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to emphasize the value of fresh air, sunshine, physical exercise, keeping fit, etc. This will be followed by a "Food Hygiene" campaign during which the danger of food-borne diseases, hygiene of food handlers, storage and protection of food and utensils, will be stressed. In September/October a "Protect Your Child From Infection" campaign will be held. The campaign will cover such subjects as the danger of measles, measles vaccine and proper medical care for measles patients, diphtheria and immunization, maternal and child health centres, etc.
Apart from the campaigns already mentioned the Health Education Select Committee is currently studying the possibility of an Anti-Spitting Campaign. The subject is being studied afresh in conjunction with the Medical and Health Department, Secretariat for Home Affairs and the Information Services Department in order to plan a more dynamic approach which will achieve effective and worthwhile results.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI:- Mr. Chairman, under Standing Order 8(3), I would like to ask Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN, the Chairman of the Policy Select Committee on Hawkers, to clarify the remark that he has just made about officers attending before the magistrates' Courts. I would like to ask whether he means as prosecuting officer or as witnesses, because I think, and indeed I hope, the judiciary would never agree to an informal answering of questions just because they were asked of officers of any department?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, officers of the Hawker Liaison Department were invited by a number of magistrates to attend Court just in case they should be called upon to provide any information regarding the hawker policy of this Council, and to provide any factual information, not in relation to prosecution of any case, but simply to clarify and provide any information that may be required concerning this Council's policy on hawkers.
MR. BERNACCHI:- Of course, Mr. Chairman, there is, I can see, no objection in an officer of this department giving evidence as a witness, if it is material to the case before the Court.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, can I also ask Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN to clarify something? He mentions in his report on hawkers that it was decided that only those able to operate the stalls themselves would be offered hawker licences on compassionate grounds, would he like to clarify whether or not it was also suggested that some other means should be found of helping those who were unable to operate the stalls themselves?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, if I remember correctly when this matter was discussed at the meeting, it was suggested by a Member of the Committee that each individual case could be studied in relation to the circumstances of the welfare case concerned, because whatever assistance could be given to a particular welfare case could vary with circumstances, and I think Mrs. ELLIOTT is quite right in having this point clarified. I believe that the Director of Social Welfare, who was present at the meeting, did appreciate this point.
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MR. D. J. R. BLAKER:- Mr. Chairman, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN said "the magistrates invited". I would hesitate to say that they actually invited. This suggestion arose at a meeting of the sub-committee on by-laws, and my recollection is that in the course of conversation the point emerged that they would find it useful if hawker liaison officers were present so that they could consult them as the occasion arose. I would not quite go so far as to say that they "invited" them to be present. The suggestion appeared to be worthwhile to all participants in the discussion.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, in answer to that, it could be interpreted in the light that Mr. BLAKER has explained it. I am only quoting from memory the gist of the minutes which I was reading over from a particular City District monthly meeting at which some of our hawker liaison personnel were present. However, I think the point is quite clear that the hawker liaison representative who would be present at any magistrate's Court is there only to provide information on our policy.
MR. A. de O. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification. Are we, the Appointed Members, to understand that this statement which Mr. CHEONG-LEEN made as Chairman of the Hawker Policy Select Committee was cleared with all Members of his Committee before it was propounded to this Council? (Laughter). Otherwise, could Mr. CHEONG-LEEN account for the fact that three Members of his Select Committee have stood up, I beg your pardon, two Members of the Select Committee and the past Chairman of that particular Committee, have stood up to clarify points which he made this afternoon?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, I cannot answer in full, but all I do know is that it has been cleared by the Appointed Members.
MR. SALES: That is not so, otherwise I would not have asked that question.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- But to clarify that further, Mr. Chairman, might I point out that I work very closely with the Sub-Committee Chairman on legislation as well as the Chairman of Management Select Committee, and this is why we are achieving results.
MR. SALES: The other two Committees are achieving results, not the Policy Select Committee. (Laughter).
