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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
STATEMENT BY MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, CHAIRMAN OF THE
FINANCE SELECT COMMITTEE
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—Mr. Chairman, following the decision of this Council to cut voluntarily its percentage rate from six to four for the year 1977-78, a resolution was passed on 31st March, 1977 by the Legislative Council under Section 18(1) of the Rating Ordinance which, inter alia, set the Urban Council rates at 4%.
The revised yield under the Subhead: Urban Council Rates in the Council's Budget is now estimated to be $336 million on the basis of $84 million for each percentage point, as compared with the previous figure of $504 million, thus reducing rate revenue by $168 million. This amendment has the effect of turning the estimated surplus of $146,232,340 into a deficit of $21,767,660 in other words, in round figures the estimated surplus of $146 million into a deficit of $21 million provided that the full capital works budget is expended.
STATEMENT BY MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE
MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, in recent months, there have been several cases of contaminated food in which customers found cockroaches, broken bits of glass, etc. in the food they had been served. The food premises concerned were prosecuted and penalties were imposed.
This Council has always been strict in enforcing measures to ensure food hygiene, with powers and duties delegated by law. Now that these incidents involving food contamination have been brought to light, our health inspectors are leaving no stone unturned in prosecuting this type of offence. But rumour has it among the public that this Council is now reviewing and amending the relevant legislation so that food premises serving contaminated food would be heavily penalized with a view to curbing this sort of practice once and for all. In respect of this matter, I now wish to make a report, with certain clarifications, to the Chairman and my colleagues of this Council.
The Food Hygiene Select Committee has recently considered only the amendment of existing legislation so as to empower the authorities to impose heavier penalties on operators of unlicensed food businesses. As to offences in connection with the sale of unhygienic food, no amendment has been contemplated. Although the existing legislation provides for relatively light sentences for such offenders, it is not the intention of my Committee to make a revision for the purpose of increasing the penalties. However, this does not mean that my Committee will not do so in future. In order to fulfil the Council's obligation towards the community in upholding the standard of food hygiene, we shall not in any circumstance allow the sale of any food products which may adversely affect or injure public health. When the necessity arises, we will seek effective solutions through legal means to ensure that the community is protected against unclean food. In other words, my Committee will keep a close watch on developments in this respect and should such cases continue to rise in number or become increasingly serious, my Committee will review the current laws governing such offences to determine whether they are inefficient or inadequate and, if so, will consider amending them with a view to increasing the effectiveness of our safety measures.
We have considered the effects of heavier penalties on people in the food business, and also their difficulties. But I cannot agree with some of them who maintain that "this is unavoidable" or "there is no effective way to prevent it". Even though these things may happen because of negligence on the part of the workers, the employers cannot shirk the blame. So, employers should strengthen their supervision and employees should exercise more care. A great part of the responsibility in ensuring a reasonable standard of food hygiene for the public falls on the operators and their employees in the food business. With the advent of the hot season, when germs breed easily, I would like to appeal to all those engaged in food businesses to work together to prevent cases of unclean food, so that not only public health and the reputation of the businesses are protected, but also that this Committee will not be forced to consider amending the laws to impose heavier penalties. I think there are various ways to co-operate in this matter. One is for the restaurants and food shops themselves to set up a surprise food inspection system, with regular random sampling inspections carried out by senior management staff. In this way, cases of contaminated food will be lessened or may even cease to happen again.
ADJOURNMENT - 5.09 P.M.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 12th July, at 4.00 p.m.
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54
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
STATEMENT BY MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, CHAIRMAN OF THE
FINANCE SELECT COMMITTEE
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—Mr. Chairman, following the decision of this Council to cut voluntarily its percentage rate from six to four for the year 1977-78, a resolution was passed on 31st March, 1977 by the Legislative Council under Section 18(1) of the Rating Ordinance which, inter alia, set the Urban Council rates at 4%.
The revised yield under the Subhead: Urban Council Rates in the Council's Budget is now estimated to be $336 million on the basis of $84 million for each percentage point, as compared with the previous figure of $504 million, thus reducing rate revenue by $168 million. This amendment has the effect of turning the estimated surplus of $146,232,340 into a deficit of $21,767,660 in other words, in round figures the estimated surplus of $146 million into a deficit of $21 million provided that the full capital works budget is expended.
STATEMENT BY MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE
MR. EDMUND W. H. CHOW (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, in recent months, there have been several cases of contaminated food in which customers found cockroaches, broken bits of glass, etc. in the food they had been served. The food premises concerned were pro- secuted and penalties were imposed.
This Council has always been strict in enforcing measures to ensure food hygiene, with powers and duties delegated by law. Now that these incidents involving food contamination have been brought to light, our health inspectors are leaving no stone unturned in prosecut- ing this type of offence. But rumour has it among the public that this Council is now reviewing and amending the relevant legislation so that food premises serving contaminated food would be heavily penalized with a view to curbing this sort of practice once and for all. In respect of this matter, I now wish to make a report, with certain clarifications, to the Chairman and my colleagues of this Council.
The Food Hygiene Select Committee has recently considered only the amendment of existing legislation so as to empower the authorities to impose heavier penalties on operators of unlicensed food businesses. As to offences in connection with the sale of unhygienic food, no amendment has been contemplated. Although the existing legislation provides for relatively light sentences for such offenders, it is not the
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
intention of my Committee to make a revision for the purpose of increasing the penalties. However, this does not mean that my Com- mittee will not do so in future. In order to fulfil the Council's obliga- tion towards the community in upholding the standard of food hygiene, we shall not in any circumstance allow the sale of any food products When the necessity which may adversely affect or injure public health. arises, we will seek effective solutions through legal means to ensure that the community is protected against unclean food. In other words, my Committee will keep a close watch on developments in this respect and should such cases continue to rise in number or become increas- ingly serious, my Committee will review the current laws governing such offences to determine whether they are inefficient or inadequate and, if so, will consider amending them with a view to increasing the effectiveness of our safety measures.
We have considered the effects of heavier penalties on people in the food business, and also their difficulties. But I cannot agree with some of them who maintain that "this is unavoidable" or "there is no effective way to prevent it". Even though these things may happen because of negligence on the part of the workers, the employers cannot shirk the blame. So, employers should strengthen their supervision and employees should exercise more care. A great part of the respon- sibility in ensuring a reasonable standard of food hygiene for the public falls on the operators and their employees in the food business. With the advent of the hot season, when germs breed easily, I would like to appeal to all those engaged in food businesses to work together to prevent cases of unclean food, so that not only public health and the reputation of the businesses are protected, but also that this Com- mittee will not be forced to consider amending the laws to impose heavier penalties. I think there are various ways to co-operate in this matter. One is for the restaurants and food shops themselves to set up a surprise food inspection system, with regular random sampling inspections carried out by senior management staff. In this way, cases of contaminated food will be lessened or may even cease to happen again.
ADJOURNMENT - 5.09 P.M.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Council stands adjourned until Tuesday, 12th July, at 4.00 p.m.
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