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10. Then, on the 10th November 1972, members of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee inspected the premises of a number of illegal food caterers in the Central District. During the inspection, members noted the following:-
(a) Some were without water closets.
(b) Others lacked any washing facilities.
(c) Some with water closets had such closets situated in the food room. In reality, the food rooms had been extended into or around the toilet areas.
(d) In all cases the premises were used for domestic purposes in addition to the business, and items of personal clothing and other objects, which the Council prohibits in food rooms, were a common sight in the food preparation and cooking areas.
(e) Few of the proprietors had any idea of hygiene standards- many stacking cooked food ready for consumption alongside open water closets, drains, etc.; others using cubicle bed-rooms to lay out food ready for delivery.
(f) None provided storage for utensils, etc.-an essential requirement in all food businesses.
(g) Some had expanded their business to take over practically the whole of the domestic premises, with make-shift cubicles in the food preparation areas for sleeping quarters.
(h) Some had no mains water laid on to the premises--another essential requirement.
(i) Some practised other trades, such as light metal works, in addition to the food catering business in the premises.
11. Having had the opportunity of inspecting some of the food caterers in the Central District, and the information gathered from the two surveys made by the Department, members of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee at a meeting on the 22nd November 1972 discussed, amongst other things, the following:
(1) Whether the 1966 policy should stand,
(2) Whether amendments should be made to the existing law to the effect that small scale food catering business would not be considered as food business under the law and would not be placed within the jurisdiction of the food business by-laws. This particular item was discussed pursuant to the request of
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the Hong Kong and Kowloon Caterers Mutual Aid Association Ltd. (which is hereafter referred to as "the Caterers Association").
After lengthy discussion, and deliberation it was agreed by members that the Council's 1966 policy should remain and food catering businesses would not be allowed in upper floors of domestic premises.
12. On the 5th December 1972, the issue of food caterers was discussed by the Standing Committee of the whole Council and it was agreed that members who had not had the opportunity of visiting food caterers should pay a visit to premises of such caterers and the question together with a submission then received from the Hong Kong Civic Association would then be considered by the Standing Committee at its next meeting.
13. On the 15th December 1972, members of the Council visited food caterers in the Central District. In a Committee paper dated 3rd January 1973 to the Whole Council the Department gave as its professional opinion that any food business which operates in a domestic building poses a serious health risk and creates an intolerable nuisance to domestic neighbours wishing to live in reasonable surroundings. The Council was reminded that it was the Council's and the Department's obligation to protect public health and just as important, to reduce the incident of nuisances. The Department further analysed the submissions put forward by the Hong Kong Civic Association and the Caterers Association.
14. At a meeting of the Standing Committee of the whole Council on the 16th January 1973, members discussed at length and exhaustively the question of unlicensed food caterers operating in domestic buildings. It was agreed at this meeting, that the 1966 policy to prohibit food businesses in upper floors of domestic buildings should be upheld and consideration be given to phase out existing illegal caterers in domestic premises.
15. At a meeting of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee on the 28th March 1973, a phasing out programme was agreed upon.
16. On the 20th August 1973, at a meeting of the Standing Committee, the Committee discussed and again endorsed its original decision to phase out illegal caterers.
17. Mr. Chairman, from the foregoing it is abundantly clear to everyone that the Council had repeatedly through the years given the issue of illegal food caterers most serious consideration and had left no stone unturned in examining and reviewing its 1966 policy.
Page 66 of 187
Page 66 of 187
100
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
10. Then, on the 10th November 1972, members of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee inspected the premises of a number of illegal food caterers in the Central District. During the inspection, members noted the following:-
(a) Some were without water closets.
(b) Others lacked any washing facilities.
(c) Some with water closets had such closets situated in the food room. In reality, the food rooms had been extended into or around the toilet areas.
(d) In all cases the premises were used for domestic purposes in addition to the business, and items of personal clothing and other objects, which the Council prohibits in food rooms, were a common sight in the food preparation and cooking
areas.
(e) Few of the proprietors had any idea of hygiene standards- many stacking cooked food ready for consumption alongside open water closets, drains, etc.; others using cubicle bed- rooms to lay out food ready for delivery.
(f) None provided storage for utensils, etc.-an essential require-
ment in all food businesses.
(g) Some had expanded their business to take over practically the whole of the domestic premises, with make shift cubicles in the food preparation areas for sleeping quarters. (h) Some had no mains water laid on to the premises--another
essential requirement.
(i) Some practised other trades, such as light metal works, in
addition to the food catering business in the premises.
11. Having had the opportunity of inspecting some of the food caterers in the Central District, and the information gathered from the two surveys made by the Department, members of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee at a meeting on the 22nd November 1972 discussed, amongst other things, the following:
(1) Whether the 1966 policy should stand,
(2) Whether amendments should be made to the existing law to the effect that small scale food catering business would not be considered as food business under the law and would not be placed within the jurisdiction of the food business by-laws. This particular item was discussed pursuant to the request of
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101
the Hong Kong and Kowloon Caterers Mutual Aid Associa- tion Ltd. (which is hereafter referred to as "the Caterers Association").
After lengthy discussion, and deliberation it was agreed by members that the Council's 1966 policy should remain and food catering busi- nesses would not be allowed in upper floors of domestic premises.
12. On the 5th December 1972, the issue of food caterers was discussed by the Standing Committee of the whole Council and it was agreed that members who had not had the opportunity of visiting food caterers should pay a visit to premises of such caterers and the question together with a submission then received from the Hong Kong Civic Association would then be considered by the Standing Committee at its next meeting.
13. On the 15th December 1972, members of the Council visited food caterers in the Central District. In a Committee paper dated 3rd January 1973 to the Whole Council the Department gave as its pro- fessional opinion that any food business which operates in a domestic building poses a serious health risk and creates an intolerable nuisance to domestic neighbours wishing to live in reasonable surroundings. The Council was reminded that it was the Council's and the Depart- ment's obligation to protect public health and just as important, to reduce the incident of nuisances. The Department further analysed the submissions put forward by the Hong Kong Civic Association and the Caterers Association.
14. At a meeting of the Standing Committee of the whole Council on the 16th January 1973, members discussed at length and exhaus- tively the question of unlicenced food caterers operating in domestic buildings. It was agreed at this meeting, that the 1966 policy to pro- hibit food businesses in upper floors of domestic buildings should be upheld and consideration be given to phase out existing illegal caterers in domestic premises.
15. At a meeting of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee on the 28th March 1973, a phasing out programme was agreed upon.
16. On the 20th August 1973, at a meeting of the Standing Com- mittee, the Committee discussed and again endorsed its original decision to phase out illegal caterers.
17. Mr. Chairman, from the foregoing it is abundantly clear to everyone that the Council had repeatedly through the years given the issue of illegal food caterers most serious consideration and had left no stone unturned in examining and reviewing its 1966 policy.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.