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difficult problem in finding enough suitable sites, and I wish to sound a warning that there will be little progress in implementing Council's hawker policy unless Government gives even higher priority to allocating more suitable sites in order to resite hawkers off the streets.

The Hawkers Select Committee is currently reviewing the immediate and long-term requirements for hawking and marketing facilities within each of the ten Hawker Liaison Districts. We will also have to review what can be done to make some of the hawker bazaars more attractive for business. The results of such review will be made available to Council Members in due course.

MR. PETER P. K. NG:- Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee, I would like to draw attention to paragraph 6 of the monthly report which shows that 90 licences for various food premises were issued in July. The figure itself is not particularly startling, but it is, nevertheless, a record being the highest number of licences ever to be issued in a single month. The more rapid rate of issue is attributable to the Select Committee's complete review of the licensing procedure and the revision of all requirements and conditions for all food premises.

For over a year the Select Committee has given detailed thought to all requirements and conditions and has, where possible and without losing sight of the Council's obligation to protect public health, made deletions or modifications. One modification in particular concerns the ratio of kitchen area to seating area which at present is laid down in the 4th Schedule of the Food Business By-laws. In its present state, this has caused both the applicant and the department a great deal of trouble. The present calculation is based on a ratio of kitchen area to the actual seating area which has resulted in disputes and time-wasting inquiries and negotiations in determining the seating area as opposed to reception areas or corridors, etc., and is always open to allegations of corruption. A new formula, which will be favourable to the applicant, has been devised and will merely relate the kitchen area to the total area of the premises, thus eliminating any room for dispute. The schedule to the Food Business By-laws is at present being amended. In the meantime, the department is applying the present schedule or the revised schedule on the basis of whichever is the more favourable to the applicant.

The licensing procedure has been given very careful consideration, and over the last eighteen months has been streamlined to some extent. It is to be further streamlined where the Council's connection with the Building Authority is concerned. This has been held up for a while because of the landslides which have not permitted the Building Authority to make a start. However, it is hoped that the new procedure will come into effect shortly and will further speed up the issue of licences. But, of course, all this depends on the availability of staff.

The revised requirements and conditions are being translated into Chinese and will be available free of charge to any interested members of the public within three or four weeks.

QUESTIONS

(1) MR. HENRY H. L. HU asked the following question:-

We were told that Government has paid a great deal of attention to improving recreation facilities and providing more open space in the Western District of Hong Kong. I also understand that the Pok Fu Lam Road Playground and Smithfield Park are now in the Category B of Public Works Programme. Could the Chairman please inform the Council when these two parks will be completed and open for public use?

MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:

Sir, the Pok Fu Lam Road Playground project went straight into the Public Works Programme at Category B in 1967. The site is affected by road proposals in the area and is currently being used as a works area by the Highways Office. However, it is anticipated that the site will be made available to the Architectural Office by the end of December 1972; in the event, the project could be upgraded to Category A in this financial year and completed by about the end of July 1973.

The Smithfield Park project was first included in the Public Works Programme at Category C in 1969 and was upgraded to Category B in 1970. It, too, is affected by the same road scheme which encroaches on the proposed park area. I am told that consultations are taking place between the Principal Government Architect and the Chief Engineer Highways (Hong Kong). It may be possible to develop the park in advance of the road project. Should this be the case, the park could be upgraded to Category A and completed by late 1974.

It is the view of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee that the Government has not paid enough attention to improving the recreation facilities and providing more open space in the Western District of Hong Kong

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issue of licences. But, of course, all this depends on the availability of staff.

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