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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(b) Will the Chairman state whether such number is considered sufficient for the use of 24 million people living in the urban areas?
(c) How many more litter bins will be made available during 1960?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
In this room you will see four different types of litter containers as used by the department. There are three over there, one newer type on the left.
"(a) There are at present 568 litter-containers in Hong Kong and 397 in Kowloon. These figures do not include wire wastepaper baskets attached to pillars, nor litter-containers and baskets in public playgrounds and recreation areas.
(b) I should hesitate to state categorically that this total was sufficient, even with the further 300 litter-containers which should very shortly be available. It is very hard to say what is a sufficient number. Certainly, it bears no relation to the amount of litter lying on the ground. Providing more litter-containers does not mean an automatic reduction in the discarding of litter in public places. What is needed primarily is pressure on the public to use existing litter-containers. It is no answer to go on increasing the number of containers. It must be remembered also that litter-containers are not designed for holding domestic refuse; that is the function of domestic refuse-bins.
(c) In 1960/61, another 300 litter-containers will be supplied in Hong Kong and 143 in Kowloon. They will largely be sited in the remaining areas to be covered by the "Keep Your City Clean" campaign.”
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- I am quite impressed with the different kinds of litter containers you have. Do you have in mind promotion of diversification of our local trade?
CHAIRMAN: --Very much so, Mr. Cheong-Leen. We are always open to suggestions for different types of litter containers. The one in the corner is particularly successful on the other side of the Star Ferry.
DR. BELL:- May I know why Hong Kong has so very many more than Kowloon?
CHAIRMAN: --Very good point. I cannot answer that one off hand, but we will make sure Kowloon receives more. The reason actually is that the streets in the older portion of Hong Kong are narrower and more congested.
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MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:
"(a) Has the Chairman considered the possibility of using small power sweepers of a fast, maneuverable type which can be operated by one man for a part of our street-cleansing operations?
(b) Since new types of labour-saving equipment are constantly being produced, will the Chairman, in the interest of keeping future manpower requirements for street cleansing operations to the very minimum, be prepared to look into this question?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
"I have certainly considered it many times and have always arrived at the same conclusion, namely, that in the crowded streets of Hong Kong and Kowloon any form of powered sweepers, big or little, would be quite impracticable. The criterion is not so much whether the new types of equipment on the market save time, but whether they could do the job properly. I am firmly of the opinion that they cannot.
Cleansing covers not only streets and roads, but narrow scavenging lanes and other public places. The value of a powered sweeping machine would be considerably reduced in the face of parked cars, hawkers, one-way streets, and scavenging lanes, and it would still be necessary to have a beat-sweeper to cope with these obstructions. In other words, we should simply be taking on a fancy gadget which would not wholly or even substantially replace the former satisfactory system."
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-- Mr. Chairman, a supplementary. Do you have an open mind on this subject, Sir?
CHAIRMAN: I have rather a vacant mind (laughter), certainly open to any good suggestions, but I certainly have not seen any photographs or descriptions of any of this sort of apparatus which is of use in Hong Kong.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Would you be prepared to write to the United Kingdom for the latest information on the latest developments in this field?
CHAIRMAN:- I really don't think it would be worth it. We receive about six different publications monthly in which there are ample advertisements of all the latest type of equipment. I feel certain all manufacturers advertise in these publications.
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