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cleaning companies pay their staff very little. Sources reveal that when a cleaning company of Wong Tai Sin area under contract with us closed down, it was revealed that their cleaning staff were paid around $3,000 a month. As we contract out services, maybe we should review effective ways to tackle the problem. I do not think it has anything to do with socialism or a free economy under Thatcherism. We should draw in competition to improve our cleaning work, and this is precisely why we support the motion. I hope you will support it.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese):—I think the motion is worthy of our support. In fact, the last line of the motion is not its main point. To improve cleanliness and hygiene is really the spirit of the motion. I heard some colleagues making far-fetched speeches and lifting the topic to a political, philosophical level. My eyes are opened. I hope the colleague concerned becomes a real Marxist. Yes, I heard him opposing to contracting out, calling privatization an exploitation of the lower class. If that is the party view of the Democratic Party, I hope it will withdraw its previous suggestions for privatization of market management, maintenance work and cleaning services. If it does not withdraw them, we are confused about its party logic. I really hope the speech by the colleague concerned to be a true reflection of the party's regard for grassroots. I hope he was not making impulsive off the cuff remarks.
As to my reasons for supporting the motion, I find it timely. The spread of tuberculosis bacteria is mostly in the air. Improving street cleanliness, and especially prosecuting indiscriminate spitters, helps check the spread of tuberculosis. Cholera has been threatening us too. Better environmental hygiene, cleaner streets will help keep things under control.
If the motion is carried, I call on the Urban Services Department to take stringent actions on hygiene matters and help check the spread of tuberculosis and cholera. I do hope Members will support the motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. KAM NAI-WAI (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, a Member mentioned the stand of the Democratic Party and whether it supported the motion. I speak on behalf of Members of the Democratic Party in vowing basic support to the spirit of the motion. However, we have certain reservations for part of the contents of the motion, including increasing manpower to take out prosecutions and overall expansion of the contracting out scheme. A Member of the Party spoke on exploitation. In fact, Members of the Party did receive many complaints from cleaning workers against exploitation.
For our stand, as expressly given by Mr. LEE Kwok-keung, at this stage we support contracting out of one third of the cleaning work only. Besides, exploitation, the real reason, as mentioned by some colleagues, lies in legal clauses. Therefore, at this stage, we only support a maximum of one third. I
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cleaning companies pay their staff very little. Sources reveal that when a cleaning company of Wong Tai Sin area under contract with us closed down, it was revealed that their cleaning staff were paid around $3,000 a month. As we contract out services, maybe we should review effective ways to tackle the problem. I do not think it has anything to do with socialism or a free economy under Thatcherism. We should draw in competition to improve our cleaning work, and this is precisely why we support the motion. I hope you will support il.
MR. WONG KWOK-HING (in Cantonese):—I think the motion is worthy of our support. In fact, the last line of the motion is not its main point. To improve cleanliness and hygiene is really the spirit of the motion. I heard some colleagues making far-fetched speeches and lifting the topic to a political, philosophical level. My eyes are opened. I hope the colleague concerned becomes a real Marxist. Yes, I heard him opposing to contracting out, calling privatization an exploitation of the lower class. If that is the party view of the Democratic Party, I hope it will withdraw its previous suggestions for privatization of market management, maintenance work and cleaning services. If it does not withdraw them, we are confused about its party logic. I really hope the speech by the colleague concerned to be a true reflection of the party's regard for grassroots. I hope he was not making impulsive off the cuff remarks.
As to my reasons for supporting the motion, I find it timely. The spread of tuberculosis bacteria is mostly in the air. Improving street cleanliness, and especially prosecuting indiscriminate spitters, helps check the spread of tuberculosis. Cholera has been threatening us too. Better environmental hygiene, cleaner streets will help keep things under control.
If the motion is carried, I call on the Urban Services Department to take stringent actions on hygiene matters and help check the spread of tuberculosis and cholera. I do hope Members will support the motion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. KAM NAI-WAI (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, a Member mentioned the stand of the Democratic Party and whether it supported the motion. I speak on behalf of Members of the Democratic Party in vowing basic support to the spirit of the motion. However, we have certain reservations for part of the contents of the motion, including increasing manpower to take out prosecutions and overall expansion of the contracting out scheme. A Member of the Party spoke on exploitation. In fact, Members of the Party did receive many complaints from cleaning workers against exploitation.
For our stand, as expressly given by Mr. LEE Kwok-keung, at this stage we support contracting out of one third of the cleaning work only. Besides. exploitation, the real reason, as mentioned by some colleagues, lies in legal clauses. Therefore, at this stage, we only support a maximum of one third. I
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