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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(c) For what items does the Council allocate funds to the Department of Health every year? What was the total allocation on such items last year? How does the Council monitor the expenditure of these funds? Is there any Council or independent audit report?
(d) In carrying out the policies and legislation on food hygiene, how do the Health Inspectors of the Council and those of the Department of Health share responsibilities and co-operate with one another? What is the manpower assigned to such duties? Are the Health Inspectors of the Department of Health monitored by the Council and supervised by the Urban Services Department?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT, Chairman of THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-The question is divided into four parts and concerns the relationship between the Council and the Department of Health.
When the Regional Council was first established in 1985, the Municipal Services Branch (MSB) was created as the policy branch to handle matters pertaining to the two Municipal Councils. The Hygiene Division of the Urban Services Department comprising Food, Pest Control and Health Education Sections was then moved to MSB's establishment. When MSB was dissolved in April 1990, the Hygiene Division, the responsibilities of which were territory-wide was transferred to the Department of Health. As members were advised at the Public Health Select Committee on 6 March, the matter thus has a long and somewhat complicated history. The relevant Council papers, as promised by the Department, will be recirculated to Members so that those interested can more fully understand the matter in its historical context.
All Food Regulations under Part V of Cap. 132 are, in whole or part, the responsibility of the Hygiene Division of the Department of Health. If any Member wishes to be given a list of the specific regulations, I can provide these after the meeting.
Regarding the second part of the question, the two Municipal Councils are the designated authority for all provisions under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation. However, certain powers have been delegated to the Director of Health and, in practice, to the Hygiene Division. Consequently, a kind of symbiotic relationship exists between the Department of Health's Hygiene Division and the two Municipal Councils, the nature of which will be made clear to Members once the previous papers on this subject have been recirculated.
On the third part of the question, the two Councils allocate funds to the Department of Health to meet, in essence, all operating costs of the Hygiene Division. Major items include staff salaries, rent, testing of food samples, purchase of food samples, transport and travelling. In the 1994/95 fiscal year, the Urban Council provided a total of $56.4 million. The Department of Health prepares annual estimates of revenue and expenditure for vetting by the
Page 453 of 485
age 453 of 485
Tage 453 of 485
Page 453 of 485
age 453 of 485
Tage 453 of 485
164
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(c) For what items does the Council allocate funds to the Department of
Health every year? What was the total allocation on such items last year? How does the Council monitor the expenditure of these funds? Is there any Council or independent audit report?
(d) In carrying out the policies and legislation on food hygiene, how do the Health Inspectors of the Council and those of the Department of Health share responsibilities and co-operate with one another? What is the manpower assigned to such duties? Are the Health Inspectors of the Department of Health monitored by the Council and supervised by the Urban Services Department?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT, Chairman of THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-The question is divided into four parts and concerns the relationship between the Council and the Department of Health.
When the Regional Council was first established in 1985, the Municipal Services Branch (MSB) was created as the policy branch to handle matters pertaining to the two Municipal Councils. The Hygiene Division of the Urban Services Department comprising Food, Pest Control and Health Education Sections was then moved to MSB's establishment. When MSB was dissolved in April 1990, the Hygiene Division, the responsibilities of which were territory- wide was transferred to the Department of Health. As members were advised at the Public Health Select Committee on 6 March, the matter thus has a long and somewhat complicated history. The relevant Council papers, as promised by the Department, will be recirculated to Members so that those interested can more fully understand the matter in its historical context.
All Food Regulations under Part V of Cap. 132 are, in whole or part, the responsibility of the Hygiene Division of the Department of Health. If any Member wishes to be given a list of the specific regulations, I can provide these after the meeting.
Regarding the second part of the question, the two Municipal Councils are the designated authority for all provisions under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance and its subsidiary legislation. However, certain powers have been delegated to the Director of Health and, in practice, to the Hygiene Division. Consequently, a kind of symbiotic relationship exists between the Department of Health's Hygiene Division and the two Municipal Councils, the nature of which will be made clear to Members once the previous papers on this subject have been recirculated.
On the third part of the question, the two Councils allocate funds to the Department of Health to meet, in essence, all operating costs of the Hygiene Division. Major items include staff salaries, rent, testing of food samples, purchase of food sample, transport and travelling. In the 1994/95 fiscal year, the Urban Council provided a total of $56.4 million. The Department of Health prepares annual estimates of revenue and expenditure for vetting by the
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