1973 — Page 58

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MR. BERNACCHI (In English): ---I will refer your two supplementary questions to the Museum & Art Gallery Select Committee.

(8) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (In English):-

In view of wide-spread allegations of over-charging by operators of U.C. licensed refreshment kiosks, may we know what measure of warning has been issued to beach kiosk operators to adhere to the approved prices? What further action will be taken to protect the public in the event of continued over-charging?

MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT Committee, replied as follows (In English):

I am pleased to reply to Mr. JOHN MACKENZIE'S question concerning allegations of over-charging by operators of Urban Council licensed refreshment kiosks, and to be able to advise Members that the following action has been taken by the department:-

(i) Following complaints made at St. Stephen's and South Bay beaches on 1st and 2nd June, 1973 respectively, investigations were conducted and the allegations were found to be true. Warning letters were therefore sent to the two operators. They have been requested to give explanations following which action might be taken to determine their contracts.

(ii) Because of this and because of the department's concern in this matter, general warning letters were then sent to all beach/swimming pool operators on 11th June, stating that termination of their contract and forfeiture of their security deposit will be effected in the event of any complaint of overcharging at their kiosk/café is found to be proven and no further warning will be given.

(iii) Large notices detailing all items and their agreed prices, conforming to those which are included within the approved contract that the contractor has signed, have been displayed conspicuously outside each kiosk/café.

(iv) Beach/swimming pool supervisors have been instructed to carry out surprise inspections from time to time to ensure that no overcharging to the public is being carried on, with or without the contractor's knowledge.

If any complaint of overcharging is proved from now on, action will be taken and the contract of the offending licensee will be terminated and the security deposit forfeited without further warning.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

49

(9) MR. TSIN SAI-NIN asked the following question (In Cantonese):

Could this Council be informed if there is any truth in the press reports that Urban Council Library visitors have complained about the recent unsatisfactory services at such libraries?

MRS. E. ELLIOTT, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In English): --

This question concerns the recent complaints in the Press on services at the Public Libraries of the Council.

There have been a total of eight letters in the correspondence columns of the Chinese and English Press since the beginning of May and all were about the service at the Yau Ma Tei Library. They dealt with order and discipline in the Study Room, compensation for damage found in returned books, and the manner of the staff.

The Senior Librarian made a full investigation in mid-May on the complaints in the Study Room and found that a few students attempted to deprive other students of the use of vacant seats by spreading their books over these seats. There was also some queue jumping before the Study Room opened in the mornings. Some students were not co-operative with the library staff when requested not to indulge in occupying vacant seats with books and not to disturb other students. This state of affairs raised indignation among other students. Special arrangements were made immediately after the investigation to provide more seats and to extend the opening hours, with stricter supervision inside the Study Room and at the queueing before opening in the mornings. The crux of the matter lies, I think, in the fact that the seating capacity of the Study Room is inadequate to meet the seasonal demand during the examination periods.

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