1975 — Page 28

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese): - Mr. Chairman, I would like to know in the temporary hawking area, there are no fixed pitches. And they do not have to obey rules and therefore there is no restriction on the type of goods on sale. If so, no wonder I can't ask Question No. 4. I do not know whether in future they will sell heroine.

CHAIRMAN (in English): - As I have said before, you are very charming. (Laughter). And, as this is Women's International Year, I will allow you to break the rules so much but not by so much. (The Chairman gesticulated with his hands) (Laughter). So may we move to Question No. 6.

MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese): - My question is very short already.

CHAIRMAN (in English): - Miss YEUNG, when the Chairman stands up, Members must sit down. Will you kindly do so? Next question, please, Mr. MacKenzie.

(6) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question (in English): -

In view of the ready availability of parking space in the Murray Road Car Park, can steps now be taken to develop for public recreational use the open areas to the north and east of the Murray Road multi-storey Car Park?

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

Mr. Chairman, the open areas referred to in Mr. MACKENZIE'S question are being used as metered car parks on a temporary basis, but the whole area between Hutchison House and the Murray Road Multi-Storey Car Park, and part of the area to the east of the Multi-Storey Car Park, are designated for future development as public open space. Unfortunately, this development cannot be undertaken for the time being, because the greater part of the area designated as open space, including the whole area between Hutchison House and the Multi-Storey Car Park, is to be used for a period of three years from April 1976 as a works area in connection with the construction of the Mass Transit Railway.

(7) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English): -

What improvements or changes are taking place and are being planned in the near future for the Hawker Permitted Areas?

(Note: The reply to question (7) was included in the reply to Question (4)).

(8) DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG asked the following question (in Cantonese):

(a) May this Council be informed whether or not the experiment on "Hawkers Permitted Areas" has been successful? and

(b) Would the relevant Select Committee seriously consider finding some other alternative measure to replace that of the "First Come First Served" which appears to have victimized those old and physically weaker hawkers?

(Note: - The reply to question (8) was included in the reply to Question (4)).

(9) DR. P. C. WONG asked the following question (in English):

As many complaints, which do not deal with matters which fall within the Urban Council's jurisdiction, are received in ward offices, what steps have been taken to ensure that such complaints are dealt with by the appropriate authorities?

MR. JOHN MACKENZIE, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):

This question concerns complaints received at Urban Council ward offices which do not fall within the Council's jurisdiction.

Within weeks of the introduction of the Urban Council Ward System in November 1965, the Government recognized that many members of the public would bring problems

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