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involved then we will keep an eye on this situation. We do not have stipulations concerning the means of transportation at the moment but we will consider that.
2.
THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in Cantonese): How many mobile food vans are there in the ten urban districts, and is the number of such mobile food vans increasing to provide hygienically prepared food to workers and students in factory and school areas respectively?
MR. LEE CHIK-YUET, Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee, replied as follows (in Cantonese):--This question concerns the number of licensed mobile food vans operating in the urban districts, and the provision of hygienically prepared food to workers and students in factory and school areas.
The total number of licensed food vans in the urban districts has remained at four since July 1985 when those food vans in the Kwun Tong district were delicensed and accommodated into the Tsun Yip Cooked Food Market. These four food vans are now operating in Wong Chuk Hang in the Southern District, catering for factory workers.
The availability of adequate lunching facilities in factory and school areas is a source of concern to both the public and the Government in areas where there are insufficient proper eating facilities such as restaurants, cooked food centres, school canteens and factory canteens. Pending the provision of these permanent facilities the issue of a limited number of fixed pitch (cooked food or light refreshment) hawker licences for mobile vans operating at designated fixed locations has served as an interim stop gap measure to solve the meal problem. The need for such interim facilities in a particular district is normally identified by the Urban Services Department or the local District Board and with its support the Council would normally issue such licences in accordance with the number of agreed sites available.
The number of licensed mobile food vans has not increased in the last 12 months. The district hygiene staff are making monthly inspections of these vans to ensure that the food is supplied from an approved source and prepared in a hygienic manner. In general the existing hygienic standard of the four vans is satisfactory.
THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, may I ask why the mobile food vans are limited to 4 and is it true to say that other districts do not need them and therefore they only operate in Southern District?
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):-----Mr. Chairman, the reason why the number is limited to 4 is that as I said in my reply that there used to be 6 in Kwun Tong. As a result of the opening of the Tsun Yip Cooked Food Market, some of them have been accommodated in this market. I believe there are needs in other districts and I am pleased to let you know that at the Working Party on Hawkers and Related Policies chaired by Mrs. Tu, it has been considered how best to issue more licences to such vans to solve problems in particular districts and this is still under discussion. I believe that when the Working Party's report becomes a White Paper in September, there would be practical means provided.
MR. FAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, at the last UC meeting Dr. PERRY said something in connection with food poisoning cases related to schools, and discussion was held with Councillors and I asked a question that some schools which are very far away from eating establishments, such as at the Peak in the Eastern district or Mid-levels, there should be licenced mobile food vans to make it convenient for students. And you, Mr. Chairman, said that the matter would be taken up at the relevant Select Committee. My question is, has it been discussed at the relevant Select Committee and what is the result?
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, actually the question concerns the work of 2 Select Committees, namely Miss YEUNG'S Food Hygiene Select Committee and the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee of which I am the Chairman. The Working Party on Hawkers and Related Policies of which Mrs. Tu is the Chairman is actively considering how best to solve the problem including the option mentioned by MR. FAN of identifying the schools in rather remote areas and issue licences to mobile vans and ensure the design is right. All these points will be considered and certain discussions have already been held but on the matter of food hygiene I believe it is not in order for me to speak.
MR. MARVIN CHEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, the question asked that how many mobile food vans are there and the answer was that there are 4 licensed mobile food vans. Does that mean that there are no unlicensed food vans or have they not been counted?
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, as far as I am aware, there are about 30 unlicensed mobile food vans trading in the various districts in the urban area.
3. MR. SAMUEL WONG asked the following question (in Cantonese):—I understand we operate a few heated swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor. Could this Council be informed if usage rate of these pools in the winter months were encouraging? Would our outdoor heated pools be able to attract more swimmers in winter months if weather-proof covers were provided to these venues?
MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION Select Committee, replied as follows (in English):—The first part of the question asks whether the usage rate of swimming pools in the winter months is encouraging.
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involved then we will keep an eye on this situation. We do not have stipulations concerning the means of transportation at the moment but we will consider
that.
