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that the rubbish mainly came from the Filipino maids during weekends in Central. I live in the rural area and I know very little about how Central looks like at weekends and Sundays. If Mr. Lau thinks the situation is not that satisfactory, of course, we can think out some improvement programmes.

on

MR. JOSEPH CHAN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, on the question educating our younger generation, we had visited countries in North America and I understand that over there, they used to mobilize the universities there to deploy students to monitor the cleanliness of their own cities and to prepare the reports for the local city council. In this respect, I would like to know whether the Council will also consider similar methods to invite students from the universities to take part in such work, partly for educational purposes and partly for the job of monitoring the cleanliness of our city?

DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):---Mr. Chairman, I understand that the Education Department and other Government departments are also participating in the Clean Hong Kong Keep Campaign. Of course, universities are not under the jurisdiction of the Education Department and for the secondary schools, they are rather busy and for the primary students they are too small, and when compared with the States our studies have a much more heavier workload and whether it is possible for us to invite university students to take part in the survey and also the monitoring work, I believe it is more appropriate for the relevant select committees to look into such possibilities.

(Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN left at this point—–2.45 p.m.j

4. MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):- The public are long concerned about the street sleepers who mostly sleep or wander in the parks under the jurisdiction of the Urban Council. Apart from being an eye- sore, some of them are suspected to be mentally unbalanced and may be a threat to the public. As government departments are not paying attention to the matter, may I ask what measures are being taken by the Council to solve the problem?

MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG, Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question asks what measures are being taken by the Council to solve the problem of street sleepers who sleep or wander in parks under the jurisdiction of the Council, and who apart from being an eye- sore may be mentally unbalanced and thus pose a threat to the public.

Public Pleasure Grounds By-law 23(d) stipulates that 'No person shall, in any pleasure ground lie upon any seat or lie down in any building therein'. Street sleepers found sleeping in Council parks, are requested to move on. If such a warning is ignored, which is fairly rare, action is taken to prosecute offenders. According to Departmental records, 9 persons were prosecuted under By-law 23(d) in 1985.

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In respect of those habitual street sleepers, who appear to be mentally unbalanced, and who are found sleeping in Council parks, the assistance of the Social Welfare Department is sought. In 1985, 8 such cases were referred to that Department.

As for those street sleepers found wandering in Council parks, it is not possible to take action against them unless they contravene the Public Pleasure Grounds By-laws.

The Department does not consider this to be a widespread problem. In districts such as Yaumatei and Mongkok, were the problem is perhaps more acute than in other districts, Departmental staff pay particular attention and when necessary mount special clearance operations to prevent such individuals from becoming permanently ensconced in Council parks.

MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, some of those people concerned do not actually sleep on the bench but they lean on the bench or when people pass by they will behave very strangely, and when the passers-by are gone, they will resume their normal behaviour, what action can we take against such people?

MR. YOUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, we will have to take action according to the law and if people just sit and behave very strangely, but do not break the law, there is nothing that we can do. You may find them queer but others may not find them so strange. The law has stated how a person should not behave, for example, whether a person may deliver speeches in a public place or in the park, whether one would be allowed to pray, so it is something that one does, aside from resting or walking in the park and whether a person is behaving in an insulting manner or whether it is a threat to the safety of other people, etc. Lawyers present said that if there were contraventions of the law, then something could be done but other than that, there is really nothing we can do.

MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I have heard complaints saying that people occupy these long benches and when somebody sits at the other end they will move right to the same end, and they will just make themselves very obstructive to other people and this really contravene the normal behaviour for people in parks.

MR. YOUNG (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I think that moving towards the same end of the seat as other people really depends on the extent of disturbance to other people. Under some circumstances people may welcome others coming close to them. (laughter)

MR. KWAN (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, on hearing Mr. YOUNG's reply, he said that under the Parks Ordinance, if you lie down, then it would be a contravention of the Ordinance. Will our park wardens clearly distinguish the

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