HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
13. The Council's policy is to establish permanent off-street refuse collection points in the more congested areas to replace the existing on-street collection system. An area of about 1,000 sq. ft., properly fenced in with perimeter walls and provided with washing facilities is sited where vehicles can be driven in for collection. At the moment 4 such off-street points have been constructed and put to use; another 24 have been included in the Public Works Programme, and some of them are now under construction.
14. Mr. NG also referred to the collection point at Queen Victoria Street. I am happy to say that since 11th November, the use of this site for collection of domestic refuse has been discontinued and a new site at the Central Reclamation has been provided for use as a temporary off-street collection point.
15. Mr. KAN asked for the early reprovisioning of the Hung Hom Funeral Depot, the speeding up of allocation of more funeral parlours and cemetery sites and the construction of the New Diamond Hill Crematorium. My colleague, the Director of Public Works informs me that a site at the present Cable & Wireless Station at Winslow Street, Hung Hom, has been reserved for the reprovisioning of the existing funeral depot. The Urban Services Department will proceed with the preliminary planning as soon as the site has been formally allocated for such use.
16. With regard to funeral parlour sites, an area of land at Hammer Hill Road has been zoned for such purpose and it will soon be available for development as funeral parlours by either charitable organizations or commercial enterprise. Another possible site for similar development at Hung Hom is being actively studied.
17. As to cemetery sites, the approved policy is that, subject to this Council making satisfactory arrangement for the management and control of existing private cemeteries, land should be granted to them for expansion. As Mr. KAN knows, a proposal to grant an area at Cape Collinson as an extension to the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries is, in fact, under consideration by Government at the moment. Owing to the shortage of suitable land in the urban areas, it has been found necessary to seek land in the New Territories and I understand the District Commissioner, New Territories, is now considering the allocation of a few sites for this purpose.
18. As to the construction of the New Diamond Hill Crematorium, my colleague, the Director of Public Works has assured me that sketch plans will be completed within a month. As soon as the sketch plans are agreed, it will be possible to produce a model of the future Crematorium to illustrate the scheme more fully for consideration by the relevant Select Committee of this Council.
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19. In regard to the subject of Food & Food Premises, Mr. NG referred to the number of outstanding applications for licences and that some of them have been in operation without licences for over 12 months. I can assure him that vigorous action is being taken against these unlicensed establishments by staff of the Urban Services Department in conformity with the Food & Food Premises Select Committee's approved procedure. As to delay in issuing licences, the fault lies usually with the applicant rather than the staff of the Department. The reasons are generally due to applicants failing to comply with the Council's requirements expeditiously.
20. Mr. NG must be aware that everything possible is done to assist the applicant in obtaining his licence, and that in very few countries of the world, does he receive such help. In other countries an applicant for a Food & Food Premises licence is merely given the requirements attached to such licence and left to fend for himself.
21. Mr. NG has proposed that the Delegated Member System should be abolished when the streamlined and up-to-date requirements, conditions and procedures for licensing take effect next year. As Delegated Member myself, I would welcome such a proposal. Little is achieved, I feel, by the present system of scrutiny of licensing files by Delegated Members who have neither the time nor the detailed knowledge to exclude malpractice in licensing procedures which, in fact, is the duty of the senior officers in the Urban Services Department. No doubt Mr. NG will be discussing this proposal with his Select Committee.
22. In regard to the mention of proprietary clubs by Mr. K. Lo, I would agree we do not have the same control as over licensed restaurants. However, Mr. Lo would be pleased to know that Health Inspectors are now inspecting proprietary clubs in their area once a month and give advice on hygiene measures to ensure that clean and safe food and drinks are served. The experience to-date has been that the management of these establishments are very willing to act on the technical advice given by our officers. The Department is keeping the situation under close supervision, but at present, feels that no further action is required.
23. On the point raised once again by Dr. Denny HUANG on the output of doctors and the establishment of a second medical school in Hong Kong in the Chinese University I have nothing to add to what I said this time last year. The total number of doctors practicing in Hong Kong increases year by year, and their ratio to population is steadily improving.
