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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(2) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:
What remedial measure can be taken to abate the nuisance of foul smell emanating from a bone factory at Pau Chung Street, To Kwa Wan? Has the department any plan to remove this objectionable trade from the residential area? If it has, can steps be taken to remove this?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:
The answer to the first part of the question is that in order to reduce smell nuisances all bones are immersed in a solution of chloride of lime on arrival at the plant. Insecticides are used whenever necessary to prevent fly breeding.
These measures are of course only temporary remedies and cannot be guaranteed to ensure a permanent abatement of all nuisances. This would require a complete reconstruction of the plant. I understand that the owner has for some time been in communication with an Australian firm which manufactures suitable equipment, and has plans to rebuild the factory in such a way that there will be no significant nuisance.
This brings me to the second part of the question. If the factory is to be rebuilt, it is obviously desirable to take the opportunity of moving it to another site. In fairness to the factory owner, I must point out that his factory was established many years ago on its present site so as to be near the Ma Tau Kok Slaughter House from which the bones are derived; it is in a designated offensive trade area and when established the area was not residential; the domestic buildings around the factory have sprung up long after the factory was built.
However, the Department has plans concerning the delineation of other offensive trade zones, including areas suitable for this particular trade. The matter is shortly to be finalized by the Offensive Trades Select Committee, and I hope that thereafter it will be possible to make some progress.
DR. LEE: -Do you know when the new abattoir, which supplies these bones, will be completed?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: -The bones are supplied by the present Slaughterhouse at Ma Tau Kok.
DR. LEE: -Yes, but there will be a new one erected in its place very soon?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: -In Cheung Sha Wan.
DR. LEE: -When will it be ready?
CHAIRMAN: -Trusting to memory, Sir, I think the date is June or July 1968.
DR. LEE: -When it is completed, I take it that there will be no more nuisance arising in that area, am I right?
CHAIRMAN: -I could not answer with certainty, Sir, but it seems to me that since a slaughterhouse or an abattoir is simply the source of bones, which are then conveyed to the factory, we still have the same problem as before.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Mr. Chairman, when the abattoir at Cheung Sha Wan is completed, is it proposed by the Department, or is it being considered by the Department, to close down the Ma Tau Kok Slaughterhouse at that time?
CHAIRMAN: The ultimate intention is to close it down, and there will obviously have to be a phased programme.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -In this connection, Sir, then the point raised by Dr. LEE might be relevant, that the question of a long-term plan for a factory such as this, which does rely on the Ma Tau Kok Slaughterhouse for the provision of bones, ought to be considered.
CHAIRMAN: -We will take note of that, Sir, but I do not think we can pursue it any further this afternoon.
(3) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:
Has the Chairman received complaints from residents of Hung Hom about the smoke nuisance from the chimney of China Light and Power Company? If previous nuisances from the factory of Green Island Cement Company can be improved, what steps has the department taken to abate the nuisance in respect to China Light and Power Company?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:
Well-justified complaints have been received, chiefly during the past three years, of the smoke and fume nuisance arising from the chimneys of this power station.
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