1977 — Page 158

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Page 158 of 174

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

refuse collection point in Haiphong Road. Work on this will begin during 1978 and the new temporary market will cost approximately $2.17 million. It will contain 37 stalls for the sale of meat, fish and poultry and 118 mini-stalls for the sale of fruit, vegetables and sundries. In addition. there will be accommodation for the 21 cooked-food stalls now situated outside the market in Peking Road. Apart from marketing facilities there will also be a sitting-out area which should help to provide an attractive environ-

ment.

In reply to the second part of the question, I am informed that no summonses have been taken out recently against the operators of stalls in this area or their clients. However, the Department employs a Foreman and five Labourers to patrol the area and to see that operators keep their stalls in a reasonably clean and tidy conditions. Health Inspectors and Overseers also make regular visits to the market area.

The answer to the last part of this question is that the market floors are washed every day and, in addition, special cleansing operations are carried out twice a month.

MR. LOBO (in English):-Arising from the first part of Mr. CHAN'S reply to me, we are now in 1978 and the market is unsightly. May I know from him can we expect action during this year?

MR. CHAN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the latest information I have would be that the construction of the temporary market would begin in two months' time and completion would be due by the end of September. The whole exercise of resiting the cooked-food stalls will be done in November so as to enable the commencement of work on our cultural complex to begin.

(4) MR. TSIN SAI-NIN asked the following question (in Cantonese):-

Recently two U.S.D. cleansing workers lost their lives in traffic

accidents. May I ask:-

(a) What remedial measures are being taken to prevent

recurrence of similar accidents in future?

(b) What compensation and care have been provided to the family members of the two deceased workers?

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

As Members are aware, beat-sweepers are issued with floure- scent orange waist-coats, although both these accidents occurred during daylight hours. At present it is difficult to suggest any further remedial measures to prevent such accidents, although the results of the inquests into these accidents could lead to further safety measures being introduced.

For the widow in one of the cases the Department has applied

on her behalf for

(i) public assistance;

(ii) a larger housing estate unit since she maintains that her existing unit was already overcrowded before the death of her husband; and

(iii) employment as a Labourer in the USD. Steps have also been taken to assist her to obtain- (iv) death gratuity;

(v) workman's compensation under the Workman's Com-

pensation Ordinance;

(vi) an advance of a proportion of the death gratuity to

meet funeral expenses;

(vii) reimbursement of such expenses from the Govern-

ment of the funeral expenses incurred.

In the second case, the widow is a Macau resident and is not in possession of a Hong Kong Identity Card. It is, there- fore, only possible to assist her to obtain-

(i) death gratuity;

(ii) workman's compensation;

(iii) an advance of a proportion of the death gratuity to

meet funeral expenses; and

(iv) reimbursement of such expenses from the Govern-

ment.

MR. TSIN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I wish to ask Mr. MACKENZIE whether we should inform the people responsible in every district that an instruction form should be issued to all labourers so as to avoid any accident in the future and, secondly, whether the Urban Council has investigated the family background of the victims, their children's education situation and whether Government has in fact paid out the money to them. If not, can the Urban Council pay part of it?