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the Hong Kong Football Association site side by side with the Presidents and the Chairman of the Association on the seats for the honourable guests while the Chairman of the First Division Clubs have to sit on the benches behind. This is unfair and improvement should be made. Moreover, most of the spectator stands are not provided with cover and so the enjoyment of the spectators will be affected during bad weather. Cover should therefore be provided to all stands.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
DR. P. C. WONG (in English):---Mr. Chairman, the Urban Council has a history dated back to 1883, when a Sanitary Board was set up with local government functions. Three years later, it acquired unofficial members. Two of these were first elected in 1888. Because of these elections the Sanitary Board carries constitutional importance.
The old Sanitary Board, it can be said, enjoyed only a reduced status of an initiating body, able to exercise an independence limited to the control of its own paid staffs. Owing to dissatisfaction and opposition by the community, there was a proposal that the Sanitary Board should become a Municipal Council. Even an Official, Dr. R. A. WELLINGTON, Director of Medical Services, between 1929 and 1937, thought that public health problems would normally be best administered by a Municipal Government. In 1886, the unofficials of the LegCo opposed the creation of a Municipal Council. The Executive Council also rejected the proposal to set up a Municipal Board of Health. An Entrenchment Committee went even so far as to suggest abolition of the Sanitary Board.
In many ways, the Urban Council resembles the old Sanitary Board. The powers of the Council were not enlarged enough so as to commensurate with its high-sounding name. This is more apparent when comparing with city councils of other places, causing disappointment of the people who have high expectations. Legislative amendments in the course of years give it more powers and widen the scope of its work. Even so, the creation of the Urban Council way back on January 1st, 1936, did not stimulate any fresh interest among the electorate in the voting for elected members. Presently, we should be gratified, though without complacency, that the Urban Council had enlarged its scope of work to an extent that never existed before. It is felt that the name of the Council is one thing and the achievements of the Council is another. We still lack continuous and substantial publicity explaining our status, jurisdiction and achievements to the Community. This would help to wash away the deepening apathy of
Page 101 of 135
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the electorate in nearly all Urban Council elections. We should not be too pessimistic in this respect, as the old Sanitary Board had the same fate, if not worse, on election matters. There had been several elections held by the old Board. Two most keen contests were noted in 1909 and 1932 when 70% of voters voted in each case.
Besides greater publicity as just said, we need a stronger Administrative Committee to, externally, guide our supporters for their stronger co-operation and better presentation of their view points, and internally, to expedite our procedures. In connection with this, it is regretful to say that papers for discussion in the morning often reach the Councillors' office only in the afternoon the day before.
I would like to turn to the work of the Food Hygiene Select Committee. It was a successful year. However, there is much room for expansion for the benefit of the public. Stricter regulations should be set up to guard against unhygienic food conditions that may give rise to chronic illnesses, for these may not come to the open until late. Thus
(1) the sale of stale food must not be allowed;
(2) unhygienic personnel, dirty hands or clothing must not be allowed. The tradition that sick personnel who still have to work long hours should be prevented.
(3) Utensils in the kitchen and on the table, towels for customers etc. must be sterilized.
(4) A Food and Drug Committee should be considered, if necessary in conjunction with the Medical Department to educate the people on Food Hygiene, eating habits, nutrition, food allergy, carcinogenic factors of food and diets, etc.
(5) Cleanliness of walls of kitchens of restaurants and food manufacturing premises and carpets of floors must be kept to the highest standard.
Regarding the City Hall Select Committee and the City Hall management, there has never been such a great success in the promotion of arts and culture. The Festival of Asian Arts is a unique example of how every facility and manpower are mobilized to build up a magnificent image of Hong Kong, which is now considered ideal for presentation of artistic performances of international standard. Our geographical privilege should be fully made use of. It may be timely here to point out a new regulation should be drafted so that new artists returning after graduation from abroad should be given priority for
I
166
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
the Hong Kong Football Association site side by side with the Presidents and the Chairman of the Association on the seats for the honourable guests while the Chairman of the First Division Clubs have to sit on the benches behind. This is unfair and improvement should be made. Moreover, most of the spectator stands are not provided with cover and so the enjoyment of the spectators will be affected during bad weather. Cover should therefore be provided to all stands.
Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
DR. P. C. WONG (in English):---Mr. Chairman, the Urban Council has a history dated back 1883, when a Sanitary Board was set up with local government functions. Three years later, it acquired unofficial members. Two of these were first elected in 1888. Because of these elections the Sanitary Board carries constitutional importance.
The old Sanitary Board, it can be said, enjoyed only a reduced status of an initiating body, able to exercise an independence limited to the control of its own paid staffs. Owing to dissatisfaction and opposition by the community, there was a proposal the Sanitary Board should become a Municipal Council. Even an Official, Dr. R. A. WELLINGTON, Director of Medical Services, between 1929 and 1937, thought that public health problems would normally be best admin- istered by a Municipal Government. In 1886, the unofficials of the LegCo opposed to the creation of a Municipal Council. The Executive Council also rejected the proposal to set up a Municipal Board of Health. An Entrenchment Committee went even so far as to suggest abolition of the Sanitary Board.
In many ways, the Urban Council resembles the old Sanitary Board. The powers of the Council were not enlarged enough so as to commensurate with its high-sounding name. This is more apparent when comparing with city councils of other places, causing disappoint- ment of the people who have high expectations. Legislative amend- ments in the course of years give it more powers and widen the scope of its work. Even so, the creation of the Urban Council way back on January, 1st, 1936, did not stimulate any fresh interest among the electorate in the voting for elected members. Presently, we should be gratified, though without complacency, that the Urban Council had enlarged its scope of work to an extent that never existed before. It is felt that the name of the Council is one thing and the achievements of the Council is another. We still lack continuous and substantial publicity explaining our status, jurisdiction and achievements to the Community. This would help to wash away the deepening apathy of
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 101 of 135
167
the electorate in nearly all Urban Council elections. We should not be too pessimistic in this respect, as the old Sanitary Board had the same fate, if not worse, on election matters. There had been several elections held by the old Board. Two most keen contests were noted in 1909 and 1932 when 70% of voters voted in each case.
Besides greater publicity as just said, we need a stronger Adminis- trative Committee to, externally, guide our supporters for their stronger co-operation and better presentation of their view points, and interally, to expedite our procedures. In connection with this, it is regretful to say that papers for discussion in the morning often reach the Council- lors' office only in the afternoon the day before.
I would like to turn to the work of the Food Hygiene Select Com- mittee. It was a successful year. However, there is much room for expansion for the benefit of the public. Stricter regulations should be set up to guard against unhygienic food conditions that may give rise to chronic illnesses, for these may not come to the open until late. Thus
(1) the sale of stale food must be not allowed;
(2) unhygienic personnel, dirty hands or clothings must not be allowed. The tradition that sick personnel who still have to work long hours should be prevented.
(3) Utensils in the kitchen and on the table, towels for customers
etc. must be sterilized.
(4) A Food and Drug Committee should be considered, if necessary in conjunction with the Medical Department to educate the people on Food Hygiene, eating habits, nutrition, food allergy, carcinogenic factors of food and diets, etc.
(5) Cleanliness of walls of kitchens of restaurants and food manu- facturing premises and carpets of floors must be kept to the highest standard.
Regarding the City Hall Select Committee and the City Hall management, there has never been such a great success in the promo- tion of arts and culture. The Festival of Asian Arts is a unique example how every facility and manpower are mobilized to build up a magnificient image of Hong Kong, which is now considered ideal for presentation of artistic performances of international standard. Our geographical privilege should be fully made use of. It may be timely here to point out a new regulation should be drafted so that new artists returning after graduation from abroad should be given priority for
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