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223
# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Hawker Problem Another major topic brought up by Members was the problem of illegal hawkers in well-known 'blackspots', particularly in the night time, e.g. along the Causeway Bay shopping centre, in the Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong districts. In some areas, these hawkers provide a ready environment for unhygienic practices and prevent shops and other legitimate rate payers from earning their living by clogging streets and blocking their access.
The Council has in the past years, spent a great deal of money and manpower to deal with illegal hawkers. In 1993, to bring about qualitative improvement to the existing hawker control organisation and operation, a new grade of Hawker Control Officer has been created to undertake hawker control duties in the two Municipal Departments. With a dedicated force to undertake hawker control duties, we hope that noticeable improvement could be brought about. Nonetheless, in deploying a fresh staff force under the General Duties Team, may I suggest that the Department should also consider the feasibility of the proposals made by Messrs. YIM Kwok-on and Justein Wong on the control of illegal hawkers. Let's hope that with an upgraded General Duties Team, improved control measures and growing public awareness and co-operation, the problem of illegal hawkers can be put under better control in the years to come.
Statement of Aims of Select Committees
Mr. Marvin CHEUNG has, in his speech on 11 January, made very useful suggestions on the annual Statement of Aims of our Select Committees. I do share his view that the Statement should be more than a list of overall policies. They should contain an element of undertaking to deal with certain outstanding matters which are identified from year to year. Some aims which deserve specific action should be highlighted for attention and as soon as they are achieved, they should be replaced by other priorities. This is also in line with the objective of the Public Sector Reform currently launched by the Government. Let's hope that in the years to come, in addition to our recurrent objectives, our Select Committees will be able to identify specific aims to be accomplished in a particular year, and make a critical assessment of the performance against the original target at the end of the year. By making our Statement of Aims more positive and dynamic, we will be able to further enhance the Urban Council's service to the community of Hong Kong.
Environmental Hygiene
Another common environmental hygiene topic raised by Members was the control of the dog passings on streets. Professor P. C. LEUNG, Mr. WONG Shui-lai and Ms. Anna TANG have, in their speeches, appealed to the Council and the Department to formulate plans to overcome this environmental hygiene problem. I do share their concern on this issue, however, I think the solution lies in the enhancement of public education, accompanied by enforcement of more stringent measures against irresponsible dog masters. Furthermore, the Department should also formulate plans, educate the public and gather data on the severity of the problem in order to be able to devise effective measures to resolve the problem.
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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
With the limited time in hand, I am afraid I cannot comment comprehensively on all the useful suggestions made by Members here. Nevertheless, I wish to thank you all for your constructive suggestions which, I am sure, will be seriously and favourably considered by the authorities concerned. Thanks to Mr. Vincent CHOW for his brief and positively negative remarks which added much of a political flair to our prolonged debates. Maybe next year he will come up with some positively positivity in his poetic presentations.
Lastly, I wish to take this opportunity to convey my heartfelt appreciation for the support and co-operation of all of our Councillors and departmental staff members without which the Council cannot have discharged its responsibilities so smoothly and successfully.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
MOTIONS
1.
MR. MA LEE-WO, MEMBER OF THE LIBRARIES SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Designation of Libraries (Urban Council Area) (No. 2) Order 1994 be made under section 105K of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
He said (in English): Mr. Chairman, as Member of the Libraries Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name.
'RESOLVED that the Designation of Libraries (Urban Council Area) (No. 2) Order 1994 be made under section 105K of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
The purposes of the Order are to cancel the designation of the existing Lam Tin Public Library at Units No. 3 to 6, Ground Floor, Block 20, Lam Tin Estate (II), Kowloon, which will be closed following the opening of the new Lam Tin Public Library and to designate the Ground Floor, Wing B, Tak Lok House, Tak Tin Estate, Kowloon, as a library and to amend the Schedule to the Designation of Libraries (Urban Council Area) Order 1986.
I beg to move.
