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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Despite the previous increase in fees on the 1 April 1980, the Council has been facing a deficit arising from the continually rising administrative cost involved in licensing of these businesses and maintaining the satisfactory standards of hygiene for the protection of the health of the general public. It is estimated that there will be a deficit of $3.5 million in the next fiscal year if the existing fees are not revised.
The purpose of these amending By-laws is to help to meet this deficit on the basis of the estimated costs for 1981-82. If adopted, the breakeven position will be achieved and the inequitable situation whereby the rate-payers are in fact subsidizing these businesses will no longer exist.
All the increases now proposed have been carefully considered by the Food Hygiene Select Committee and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council, and I am satisfied that due weight has been given to all the implications of the proposals.
Mr. Chairman, I beg to move.
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded (in English):- Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the proposal.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
4. MRS. GRACE HO, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Commercial Bathhouses (Amendment) By-laws 1981, the Swimming Pools (Amendment) By-laws 1981, the Offensive Trades (Amendment) By-laws 1981, the Places of Amusement (Amendment) By-laws 1981, the Undertakers of Burials (Amendment) By-laws 1981, the Funeral Parlour (Amendment) By-laws 1981 and the Places of Public Entertainment (Licences) (Specification of Fees) Notice 1981 be made under sections 35, 42, 49, 92B and 123 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132 and section 7A(1) of the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance, Cap. 172.'
She said (in English):- Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name.
The various amending By-laws made under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance and the Places of Public Entertainment (Licences) (Specification of Fees) Notice 1981 made under the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance now before the Council will, when adopted, increase the licence fee for:
(1) swimming pools;
(2) commercial bathhouses;
(3) offensive trades; (4) undertakers; (5) funeral parlours;
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
199
(6) certain places of amusement, namely, public billiard saloons and public bowling alleys; and
(7) places of public entertainment (including theatres and cinemas).
Despite the previous increase in fees in April, last year, the Council has been facing a deficit arising from the continually rising administrative cost involved in licensing of these businesses and maintaining the satisfactory standards of hygiene for the protection of the health of the general public.
The purpose of these amending By-laws and the Notice is to help to meet this deficit on the basis of the estimated costs for 1981-82. If adopted, the breakeven position will be achieved and thus the rate-payers will no longer be subsidizing these businesses towards the administrative cost.
Each of the increases now proposed has been very carefully considered by the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council and full weight has been given to all the relevant considerations.
Mr. Chairman, I beg to move.
MR. AMBROSE K. C. CHOI, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded (in English):- Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
CHAIRMAN (in English):- Before we adjourn, this Council bids farewell to two members of very longstanding and great service to the community not only through the Council but many other outside organizations as well.
First, the senior member, Mr. Brook BERNACCHI. Elected in 1952 for the first time, Mr. BERNACCHI has served the Council for 29 years. There was a short break when Mr. BERNACCHI stood down on a matter of principle as his election agent apparently over-spent the allowance but he was returned immediately in a bye-election and assumed his seniority again.
In these years, Mr. BERNACCHI served in many capacities in the Council. His outstanding service was without doubt the fact that right from the start he asserted the independent position of the unofficial member in Council affairs. The record shows many a motion and many a question. These motions sometimes did not find support beyond the seconder. At other times, Mr. BERNACCHI was even the lone voice. Nevertheless, they established a position for unofficial members in the conduct of public affairs.
Page 116 of T20
Page 116 of T20
198
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Despite the previous increase in fees on the 1 April 1980, the Council has been facing a deficit arising from the continually rising administrative cost involved in licensing of these businesses and maintaining the satisfactory standards of hygiene for the protection of the health of the general public. It is estimated that there will be a deficit of $3.5 million in the next fiscal year if the existing fees are not revised.
The purpose of these amending By-laws is to help to meet this deficit on the basis of the estimated costs for 1981-82. If adopted, the breakeven position will be achieved and the inequitable situation whereby the rate- payers are in fact subsidizing these businesses will no longer exist.
All the increases now proposed have been carefully considered by the Food Hygiene Select Committee and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council, and I am satisfied that due weight has been given to all the implications of the proposals.
Mr. Chairman, I beg to move.
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COM- MITTEE, seconded (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the proposal.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
4. MRS. GRACE HO, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Commercial Bathhouses (Amendment) By-laws 1981, the Swimming Pools (Amendment) By-laws 1981, the Offensive Trades (Amendment) By-laws 1981, the Places of Amusement (Amend- ment) By-laws 1981, the Undertakers of Burials (Amendment) By-laws 1981, the Funeral Parlour (Amendment) By-laws 1981 and the Places of Public Entertainment (Licences) (Specification of Fees) Notice 1981 be made under sections 35, 42, 49, 92B and 123 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132 and section 7A(1) of the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance, Cap. 172.'
She said (in English):-Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my
name.
The various amending By-laws made under the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance and the Places of Public Entertainment (Licences) (Specification of Fees) Notice 1981 made under the Places of Public Enter- tainment Ordinance now before the Council will, when adopted, increase the licence fee for:
(1) swimming pools;
(2) commercial bathhouses;
(3) offensive trades; (4) undertakers; (5) funeral parlours;
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
199
(6) certain places of amusement, namely, public billiard saloons and public
bowling alleys; and
(7) places of public entertainment (including theatres and cinemas).
Despite the previous increase in fees in April, last year, the Council has been facing a deficit arising from the continually rising administrative cost involved in licensing of these businesses and maintaining the satisfactory standards of hygiene for the protection of the health of the general public.
The purpose of these amending By-laws and the Notice is to help to meet this deficit on the basis of the estimated costs for 1981-82. If adopted, the breakeven position will be achieved and thus the rate-payers will no longer be subsidizing these businesses towards the administrative cost.
Each of the increases now proposed has been very carefully considered by the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee and the Standing Committee of the Whole Council and full weight has been given to all the relevant con- siderations.
Mr. Chairman, I beg to move.
MR. AMBROSE K. C. CHOI, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, seconded (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I beg to second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Before we adjourn, this Council bids farewell to two members of very longstanding and great service to the community not only through the Council but many other outside organizations as well.
First, the senior member, Mr. Brook BERNACCHI. Elected in 1952 for the first time, Mr. BERNACCHI has served the Council for 29 years. There was a short break when Mr. BERNACCHI stood down on a matter of principle as his election agent apparently over-spent the allowance but he was returned immediately in a bye-election and assumed his seniority again.
In these years, Mr. BERNACCHI served in many capacities in the Council. His outstanding service was without doubt the fact that right from the start be asserted the independent position of the unofficial member in Council affairs. The record shows many a motion and many a question. These motions sometimes did not find support beyond the seconder. At other times, Mr. BERNACCHI was even the lone voice. Nevertheless, they established a position for unofficial members in the conduct of public affairs.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.