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tion, Recreation, Youth and Sports activities? It might be noted here that, as a result of some former agitation, some Councillors received a copy of the 1970-71 Report of the Advisory Committee for Recreational Development and Nature Conservation. Since then, silence; that is until quite recently when the Advisory Committee was revived and this Council's request for official representation thereon was rejected.
In effect, does it mean anything when Officials talk about "more Open Government", or is it merely a pretty phrase borrowed from McKinsey?
If Government is serious on the concept of "Open Government", then let it implement this policy with the Urban Council. Let the Council be informed and consulted, as a matter of course, on all developments affecting its interests. Let Councillors have free access to appropriate files, reports and surveys; and cast aside this curtain of anonymity which shields the Secretariat "decision-makers" from the world at large. In short, let Government practise what it preaches, and start doing it now.
Conclusion
Mr. Chairman, this is the first of our new-style Debates, and I welcome this opportunity for constructive comment in the expectation that it will result not in the scoring of neat points, as in the past, but in serious consideration and appropriate action. I have put forward several proposals, and I will repeat them again in Committee. I have suggested that the time has now come:
for a long-term programme of Council Works to be drawn up as quickly as possible, for implementation as soon as possible; for services to the Council to be surveyed and reorganized, in order to improve the efficiency of the Council in its Secretariat, in Planning and Development, and in its Financial areas;
for better working relationships to be established with the Urban Services Department, the Colonial Secretariat and the Public Works Department so as to provide for effective liaison, co-operation and action in the public interest.
These matters are relevant, important and urgent. I suggest we have it in our hands, at this point of time, to create a new dimension in this society by fully exercising the power resident in the Urban Council for the benefit of the community; and by doing this in a manner of efficiency which will elevate this Council to a proper position of importance and prestige in the public mind.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to support the Motion. (Applause.)
MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, today I propose to discuss some aspects of Licensing procedures, first, dealing with the licensing procedure of Food Premises and, secondly, in connection with liquor licensing, both subjects being within the purview of the Food Hygiene Select Committee of which I have been the Chairman for the past year. The aim is to further streamline these licensing procedures with the hope that licences can be issued by this Council within the minimum period of time.
Presently, an application for a licence for food premises, in a nutshell, is processed in the following manner. As soon as an application is received, Health Staff is sent to ascertain if the premises are suitable on health grounds, and the Secretary communicates with the Building Authority and the Director of Fire Services for their expert advice, the former as to the structural suitability of the premises, and the latter as to whether there are grounds for fear of fire hazard. There is an agreed time limit of 14 days within which a reply should be forthcoming from these two departments. It is only on receipt of replies from these departments signifying that they have no objections to the premises being put to the intended use that this Council despatches to the applicant a letter setting out the health requirements to be complied with by him. This letter is generally referred to as a letter of requirements. I may add here that the health requirements have been simplified, modified and standardized in recent years and are not difficult or time-consuming for applicants to comply with. In fact, an applicant, if he gives equal attention to the health requirements of this Council as he would give to decoration of his premises, could quite easily comply with these health requirements before completion of his decoration work and fitting up of equipment. Upon the applicant having complied with the health requirements this Council will immediately issue the licence.
As I have said earlier, the letter of requirements is only sent out after this Council has received replies from the Building Authority and the Director of Fire Services that in their expert opinion the premises are suitable. Whilst the Fire Services has served this Council in its advisory role to the best of its ability or capacity it is sadly under-staffed. The Council therefore cannot expect that Department to be able to give its advice within the agreed 14-day period. I am
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Page 187 of 212
ע
Page 186 of 212
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tion, Recreation, Youth and Sports activities? It might be noted here that, as a result of some former agitation, some Councillors received a copy of the 1970-71 Report of the Advisory Committee for Recreational Development and Nature Conservation. Since then, silence; that is until quite recently when the Advisory Committee was revived and this Council's request for official representation thereon was rejected.
In effect, does it mean anything when Officials talk about "more Open Government", or is it merely a pretty phrase borrowed from McKinsey?
If Government is serious on the concept of "Open Government", then let it implement this policy with the Urban Council. Let the Council be informed and consulted, as a matter of course, on all developments affecting its interests. Let Councillors have free access to appropriate files, reports and surveys; and cast aside this curtain of anonymity which shields the Secretariat "decision-makers" from the world at large. In short, let Government practise what it preaches, and start doing it now.
Conclusion
Mr. Chairman, this is the first of our new-style Debates, and I welcome this opportunity for constructive comment in the expectation that it will result not in the scoring of neat points, as in the past, but in serious consideration and appropriate action. I have put forward several proposals, and I will repeat them again in Committee. I have suggested that the time has now come:
for a long-term programme of Council Works to be drawn up as quickly as possible, for implementation as soon as possible; for services to the Council to be surveyed and reorganized, in order to improve the efficiency of the Council in its Secretariat, in Planning and Development, and in its Financial areas;
for better working relationships to be established with the Urban Services Department, the Colonial Secretariat and the Public Works Department so as to provide for effective liaison, co-operation and action in the public interest.
These matters are relevant, important and urgent. I suggest we have it in our hands, at this point of time, to create a new dimension in this society by fully exercising the power resident in the Urban Council for the benefit of the community; and by doing this in a
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
301
manner of efficiency which will elevate this Council to a proper position of importance and prestige in the public mind.
With these remarks, Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to support the Motion. (Applause.)
MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, today I propose to discuss some aspects of Licensing procedures, first, deal- ing with the licensing procedure of Food Premises and, secondly, in connection with liquor licensing, both subjects being within the pur- view of the Food Hygiene Select Committee of which I have been the Chairman for the past year. The aim is to further streamline these licensing procedures with the hope that licences can be issued by this Council within the minimum period of time.
Presently, an application for a licence for food premises, in a nutshell, is processed in the following manner. As soon as an appli- cation is received, Health Staff is sent to ascertain if the premises are suitable on health grounds, and the Secretary communicates with the Building Authority and the Director of Fire Services for their expert advice, the former as to the structural suitability of the premises, and the latter as to whether there are grounds for fear of fire hazard. There is an agreed time limit of 14 days within which a reply should be forthcoming from these two departments. It is only on receipt of replies from these departments signifying that they have no objections to the premises being put to the intended use that this Council de- spatch to the applicant a letter setting out the health requirements to be complied with by him. This letter is generally referred to as a letter of requirements. I may add here that the health requirements have been simplified, modified and standardized in recent years and are not difficult or time-consuming for applicants to comply with. In fact, an applicant, if he gives equal attention to the health require- ments of this Council as he would give to decoration of his premises, could quite easily comply with these health requirements before com- pletion of his decoration work and fitting up of equipment. Upon the applicant having complied with the health requirements this Council will immediately issue the licence.
As I have said earlier, the letter of requirements is only sent out after this Council has received replies from the Building Authority and the Director of Fire Services that in their expert opinion the premises are suitable. Whilst the Fire Services has served this Council in its advisory role to the best of its ability or capacity it is sadly under-staffed. The Council therefore cannot expect that Department to be able to give its advice within the agreed 14-day period. I am
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