24. The Commissioner for Census and Statistics recently reminded us that we have been living through a demographic revolution and that fertility rates in Hong Kong are now nearly comparable with those in
396
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
13. The Council's policy is to establish permanent off-street refuse collection points in the more congested areas to replace the existing on-street collection system. An area of about 1,000 sq. ft., properly fenced in with perimeter walls and provided with washing facilities is sited where vehicles can be driven in for collection. At the moment 4 such off-street points have been constructed and put to use; another 24 have been included in the Public Works Programme, and some of them are now under construction.
14. Mr. NG also referred to the collection point at Queen Victoria Street. I am happy to say that since 11th November, the use of this site for collection of domestic refuse has been discontinued and a new site at the Central Reclamation has been provided for use as a temporary off-street collection point.
15. Mr. KAN asked for the early reprovisioning of the Hung Hom Funeral Depot, the speeding up of allocation of more funeral parlours and cemetery sites and the construction of the New Diamond Hill Crematorium. My colleague, the Director of Public Works informs me that a site at the present Cable & Wireless Station at Winslow Street, Hung Hom, has been reserved for the reprovisioning of the existing funeral depot. The Urban Services Department will proceed with the preliminary planning as soon as the site has been formally allocated for such use.
16. With regard to funeral parlour sites, an area of land at Hammer Hill Road has been zoned for such purpose and it will soon be available for development as funeral parlours by either charitable organizations or commercial enterprise. Another possible site for similar development at Hung Hom is being actively studied.
17. As to cemetery sites, the approved policy is that, subject to this Council making satisfactory arrangement for the management and control of existing private cemeteries, land should be granted to them for expansion. As Mr. KAN knows, a proposal to grant an area at Cape Collinson as an extension to the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries is, in fact, under consideration by Government at the moment. Owing to the shortage of suitable land in the urban areas, it has been found necessary to seek land in the New Territories and I understand the District Commissioner, New Territories, is now considering the alloca- tion of a few sites for this purpose.
18. As to the construction of the New Diamond Hill Crematorium, my colleague, the Director of Public Works has assured me that sketch plans will be completed within a month. As soon as the sketch plans are agreed, it will be possible to produce a model of the future Crematorium to illustrate the scheme more fully for consideration by the relevant Select Committee of this Council.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
395
19. In regard to the subject of Food & Food Premises, Mr. NG referred to the number of outstanding applications for licences and that some of them have been in operation without licences for over 12 months. I can assure him that vigorous action is being taken against these unlicensed establishments by staff of the Urban Services Depart- ment in conformity with the Food & Food Premises Select Com- mittee's approved procedure. As to delay in issuing licences, the fault lies usually with the applicant rather than the staff of the Department. The reasons are generally due to applicants failing to comply with the Council's requirements expeditiously.
20. Mr. NG must be aware that everything possible is done to assist the applicant in obtaining his licence, and that in very few countries of the world, does he receive such help. In other countries an applicant for a Food & Food Premises licence is merely given the requirements attached to such licence and left to fend for himself.
21. Mr. NG has proposed that the Delegated Member System should be abolished when the stream-lined and up-to-date requirements, conditions and procedures for licensing take effect next year. As Del- egated Member myself, I would welcome such a proposal. Little is achieved, I feel, by the present system of scrutiny of licensing files by Delegated Members who have neither the time nor the detailed know- ledge to exclude malpractice in licensing procedures which, in fact, is the duty of the senior officers in the Urban Services Department. No doubt Mr. NG will be discussing this proposal with his Select Com- mittee.
22. In regard to the mention of proprietary clubs by Mr. K. Lo, I would agree we do not have the same control as over licensed restaurants. However, Mr. Lo would be pleased to know that Health Inspectors are now inspecting proprietary clubs in their area once a month and give advice on hygiene measures to ensure that clean and safe food and drinks are served. The experience to-date has been that the management of these establishments are very willing to act on the technical advice given by our officers. The Department is keeping the situation under close supervision, but at present, feels that no further action is required.
23. On the point raised once again by Dr. Denny HUANG on the output of doctors and the establishment of a second medical school in Hong Kong in the Chinese University I have nothing to add to what I said this time last year. The total number of doctors practicing in Hong Kong increases year by year, and their ratio to population is steadily improving.
24. The Commissioner for Census and Statistics recently reminded us that we have been living through a demographic revolution and that fertility rates in Hong Kong are now nearly comparable with those in
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