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DR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, it is very difficult to say. I think both probably contribute to some extent.
DR. P. C. WONG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, can we know what "exceptional welfare grounds" precisely mean? And how do they differ from ordinary welfare grounds?
DR. HU (in English):-We only consider a prima facie case on exceptional welfare grounds. We send the case to the Social Welfare Department to decide whether the person involved in that case is entitled to have a licence. So the criteria will be decided by the Social Welfare Department.
DR. WONG (in English): Would old age and invalidity be reasons for exceptional or ordinary welfare grounds?
DR. HU (in English):-I personally hope so. But, as a matter of fact, it is just working to the contrary. If we give an old person a licence, it is against our policy because one of the policies is that the hawker himself or herself must be operating the stall. If he is too old, he is not able to work and it will be difficult for him to operate the stall.
MR. TSIN SAI-NIN (in Cantonese):-On Dr. WONG's question: who is to decide the exceptional welfare grounds. The second point is I wrote a letter to Social Welfare Department and they said they will not have a hand on the matter any further.
DR. HU (in English):-It should be the Social Welfare Department to decide whether, in a particular case, the licence should be issued or not. But as you know, the Social Welfare Department is outside the jurisdiction of this Council. If they write to you saying they would not like to look into the case, you should raise this issue in the Hawkers Select Committee. We will then decide and write to the Social Welfare Department to look into the case. If they still refuse, we will look into the whole policy.
MR. TSIN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the letter was not directed to me, but to the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee and I was given a copy. I was told that there was no need for us to write any further letters.
DR. HU (in English):-I think that case should be raised in the Hawkers Select Committee meeting.
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MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-I think, Mr. Chairman, that the letter or letters from the Social Welfare Department have, in the past, been that the Social Welfare Department itself was under administrative apprehension. I do trust that they will continue to co-operate with the Council and give us the report on Council cases referred to them in respect of new licences.
MOTIONS
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Now, with your permission, I would like to yield the floor to Mrs. Grace Ho, Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, who has a very urgent commitment and so, may I ask you for your agreement under Standing Order 19(2), Sub-section (c). Do you agree that we take Item 5 before Item 4 because she has to rush off in double-quick time? Is that agreed? Thank you very much.
(1) MRS. GRACE HO, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE moved the following (in English):-
"THAT the Laundries (Amendment) By-laws 1977 be made under section 40 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
She said: Mr. Chairman, thank you, Mr. Chairman and fellow Councillors for your help and consideration. As the Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, I rise on the motion standing in my name.
That the Laundries (Amendment) By-laws 1977 be made under section 40 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.
The main purpose of these amendments is to widen the current definition of "Laundry"—which envisages the laundering of domestic items only, to cover, on health grounds, the growing number of establishments which specialize in laundering items from restaurants, hotels, etc.
The amendments also increase the maximum penalties for contravening the Laundries By-laws and to bring them in line with the Food Business By-laws.
I beg to move.
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DR. HU (in English):-Mr. Chairman, it is very difficult to say. I think both probably contribute to some extent.
DR. P. C. WONG (in English):--Mr. Chairman, can we know what "exceptional welfare grounds" precisely mean? And how do they differ from ordinary welfare grounds?
DR. HU (in English):-We only consider a prima facie case on exceptional welfare grounds. We send the case to the Social Welfare Department to decide whether the person involved in that case is entitled to have a licence. So the criteria will be decided by the Social Welfare Department.
DR. WONG (in English): Would old aged and invalidity be reasons for exceptional or ordinary welfare grounds?
DR. HU (in English:-I personally hope so. But, as a matter of fact, it is just working to the contrary. If we give an old person a licence, it is against our policy because one of the policies is that the hawker himself or herself must be operating the stall. If he is too old, he is not able to work and it will be difficult for him to operate the stall.
MR. TSIN SAI-NIN (in Cantonese): -On Dr. WONG's question: who is to decide the exceptional welfare grounds. The second point is I wrote a letter to Social Welfare Department and they said they will not have a hand on the matter any further.
DR. HU (in English):-It should be the Social Welfare Department to decide whether, in a particular case, the licence should be issued or not. But as you know, the Social Welfare Department is outside the jurisdiction of this Council. If they write to you saying they would not like to look into the case, you should raise this issue in the Hawkers Select Committee. We will then decide and write to the Social Welfare Department to look into the case. If they still refuse, we will look into the whole policy.
MR. TSIN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, the letter was not directed to me, but to the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee and I was given a copy. I was told that there was no need for us to write any further letters.
DR. HU (in English):-I think that case should be raised in the Hawkers Select Committtee meeting.
!
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MR. BERNACCHI (in English):-I think, Mr. Chairman, that the letter or letters from the Social Welfare Department have, in the past, been that the Social Welfare Department itself was under administrative apprehension. I do trust that they will continue to co-operate with the Council and give us the report on Council cases referred to them in respect of new licences.
MOTIONS
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Now, with your permission, I would like to yield the floor to Mrs. Grace Ho, Chairman of the Environ- mental Hygiene Select Committee, who has a very urgent commitment and so, may I ask you for your agreement under Standing Order 19(2), Sub-section (c). Do you agree that we take Item 5 before Item 4 because she has to rush off in double-quick time? Is that agreed? Thank you very much.
(1) MRS. GRACE HO, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE moved the following (in English):-
"THAT the Laundries (Amendment) By-laws 1977 be made under section 40 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
She said: Mr. Chairman, thank you, Mr. Chairman and fellow Councillors for your help and consideration. As the Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, I rise on the motion standing in my name.
That the Laundries (Amendment) By-laws 1977 be made under section 40 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.
The main purpose of these amendments is to widen the current definition of "Laundry”—which envisages the laundering of domestic items only, to cover, on health grounds, the growing number of establishments which specialize in laundering items from restaurants, hotels, etc.
The amendments also increase the maximum penalties for con- travening the Laundries By-laws and to bring them in line with the Food Business By-laws.
I beg to move.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.