building Priority Sub-Committee?
CHAIRMAN:-This is a new matter Dr. BELL and I will look into it,
I haven't the answer offhand.
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