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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. A. DE O. SALES asked the following questions
"(a) Is the Chairman aware of a press report appearing in the "CHINA MAIL" on 24th September giving wide publicity to some confident statements in relation to the quick clearance of debris and rubbish brought about by Typhoon Gloria?
(b) How does the Chairman reconcile those predictions with his own replies to my questions last month? (c) What measures of control and supervision are being taken as a result of the complaints made by the public about the conduct of the staff in clearing the streets?"
THE CHAIRMAN tabled the following written replies
"(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) On the face of it there may appear to be some discrepancy between the newspaper article referred to and my replies to your questions at the last Council meeting. It should be understood however that the statements on which the press report was based were related primarily to the removal of accumulations of ordinary street refuse and garbage resulting from the suspension of all street sweeping operations during the height of the typhoon. This accumulated refuse, together with accumulated household refuse, and refuse of all types deposited at dustboat stations during the withdrawal of all barges from their usual operations for over 48 hours, was in fact disposed of by the night of 25th September as predicted in the press report and as stated in my reply to your question last month.
Accumulations of leaves, twigs and garden refuse were not totally cleared until some days later, and the statements to the press were not intended to imply that they would be. Typhoon Gloria produced a quite exceptional quantity of this type of debris in Kowloon. Special schedules of from 4 to 9 refuse collecting vehicles were put into operation daily during this period, involving the use of special gangs and extra barges. A total of 211 loads of debris amounting to 700 tons were removed.
(c) Only one recorded complaint has been brought to my attention. This was a letter in the press complaining of noise made at night by emergency gangs clearing Belfran Road of piles of leaves, etc. Night clearances are only resorted to in special circumstances, such as those arising after Typhoon Gloria when efforts were being made to clear streets as soon as possible of enormous quantities of leaves. Instructions have been issued that on such occasions work must proceed as quietly as possible, but I do not consider that the need for any other special measures of control or supervision is indicated."
MR. SALES :—With your permission, Sir, I would like to ask a supplementary question to No. 3(a). May this Council know whether you, as Chairman, were consulted before the report was made to the Press?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir, I was.
MR. SALES—Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary question again to No. 3(a). Do you not think that these confident predictions as published on the 24th September led the public to expect more effective clearing of the debris and rubbish than was actually the case?
CHAIRMAN:
You are asking my opinion, Sir, which is not the subject for supplementary questions.
MR. SALES :—Do you, Sir, not think that there is a difference between 3 and 11 days mathematically?
CHAIRMAN :—I think, Mr. Sales, my written reply makes it quite clear that the statements on which the Press report was based were related primarily to refuse and not to the accumulation of leaves and other debris from the typhoon.
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