HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
diseases. It is therefore important for us to resolve to urge the SAR Government for amendments to the legislation so that the Director of Urban Services is empowered to act against those involved in unhygienic practices, to refuse to grant licenses and to exercise the power to close establishments at once. In this way, the establishments will not be able to make use of the lengthy period of legal proceeding (about 6 to 9 months) and continue to operate without a license.
The Council started to implement a temporary license system last year so that food premises could operate lawfully when their license applications were being considered. With this, the grey area of the system has been removed. I hope Members will support my motion to urge the SAR Government to amend the relevant legislation and authorize the Director of Urban Services to remove the cancer from unlicensed food operations and protect the health of our citizens.
Mr. Christopher Chung Shu-kun (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
Mr. Lai Hok-lim (in Cantonese):—In accordance with Section 18(1) of the Standing Order, I propose that the motion moved by Mr. WONG Kwok-hing be deferred indefinitely. I give my reasons below.
As mentioned by Mr. Wong just now, we support the content of his motion and we feel that work in this connection should be continued. You may ask why I am asking for a deferment. You will recall that at the extraordinary meeting of the Public Health Select Committee on 24 June, the following motion was carried:
'The Director of Urban Services should be authorized to close unlicensed food premises and licensed food premises of poor hygiene condition at once. The Department should follow up on this proposal.'
Mr. Chairman, I feel that the content of Mr. Wong's motion should be proceeded with, but we have to consider the Standing Order of the Council. This is a motion that was carried at the meeting of a Select Committee. If that motion was not carried or opposed to, we agree to bring it up for discussion here. The wording in that motion is broader in sense than the wording in this motion before us now because it suggests that food premises of poor hygiene condition can be closed at once too.
As a clear motion had been carried at the Council's Select Committee, procedure wise, we should not discuss the present motion further at our monthly meeting although its meaning is significant. If Chairman has different views on this, then in future, motions carried (not just discussed) at Select Committees will be similarly brought to the monthly meeting for discussion. The motion had been carried at the Select Committee and was reported to the SCWC by Mr. Chan Yuek-sut. In the circumstance, if we still spend a lot of
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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
diseases. It is therefore important for us to resolve to urge the SAR Government for amendments to the legislation so that the Director of Urban Services is empowered to act against those involved in unhygienic practices, 10 refuse to grant licenses and to exercise the power to close establishments at once. In this way, the establishments will not be able to make use of the lengthy period of leagal proceeding (about 6 to 9 months) and continue to operate without a license.
The Council started to implement a temporary license system last year se that food premises could operate lawfully when their license applications were being considered. With this, the grey area of the system has been removed. I hope Members will support my motion to urge the SAR Government tc amend the relevant legislation and authorize the Director of Urban Services to remove the cancer from unlicensed food operations and protect the health of our citizens.
Mr. Christopher Chung Shu-kuN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second
the motion.
Mr. Lai Hok-LIM (in Cantonese):-In accordance with Section 18(1) of the Standing Order, I propose that the motion moved by Mr. WONG Kwok-hing be deferred indefinitely. I give my reasons below.
As mentioned by Mr. Wong just know, we support the content of his motion and we feel that work in this connection should be continued. You may ask why I am asking for a deferment. You will recall that at the extraordinary meeting of the Public Health Select Committee on 24 June, the following motion was carried:
'The Director of Urban Services should be authorized to close unlicensed food premises and licensed food premises of poor hygiene condition at once. The Department should follow up on this proposal."
Mr. Chairman, I feel that the content of Mr. Wong's motion should be proceeded with, but we have to consider the Standing Order of the Council. This is a motion that was carried at the meeting of a Select Committee. If that motion was not carried or opposed to, we agree to bring it up for discussion here. The wording in that motion is broader in sense than the wording in this motion before us now because it suggests that food premises of poor hygiene condition can be closed at once too.
As a clear motion had been carried at the Council's Select Committee, procedure wise, we should not discuss the present motion further at our monthly meeting although its meaning is significant. If Chairman has different views on this, then in future, motions carried (not just discussed) at Select Committees will be similarly brought to the monthly meeting for discussion. The motion had been carried at the Select Committee and was reported to the SCWC by Mr. Chan Yuek-sut. In the circumstance, if we still spend a lot of
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