VCUC (in English): I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Page 111 of 132
Page 111 of 132
223
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The Hawker Problem Another major topic brought up by Members was the problem of illegal hawkers in well known 'blackspots', particularly in the night time, e.g. along the Causeway Bay shopping centre, in the Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong districts. In some areas, these hawkers provide a ready environment for unhygienic practices and prevent shops and other legitimate rate payers from earning their living by clogging streets and blocking their access.
The Council has in the past years, spent a great deal of money and manpower to deal with illegal hawkers. In 1993, to bring about qualitative improvement to the existing hawker control organisation and operation, a new grade of Hawker Control Officer has been created to undertake hawker control duties in the two Municipal Departments. With a dedicated force to undertake hawker control duties, we hope that noticeable improvement could be brought about. Nonetheless, in deploying a fresh staff force under the General Duties Team, may I suggest that the Department should also consider the feasibility of the proposals made by Messrs. YIM Kwok-on and Justein Wong on the control of illegal hawkers. Let's hope that with an upgraded General Duties Team, improved control measures and growing public awareness and co-operation, the problem of illegal hawkers can be put under better control in the years to come.
Statement of Aims of Select Committees
Mr. Marvin CHEUNG has, in his speech on 11 January, made very useful suggestions on the annual Statement of Aims of our Select Committees. I do share his view that the Statement should be more than a list of overall policies. They should contain an element of undertaking to deal with certain outstanding matters which are identified from year to year. Some aims which deserve specific action should be highlighted for attention and as soon as they are achieved, they should be replaced by other priorities. This is also in line with the objective of the Public Sector Reform currently launched by the Government. Let's hope that in the years to come, in addition to our recurrent objectives, our Select Committees will be able to identify specific aims to be accomplished in a particular year, and make a critical assessment of the performance against the original target at the end of the year. By making our Statement of Aims more positive and dynamic, we will be able to further enhance the Urban Council's service to the community of Hong Kong.
Environmental Hygiene
Another common environmental hygiene topic raised by Members was the control of the dog passings on streets. Professor P. C. LEUNG, Mr. WONG Shui-lai and Ms. Anna TANG have, in their speeches, appealed to the Council and the Department to formulate plans to overcome this environmental hygiene problem. I do share their concern on this issue, however, I think the solution lies in the enhancement of public education, accompanied by enforcement of more stringent measures against irresponsible dog masters. Furthermore, the Department should also formulate plans, educate the public and gather data on the severity of the problem in order to be able to devise effective measures to resolve the problem.
Page 111 of 132
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
With the limited time in hand, I am afraid I cannot comment comprehensively on all the useful suggestions made by Members here. Nevertheless, I wish to thank you all for your constructive suggestions which, I am sure, will be seriously and favourably considered by the authorities concerned. Thanks to Mr. Vincent CHOW for his brief and positively negative remarks which added much of a political flair to our prolonged debates. Maybe next year he will come up with some positively positivity in his poetic presentations.
Lastly, I wish to take this opportunity to convey my heartfelt appreciation for the support and co-operation of all of our Councillors and departmental staff members without which the Council cannot have discharged its responsibilities so smoothly and successfully.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
MOTIONS
1.
MR. MA LEE-WO, MEMBER OF the Libraries Select CommitTEE, move the following motion:-
'RESOLVED that the Designation of Libraries (Urban Council Area) (No. 2) Order 1994 be made under section 105K of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
He said (in English): Mr. Chairman, as Member of the Libraries Select Committee, I rise to move the motion standing in my name.
'RESOLVED that the Designation of Libraries (Urban Council Area) (No. 2) Order 1994 be made under section 105K of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132.'
The purposes of the Order are to cancel the designation of the existing Lam Tin Public Library at Units No. 3 to 6, Ground Floor, Block 20, Lam Tin Estate (II), Kowloon, which will be closed following the opening of the new Lam Tin Public Library and to designate the Ground Floor, Wing B, Tak Lok House, Tak Tin Estate, Kowloon, as a library and to amend the Schedule to the Designation of Libraries (Urban Council Area) Order 1986.
I beg to move.
VCUC (in English): I second the motion.
The question was put.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Page 111 of 132
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