Page 77 of 174
116
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
QUESTIONS
(1) DR. P. C. WONG asked the following question (in English):-
(a) How many staff has the Council sent abroad for training each year since 1973-74?
(b) How many have returned to Hong Kong?
(c) Are they all now employed with USD in Urban Areas?
(d) Have they all been with the Department in the Urban Areas since they came back?
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE, Chairman of the Administration Select Committee, replied as follows (in English):-
This question deals with the overseas training of Urban Council staff and I am pleased to answer as Chairman of the Administration Select Committee.
Since 1973 until March, 1977 49 members of the Health Inspectorate, 14 Amenities Officers/Amenities Assistants, 2 Pest Control Officers, 3 Assistant Librarians, 5 Senior Assistant Managers/Assistant Managers, 2 Assistant Curators and 1 Museum Assistant, a total of 76 officers were sent to attend overseas courses on specialist subjects which were not available locally. Except for 3 Amenities Officers who are still undertaking a 2-year Course on Horticulture in Australia, all have returned to Hong Kong.
Under our current year's training programme, 13 officers of various grades have left for training overseas. Of these, 4 Health Inspectors have completed the 3-month course on Insect and Pest Infestation in Food in U.K. and have returned.
Out of 89 officers who were sent overseas for training, 77 in toto have returned. Except for 2 officers who have returned to Hong Kong but are still on vacation leave and one who is living in Yuen Long and who now is within the N.T. Region since his return from study leave, all the other 74 have at one time or another been posted to work for the USD within the urban areas. Currently, 56 are employed in urban area posts.
Annex I & II
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
117
I am tabling detailed lists showing the number of officers sent abroad for training each year since 1973-74 are tabled for information of Members, together with the posting history of these officers since their return from overseas courses.
CHAIRMAN (in English):- Mr. MACKENZIE, perhaps you might like to explain the 18 missing bodies.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):- Mr. Chairman, the 18 missing bodies appear to have not only escaped the Urban Council net but also the net of the Administration Select Committee. I believe that this must refer, I have not got the details, to returned trainees now within the New Territories Division of the Urban Services Department, and those who have resigned from the service, and possibly some retirements. I am asking the Establishment Sub-Committee to have a look at this situation as this seems a disproportionate number of missing bodies from long-term training programmes that we, as the Council, have financed.
CHAIRMAN (in English):- You might have to issue a writ of habeas corpus.
(Laughter).
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):- That is beyond my jurisdiction, Sir.
(2) MR. TSIN SAI-NIN asked the following question (in Cantonese):
How many parks and playgrounds are there in Hong Kong and Kowloon? What sort of training have the park/playground keepers undergone? Is such training adequate to cope with their increased workload? Are we prepared to provide them with opportunities for more advanced training? How many park/playground keepers are on the establishment? Are they up to strength?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, replied as follows (in English):-
There are at present 218 Urban Council parks and playgrounds of which 89 are in Hong Kong and 129 in Kowloon. With Members' agreement 216 playgrounds were handed over to the Housing Authority in April this year.
Since 1972, 24 part-time day-release courses in "Parkkeeping Service" have been organized for the training of park-keepers. Each training course runs for 9 to 11 weeks on
Page 77 of 174
Page 77 of 174
Page 77 of 174
116
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
QUESTIONS
(1) DR. P. C. WONG asked the following question (in English):-
(a) How many staff has the Council sent abroad for training
each year since 1973-74?
(b) How many have returned to Hong Kong?
(c) Are they all now employed with USD in Urban Areas? (d) Have they all been with the Department in the Urban
Areas since they came back?
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE, Chairman of the Administration Select Committee, replied as follows (in English): -
This question deals with the overseas training of Urban Council staff and I am pleased to answer as Chairman of the Administration Select Committee.
Since 1973 until March, 1977 49 members of the Health Inspectorate, 14 Amenities Officers / Amenities Assistants, 2 Pest Control Officers, 3 Assistant Librarians, 5 Senior Assistant Managers/Assistant Managers, 2 Assistant Curators and 1 Museum Assistant, a total of 76 officers were sent to attend overseas courses on specialist sub- jects which were not available locally. Except for 3 Amenities Officers who are still undertaking a 2-year Course on Horticulture in Australia, all have returned to Hong Kong.
Under our current year's training programme, 13 officers of various grades have left for training overseas. Of these,
4 Health Inspectors have completed the 3-month course on Insect and Pest Infestation in Food in U.K. and have returned.
Out of 89 officers who were sent overseas for training, 77 in toto have returned. Except for 2 officers who have returned to Hong Kong but are still on vacation leave and one who living in Yuen Long and who now is within in the N.T. Region since his return from study leave, all the other 74 have at one time or another been posted to work for the USD within the urban areas. Currently, 56 are employed in urban area posts.
Annex I & II
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
117
I am tabling detailed lists showing the number of officers sent abroad for training each year since 1973-74 are tabled for information of Members, together with the posting history of these officers since their return from overseas courses.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Mr. MACKENZIE, perhaps you might like to explain the 18 missing bodies.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the 18 missing bodies appear to have not only escaped the Urban Council net but also the net of the Administration Select Committee. I believe that this must refer, I have not got the details, to returned trainees now within the New Territories Division of the Urban Services Department, and those who have resigned from the service, and possibly some retirements. I am asking the Establishment Sub-Committee to have a look at this situation as this seems a disproportionate number of missing bodies from long-term training programmes that we, as the Council, have financed.
CHAIRMAN (in English): -You might have to issue a writ of habeas
(Laughter).
corpus.
MR. MACKENZIE (in English):-That is beyond my jurisdiction, Sir.
(2) MR. TSIN SAI-NIN asked the following question (in Cantonese):
How many parks and playgrounds are there in Hong Kong and Kowloon? What sort of training have the park/ playground keepers undergone? Is such training adequate to cope with their increased workload? Are we prepared to provide them with opportunities for more advanced training? How many park/playground keepers are on the establishment? Are they up to strength?
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, Chairman of the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee, replied as follows (in English): —
There are at present 218 Urban Council parks and playgrounds of which 89 are in Hong Kong and 129 in Kowloon. With Members' agreement 216 playgrounds were handed over to the Housing Authority in April this year.
Since 1972, 24 part-time day-release courses in "Parkkeeping Service" have been organized for the training of park- keepers. Each training course runs for 9 to 11 weeks on
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