HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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it is necessary to save life, limit physical damage, or prevent serious suffering. An example of such assistance was that provided on the occasion of the recent landslide at Kwun Tong, when plant and operators were made available to the Director of Public Works to assist in clearing the vast quantities of mud.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Is not Typhoon Ruby such a disaster that you, Sir, should have sought the assistance of the Armed Services, if they are willing to give assistance?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I can only say that I did not consider it at the time. I would certainly be prepared to give consideration to your suggestion in future.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Perhaps that calls for a personal statement on my behalf thanking you, Mr. Chairman, because certainly their assistance would be most welcome when there are typhoons in future.
(4) MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question:
Would the Chairman give to this Council an up-to-date picture of transport and the number of the labourers engaged in cleansing and does the Chairman think that this number can cope with the ordinary day-to-day cleansing work and if not, what proposals are under examination for the betterment of the situation?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
The total number of vehicles available for the collection of refuse in the urban areas is 163. This is made up of 95 refuse collection vehicles, 56 tractors and trailers, and 12 lorries. The distribution between Kowloon and the Island is roughly in the proportion of 2 to 1.
The average number of vehicles actually available for use at any time is usually about 130, that is, the percentage immobilized for overhaul and repair is normally about 22%.
In the opinion of the department, the number of vehicles at present available should suffice for domestic refuse collection under normal conditions, that is, to ensure the clearance of each day's domestic refuse during the course of that day. But the present collection schedules are all too frequently disrupted by unexpected breakdowns of vehicles or slow turn-round of refuse barges unloading at Gin Drinkers Bay. In addition, the present vehicle establishment is insufficient to cope with the increasing quantities of junk (mainly baskets, crates and boxes) abandoned in the streets. The position has, of course, been further aggravated by recent typhoons.
The number of new refuse collection vehicles, including replacements, approved for the current financial year was 25; they are expected to start arriving in Hong Kong early in December and should help to ease the present strain on the vehicle fleet. A request was recently forwarded to Government for the inclusion of 29 additional refuse collection vehicles and 11 lorries in the Estimates for next financial year, as well as two large mechanical sweepers.
As regards labourers for refuse disposal, while the establishment is 3,120, the number of labourers available at present is 2,815; that is, there are 305 vacancies, the staff deficiency being therefore approximately 10%. The number now available is not sufficient to cope with the ordinary day-to-day cleansing work in the urban areas. The position has deteriorated in the past 6 months. The number of vacancies has increased since May of this year as follows:
May 112
June 162
July 181
August 255
September 294
October 305
While the number of labourers has declined, the amount of rubbish to be collected continues to increase at the rate of 12% per annum and it is now 1,400 tons a day.
The situation was first reported to the Colonial Secretary in July this year and the position regarding the wages of artisans and labourers in the Government service is now being studied. Meantime, however, in order to meet the labour shortage at the dump at Gin Drinkers Bay, which had a direct effect on the speed of off-loading of the barges and therefore on refuse collection generally on the Island, approval was obtained for an increase in the special allowance paid to dump labourers from $15 to $45 a month with effect from 1st September.
Other steps taken to attract more labour have been wider advertising of vacancies through the local Press, the Public Enquiry Service and the Labour Department's Employment Service.
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