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to emphasize the value of fresh air, sunshine, physical exercise, keeping fit, etc. This will be followed by a "Food Hygiene" campaign during which the danger of food-borne diseases, hygiene of food handlers, storage and protection of food and utensils, will be stressed. In September/October a "Protect Your Child From Infection" campaign will be held. The campaign will cover such subjects as the danger of measles, measles vaccine and proper medical care for measles patients. diptheria and immunization, maternal and child health centres, etc.
Apart from the campaigns already mentioned the Health Education Select Committee is currently studying the possibility of an Anti-Spitting Campaign. The subject is being studied afresh in conjunction with the Medical and Health Department, Secretariat for Home Affairs and the Information Services Department in order to plan a more dynamic approach which will achieve effective and worthwhile results.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, under Standing Order 8(3), I would like to ask Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN, the Chairman of the Policy Select Committee on Hawkers, to clarify the remark that he has just made about officers attending before the magistrates' Courts. I would like to ask whether he means as prosecuting officer or as witnesses, because I think, and indeed I hope, the judiciary would never agree to an informal answering of questions just because they were asked of officers of any department?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, officers of the Hawker Liaison Department were invited by a number of magistrates to attend Court just in case they should be called upon to provide any information regarding the hawker policy of this Council, and to provide any factual information, not in relation to prosecution of any case, but simply to clarify and provide any information that may be required concerning this Council's policy on hawkers.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Of course, Mr. Chairman, there is, I can see, no objection in an officer of this department giving evidence as a witness, if it is material to the case before the Court.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, can I also ask Mr. Hilton CHEONG-LEEN to clarify something? He mentions in his report on hawkers that it was decided that only those able to operate the stalls themselves would be offered hawker licences on compassionate grounds, would he like to clarify whether or not it was also suggested that some other means should be found of helping those who were unable to operate the stalls themselves?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, if I remember correctly when this matter was discussed at the meeting, it was suggested by a Member of the Committee that each individual case could be studied in relation
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to the circumstances of the welfare case concerned, because whatever assistance could be given to a particular welfare case could vary with circumstances, and I think Mrs. ELLIOTT is quite right in having this I believe that the Director of Social Welfare, who was present at the meeting, did appreciate this point.
point clarified.
MR. D. J. R. BLAKER:-Mr. Chairman, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN said "the magistrates invited". I would hesitate to say that they actually invited. This suggestion arose at a meeting of the sub-committee on by-laws, and my recollection is that in course of conversation the point emerged that they would find it useful if hawker liaison officers were present so that they could consult them as the occasion arose. I would not quite go so far as to say that they "invited" them to be present. The suggestion appeared to be worthwhile to all participants in the discussion.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, in answer to that, it could be interpreted in the light that Mr. BLAKER has explained it. I am only quoting from memory the gist of the minutes which I was reading over from a particular City District monthly meeting at which some of our hawker liaison personnel were present. However, I think the point is quite clear that the hawker liaison representative who would be present at any magistrate's Court is there only to provide information on our policy.
MR. A. de O. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification. Are we, the Appointed Members, to understand that this statement which Mr. CHEONG-LEEN made as Chairman of the Hawker Policy Select Committee was cleared with all Members of his Committee before it was propounded to this Council? (Laughter). Otherwise, could Mr. CHEONG-LEEN account for the fact that three Members of his Select Committee have stood up, I beg your pardon, two Members of the Select Committee and the past Chairman of that particular Com- mittee, have stood up to clarify points which he made this afternoon?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Mr. Chairman, I cannot answer in full, but all I do know is that it has been cleared by the Appointed Members.
MR. SALES: That is not so, otherwise I would not have asked that question.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-But to clarify that further, Mr. Chairman, might I point out that I work very closely with the Sub-Committee Chairman on legislation as well as the Chairman of Management Select Committee, and this is why we are achieving results.
MR. SALES: The other two Committees are achieving results, not the Policy Select Committee. (Laughter).
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.