2.
THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in Cantonese): How many mobile food vans are there in the ten urban districts, and is the number of such mobile food vans increasing to provide hygienically prepared food to workers and students in factory and school areas respectively?
MR. LEE CHIK-Yuet, Chairman of the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee, replied as follows (in Cantonese):--This question concerns the number of licensed mobile food vans operating in the urban districts, and the provision of hygienically prepared food to workers and students in factory and school areas.
The total number of licensed food vans in the urban districts has remained at four since July 1985 when those food vans in the Kwun Tong district were delicensed and accommodated into the Tsun Yip Cooked Food Market. These four food vans are now operating in Wong Chuk Hang in the Southern District, catering for factory workers.
The availability of adequate lunching facilities in factory and school areas is a source of concern to both the public and the Government in areas where there are insufficient proper eating facilities such as restaurants, cooked food centres, school canteens and factory canteens. Pending the provision of these permanent facilities the issue of a limited number of fixed pitch (cooked food or light refreshment) hawker licences for mobile vans operating at designated fixed locations has served as an interim stop gap measure to solve the meal problem. The need for such interim facilities in a particular district is normally identified by the Urban Services Department or the local District Board and with its support the Council would normally issue such licences in accordance with the number of agreed sites available.
The number of licensed mobile food vans has not increased in the last 12 months. The district hygiene staff are making monthly inspections of these vans to ensure that the food is supplied from an approved source and prepared in a hygienic manner. In general the existing hygienic standard of the four vans is satisfactory.
THE HONOURABLE HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, may I ask why the mobile food vans are limited to 4 and is it true to say that other districts do not need them and therefore they only operate in Southern District?
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):-----Mr. Chairman, the reason why the number is limited to 4 is that as i said in my reply that there used to be 6 in Kwun Tong. As a result of the opening of the Tsun Yip Cooked Food Market, some of them have been accommodated in this market. I believe there are needs in other
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districts and I am pleased to let you know that at the Working Party on Hawkers and Related Policies chaired by Mrs. Tu, it has been considered how best to issue more licences to such vans to solve problems in particular districts and this is still under discussion. I believe that when the Working Party's report becomes a White Paper in September, there would be practical means provided.
MR. FAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, at the last UC meeting Dr. PERRY said something in connection with food poisoning cases related to schools, and discussion was held with Councillors and I asked a question that some schools which are very far away from eating establishments, such as at the Peak in the Eastern district or Mid-levels, there should be licenced mobile food vans to make it convenient for students. And you, Mr. Chairman, said that the matter would be taken up at the relevant Select Committee. My question is, has it been discussed at the relevant Select Committee and what is the result?
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, actually the question concerns the work of 2 Select Committees, namely Miss YEUNG'S Food Hygiene Select Committee and the Markets and Street Traders Select Committee of which I
I am the Chairman. The Working Party on Hawkers and Related Policies of which Mrs. Tu is the Chairman is actively considering how best to solve the problem including the option mentioned by Mr. FAN of identifying the schools in rather remote areas and issue licences to mobile vans and ensure the design is right. All these points will be considered and certain discussions have already been held but on the matter of food hygiene I believe it is not in order for me to speak.
MR. MARVIN CHEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, the question asked that how many mobile food vans are there and the answer was that there are 4 licensed mobile food vans. Does that mean that there are no unlicensed food vans or have they not been counted?
MR. C. Y. LEE (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, as far as I am aware, there are about 30 unlicensed mobile food vans trading in the various districts in the urban area.
3. MR. SAMUEL WONG asked the following question (in Cantonese):—I understand we operate a few heated swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor. Could this Council be informed if usage rate of these pools in the winter months were encouraging? Would our outdoor heated pools be able to attract more swimmers in winter months if weather-proof covers were provided to these venues?
MR. HOWARD H. W. YOUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION Select Committee, replied as follows (in English):—The first part of the question asks whether the usage rate of swimming pools in the winter months is encouraging.
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Private notes are available after approval.