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the Department to write to him and give him details as to the procedure which is followed in the purchasing of antiques. I can assure him that it is not along the lines which he has just indicated.
The question was put.
The motion was carried with nineteen votes for and one abstention.
(2) MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following (in English): —
"RESOLVED that the Pleasure Grounds (Amendment) (No. 2) By-laws 1975 be made under Section 109 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
He said (in English):—Mr. Chairman, the purpose of the amendment to the By-law is to introduce charges for the use of Indoor Games Halls. The first hall at Kai Tak East is already open and during the coming months 3 more halls will be opened at Cheung Sha Wan, Morse Park and Boundary Street.
The fees proposed have received the support of both the Recreation & Amenities and Finance Select Committees as well as the Standing Committee, and I now move that the amendments to the Schedule contained in the Pleasure Grounds (Amendment) (No. 2) By-laws 1975, be made law.
MR. F. K. Hu (in English):-I have pleasure in seconding the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
(3) DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following (in Cantonese):-
"RESOLVED that the Laundries (Amendment) By-laws 1975, the Swimming Pools (Amendment) By-laws 1975, the Commercial Bathhouses (Amendment) By-laws 1975 and the Offensive Trades (Amendment) By-laws 1975 be made under Sections 40, 42, 35 and 49 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.”
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He said (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name.
The amending By-laws now before Council will, when adopted, increase the licence fees for laundries, swimming pools, commercial bathhouses and offensive trades. Increases of any kind are bound to prove unfavourable, but persons engaged in the trades mentioned cannot expect the ratepayer to continue to subsidize them to the extent which a very detailed study of the cost to license and ensure that hygiene standards are maintained showed up. Indeed, even the increase now proposed do not cover the full cost but are at least more realistic.
Each increase now proposed has been very carefully considered by the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, the Finance Select Committee and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council and their presentation for adoption was not made without full weight having been given to all the ramifications.
Mr. Chairman, I beg to move.
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):-I am pleased to second the motion.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the massive increases proposed in this Motion are supported by the Council on the grounds that there have been no increases for fifteen years.
The question in my mind and no doubt in the minds of the public is why the Urban Council has apparently been operating at a loss for so many years, yet no attempt was made to rectify the situation while our economy was thriving. Now it is proposed to make up for lost time by a sudden jump in fees of 150% average, at a time when everyone is feeling the pinch.
There may be good reason for the increases. My objection is to the timing. It seems that we have seen the monopolies assailing the general public with demands for higher charges, and we have jumped on their bandwagon to get our share. Make no mistake about it, these increases will not come from the proprietors of these establishments, but will be passed on to the consumers who are being squeezed for a few tens of cents on everything they buy, and every form of public transport they ride on.
To show my disapproval at the timing of the Motion, and at the apparent neglect in past years, I am not going to oppose the motion, but I am going to abstain.
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the Department to write to him and give him details as to the procedure which is followed in the purchasing of antiques. I can assure him that it is not along the lines which he has just indicated.
The question was put.
The motion was carried with nineteen votes for and one abstention.
(2) MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following (in English): —
"RESOLVED that the Pleasure Grounds (Amendment) (No. 2) By-laws 1975 be made under Section 109 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
He said (in English):—Mr. Chairman, the purpose of the amend- ment to the By-law is to introduce charges for the use of Indoor Games Halls. The first hall at Kai Tak East is already open and during the coming months 3 more halls will be opened at Cheung Sha Wan, Morse Park and Boundary Street.
The fees proposed have received the support of both the Recrea- tion & Amenities and Finance Select Committees as well as the Standing Committee, and I now move that the amendments to the Schedule contained in the Pleasure Grounds (Amendment) (No. 2) By-laws 1975, be made law.
MR. F. K. Hu (in English):-I have pleasure in seconding the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
(3) DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following (in Cantonese):-
"RESOLVED that the Laundries (Amendment) By-laws 1975, the Swimming Pools (Amendment) By-laws 1975, the Commercial Bathhouses (Amendment) By-laws 1975 and the Offensive Trades (Amendment) By-laws 1975 be made under Sections 40, 42, 35 and 49 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.”
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He said (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, I rise to move the motion standing in my name.
The amending By-laws now before Council will, when adopted, increase the licence fees for laundries, swimming pools, commercial bathhouses and offensive trades. Increases of any kind are bound to prove unfavourable, but persons engaged in the trades mentioned cannot expect the ratepayer to continue to subsidize them to the extent which a very detailed study of the cost to license and ensure that hygiene standards are maintained showed up. Indeed, even the increase now proposed do not cover the full cost but are at least more realistic.
Each increase now proposed has been very carefully considered by the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, the Finance Select Com- mittee and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council and their presentation for adoption was not made without full weight having been given to all the ramifications.
Mr. Chairman, I beg to move.
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):-I am pleased to second the motion.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the massive increases proposed in this Motion are supported by the Council on the grounds that there have been no increases for fifteen years.
The question in my mind and no doubt in the minds of the public is why the Urban Council has apparently been operating at a loss for so many years, yet no attempt was made to rectify the situation while our economy was thriving. Now it is proposed to make up for lost time by a sudden jump in fees of 150% average, at a time when everyone is feeling the pinch.
There may be good reason for the increases. My objection is to the timing. It seems that we have seen the monopolies assailing the general public with demands for higher charges, and we have jumped on their bandwagon to get our share. Make no mistake about it, these increases will not come from the proprietors of these establish- ments, but will be passed on to the consumers who are being squeezed for a few tens of cents on everything they buy, and every form of public transport they ride on.
To show my disapproval at the timing of the Motion, and at the apparent neglect in past years, I am not going to oppose the motion, but I am going to abstain.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.