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mother to a nearby public lavatory under the management of the Urban Services Department to wash her hands. The basin fell down suddenly and the girl suffered injuries to her hands and feet as a result. In November last year, the girl's father demanded the Urban Services Department to investigate the accident, but has heard nothing of it so far. I would like to ask:
(1) Will the Urban Services Department carry out the further investigation and give the person concerned an explanation?
(2) Will the Urban Council take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of beach-goers using public washing and lavatory facilities in this swimming season?
MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—This question concerns an accident which happened at the public toilet at Chung Hom Kok beach in July last year. It specifically asks (a) whether the U.S.D. will carry out a further investigation and give the victim an explanation; and (b) whether the Council will take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of beach-goers using public washing and lavatory facilities in the coming swimming season.
When accidents involving injury occur at Urban Council facilities it is standard procedure, once aid and assistance to the victim has been rendered, to conduct a departmental investigation with a view to taking follow-up or remedial measures should these be necessary and to inform the Council's insurers.
As regards the victim, once first aid and other necessary medical treatment has been given, any subsequent action taken by him or her to seek redress must be left to his or her own judgement.
I am told that in the particular case to which Mr. Kwan refers an accident occurred when a defective wash-basin fell on a young girl. A notice in Chinese 'danger-pending repairs' had been posted up before the accident took place. First aid treatment was given on the spot and the victim subsequently taken to hospital for further treatment.
The Department duly notified the Council's insurers but heard no more until the case was brought to Mr. Kwan's attention as a ward case in late October. The case is now being dealt with by the Department's legal adviser.
The answers to the two specific questions are, therefore, both in the affirmative. The Department has carried out an investigation and will give the victim an explanation. Appropriate measures to ensure the safety of beach-goers have already been taken. In this case a replacement basin was properly installed immediately following the accident.
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MR. KWAN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, since this case was being brought to my notice in October, and a letter has been sent to the Department. Would it be reasonable that the victim concerned will be patient enough to wait for a number of months before the answer is given to them? Secondly, would the Department give assurance to that effect so that the matter could be speeded up?
MR. Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, is Mr. Kwan asking me to express my opinion as to what length of time is reasonable?
CHAIRMAN (in English):—The first could be borderline. You are also a member of the same profession, you can answer that if you wish, but the second part of the question is certainly acceptable.
MR. Lo (in English):—Perhaps Mr. Kwan would repeat the second part, I don't quite catch it.
MR. KWAN (in English):—Would the Department give assurance to that effect that the matter could be speeded up for the investigation or the result could be given to the person concerned?
MR. Lo (in English):—Yes, I can certainly give the assurance that the reply will be given as soon as reasonably possible.
MR. LAU (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask in ordinary situation, whether there are any alternative facilities in case, say for instance, 'danger-pending repairs'?
MR. Lo (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I do think so because that would not be the only basin in the toilet.
STATEMENT BY MR. CHAN CHI-KWAN, PETER, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD (in English):—
Liquor Licensing Policy and Licence Fees
Mr. Chairman, as the Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board, I wish to inform the meeting that the Board has recently reviewed its policy on the issue of liquor licences in respect of fast food shops (by which, I mean restaurants whose business is essentially that of selling simple fast food consumption both on and off the premises).
This review was undertaken following a public hearing of a disputed application for a liquor licence at which it was alleged that this category of restaurant was likely to attract teenagers and that if the sale of liquor was allowed more teenagers would be encouraged to drink liquor. The objectors also mentioned that these teenagers would create a nuisance if they became drunk.
Page 169 of 194
Page 169 of 194
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
mother to a nearby public lavatory under the management of the Urban Services Department to wash her hands. The basin fell down suddenly and the girl suffered injuries to her hands and feet as a result. In November last year, the girl's father demanded the Urban Services Department to investigate the accident, but has
heard nothing of it so far. I would like to ask:
(1) Will the Urban Services Department carry out the further investigation and
give the person concerned an explanation?
(2) Will the Urban Council take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of beach-goers using public washing and lavatory facilities in this swimming
season?
MR. KENNETH T. C. LO, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE. replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns an accident which happened at the public toilet at Chung Hom Kok beach in July last year. It specifically asks
(a) whether the U.S.D. will carry out a further investigation and give the
victim an explanation; and
(b) whether the Council will take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of beach-goers using public washing and lavatory facilities in the coming
swimming season.
When accidents involving injury occur at Urban Council facilities it is standard procedure, once aid and assistance to the victim has been rendered, to conduct a departmental investigation with a view to taking follow-up or remedial measures should these be necessary and to inform the Council's insurers.
As regards the victim, once first aid and other necessary medical treatment has been given, any subsequent action taken by him or her to seek redress must be left to his or her own judgement.
I am told that in the particular case to which Mr. Kwan refers an accident occurred when a defective wash-basin fell on a young girl. A notice in Chinese (-1) danger-pending repairs' HAD BEEN posted up before the accident took place. First aid treatment was given on the spot and the victim subsequently taken to hospital for further treatment.
The Department duly notified the Council's insurers but heard no more until the case was brought to Mr. KWAN's attention as a ward case in late October. The case is now being dealt with by the Department's legal adviser.
The answers to the two specific questions are, therefore, both in the affirmative. The Department has carried out an investigation and will give the victim an explanation. Appropriate measures to ensure the safety of beach- goers have already been taken. In this case a replacement basin was properly installed immediately following the accident.
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MR. KWAN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, since this case was being brought to my notice in October, and a letter has been sent to the Department. Would it be reasonable that the victim concerned will be patient enough to wait for a number of months before the answer is given to them? Secondly, would the Department give Assurance to that effect so that the matter could be speeded up?
MR. Lo (in English):--Mr. Chairman, is Mr. KWAN asking me to express my
opinion
as to what length of time is reasonable?
CHAIRMAN (in English):-The first could be boarder line. You are being also a member of the same profession, you can answer that if you wish, but the second part of the question is certainly acceptable.
MR. Lo (in English):---Perhaps Mr. KWAN would repeat the second part, I don't
quite catch it.
MR. KWAN (in English):-Would the Department give assurance to that effect hat the matter could be speeded up for the investigation or the result could be given to the person concerned?
MR. Lo (in English):-Yes, I can certainly give the assurance that the reply will be given as soon as reasonably possible.
MR. LAU (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask in ordinary situation, whether there are any alternative facilities in case, say for instance, danger-pending repairs'?
MR. Lo (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I do think so because that would not be the only basin in the toilet.
STATEMENT BY MR. CHAN CHI-KWAN, PETER, CHAIRMAN OF THE LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD (in English):—
Liquor Licensing Policy and Licence Fees
Mr. Chairman, as the Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board, I wish to inform the meeting that the Board has recently reviewed its policy on the issue of liquor licences in respect of fast food shops (by which, I mean restaurants whose business is essentially that of selling simple fast food consumption both on and off the premises).
This review was undertaken following a public hearing of a disputed application for a liquor licence at which it was alleged that this category of restaurant was likely to attract teenagers and that if the sale of liquor was allowed more teenagers would be encouraged to drink liquor. The objectors also mentioned that these teenagers would create a nuisance if they became
drunk.
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