Page 92 of 242
164
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:---
Excluding Lai Chi Kok, where services have been withdrawn and which it is proposed to de-gazette as soon as the Lei Cheng Uk Swimming Pool is opened, the Urban Council is responsible for 12 beaches on Hong Kong Island. Three of these beaches—Repulse Bay, Shek O and Deep Water Bay—have the highest weekday usage of any beaches in the Colony, with daily figures of around 7,800, 6,200 and 4,800 respectively, while Repulse Bay and Shek O are easily the most popular weekend beaches in the Colony, with attendances of around 31,000 and 28,000 respectively.
The permanent cleansing labourer establishment and strength of these 12 beaches is 25, and in addition 6 female casual labourers are employed (mainly on looking after women's lavatories and changing rooms) throughout July and August and on holidays throughout the remainder of the swimming season. One small beach, Rocky Bay, has no labourer establishment, the Beach Attendants (lifeguards) being responsible for cleansing in addition to lifesaving. At Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay, St. Stephen's, Shek O, and Big Wave Bay, a continuous cleansing service is provided from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., one shift coming on at 8 o'clock and finishing at 5:30 and the second shift starting at 10 a.m. and finishing at 7:30. A lunch break of 1 hour is allowed. At the remaining beaches, there is a single shift working from 10 to 7:30. The Labourers' duties are to remove litter and refuse from the beaches and their swimming areas (and children's playgrounds and picnic areas where they exist), as well as keeping the changing rooms, toilets and shower stands clean.
In his question Mr. Lo also asks what action beach staff take if they see people depositing litter or otherwise dirtying beaches. I have already answered this at some length in reply to an earlier question from Mr. FORSGATE.
MR. BERNACCHI:- May I congratulate your staff, Mr. Chairman, in answering Mr. SALES' plea for greater brevity in drafting so quickly.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, Mr. BERNACCHI should be reminded that your staff is always very efficient.
MR. Lo:- Mr. Chairman, in paragraph 1 of Mr. SALES' reply we are given certain figures about the attendance at various beaches. Can we be informed how these figures are obtained?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
165
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, your department did a survey of these beaches and the information was available to Select Committee, and no doubt that report might be brought out and sent to the new members of the Select Committee so that they may also be informed.
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left the meeting at this point).
(16) MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo asked the following question:-
Are clubs which have restaurant or other catering facilities required to have General Restaurant Licences and if not, what controls does the Urban Council have to ensure that food and drink served in such establishments are hygienic and do not constitute a health hazard?
MR. PETER P. K. NG, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Under By-law 4 of the Food Business By-laws, clubs which have restaurants or other catering facilities are excluded from the requirement to have a General Restaurant Licence.
In the course of their inspection duties and on complaint, district health inspectors do visit such establishments and, where necessary, give advice on health measures to ensure that clean and hygienic food and drink is provided. They also ensure as far as possible that this advice is complied with. If it is considered that the conditions under which any club provides food or drink are such as to constitute a health hazard, the attention of the Health Officer is drawn to the matter and action is taken to rectify such conditions.
MR. T. C. Lo:- Mr. Chairman, I think we are all aware that recently certain clubs known as the proprietary clubs are on the increase. Now these clubs are run in such a manner that the members have no control whatsoever over the way in which they are run. Can you, Mr. Chairman, or the Chairman of the Select Committee, give us an assurance that these clubs do run their kitchen facilities in a satisfactory manner?
CHAIRMAN:- I couldn't give this assurance just like that. I am quite prepared to ask my staff to pay particular attention to them on their way round and to let me have a report.
MR. T. C. Lo:- Mr. Chairman, in view of the fact that they do not have to take out a licence and if your staff do find that the catering facilities do constitute a health hazard, what action can be taken?
Page 92 of 242
1
Page 92 of 242
164
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:---
Excluding Lai Chi Kok, where services have been withdrawn and which it is proposed to de-gazette as soon as the Lei Cheng Uk Swimming Pool is opened, the Urban Council is responsible for 12 beaches on Hong Kong Island. Three of these beaches-Repulse Bay, Shek O and Deep Water Bay-have the highest weekday usage of any beaches in the Colony, with daily figures of around 7,800, 6,200 and 4,800 respectively, while Repluse Bay and Shek O are easily the most popular weekend beaches in the Colony, with attendances of around 31,000 and 28,000 respectively.
The permanent cleansing labourer establishment and strength of these 12 beaches is 25, and in addition 6 female casual labourers are employed (mainly on looking after women's lavatories and changing rooms) throughout July and August and on holidays throughout the remainder of the swimming season. One small beach, Rocky Bay, has no labourer establishment, the Beach Attendants (lifeguards) being responsible for cleansing in addition to lifesaving. At Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay, St. Stephen's, Shek O, and Big Wave Bay, a continuous cleansing service is provided from 8 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., one shift coming on at 8 o'clock and finishing at 5.30 and the second shift starting at 10 a.m. and finishing at 7.30. A lunch break of 1 hours is allowed. At the remaining beaches, there is a single shift working from 10 to 7.30. The Labourers' duties are to remove litter and refuse from the beaches and their swimming areas (and children's playgrounds and picnic areas where they exist), as well as keeping the changing rooms, toilets and shower stands clean.
In his question Mr. Lo also asks what action beach staff take if they see people depositing litter or otherwise dirtying beaches. I have already answered this at some length in reply to an earlier question from Mr. FORSGATE. MR. BERNACCHI:-May I congratulate your staff, Mr. Chairman, in answering Mr. SALES' plea for greater brevity in drafting so quickly. MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, Mr. BERNACCHI should be reminded that your staff is always very efficient.
MR. Lo:-Mr. Chairman, in paragraph 1 of Mr. SALES' reply we are given certain figures about the attendance at various beaches. Can we be informed how these figures are obtained?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
165
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, your department did a survey of these beaches and the information was available to Select Committee, and no doubt that report might be brought out and sent to the new members of the Select Committee so that they may also be informed.
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left the meeting at this point).
(16) MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo asked the following question:-
Are clubs which have restaurant or other catering facilities required to have General Restaurant Licences and if not, what controls does the Urban Council have to ensure that food and drink served in such establishments are hygienic and do not constitute a health hazard?
MR. PETER P. K, NG, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD AND FOOD PREMISES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Under By-law 4 of the Food Business By-laws, clubs which have restaurants or other catering facilities are excluded from the requirement to have a General Restaurant Licence.
In the course of their inspection duties and on complaint, district health inspectors do visit such establishments and, where necessary, give advice on health measures to ensure that clean and hygienic food and drink is provided. They also ensure as far as possible that this advice is complied with. If it is considered that the conditions under which any club provides food or drink are such as to constitute a health hazard, the attention of the Health Officer is drawn to the matter and action is taken to rectify such conditions.
MR. T. C. Lo:-Mr. Chairman, I think we are all aware that recently certain clubs known as the proprietary clubs are on the increase. Now these clubs are run in such a manner that the members have no control whatsoever over the way in which they are run. Can you Mr. Chairman, or the Chairman of the Select Committee, give us an assurance that these clubs do run their kitchen facilities in a satis- factory manner?
CHAIRMAN:-I couldn't give this assurance just like that. I am quite prepared to ask my staff to pay particular attention to them on their way round and to let me have a report.
MR. T. C. Lo:-Mr. Chairman, in view of the fact that they do not have to take out a licence and if your staff do find that the catering facilities do constitute a health hazard, what action can be taken?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.