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the Department to keep pavements, etc. clean. Can this Council be informed of what action is taken to eliminate this nuisance?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
This question concerns the fouling of streets by stray dogs. Dog droppings on roads and pavements are removed by Urban Services Department's beat sweeping staff in the course of their daily duties, and, where fouling is particularly bad, arrangements are made for the areas or streets concerned to be thoroughly washed down.
In order to eliminate this nuisance, arrangements are made to site dog-latrines, wherever possible, but as Members will appreciate, this is not easy in the built-up areas (and of course there is no guarantee that strays will use them). The Department has so far provided 68 such latrines (54 in Hong Kong and 14 in Kowloon). The search for additional sites where they are needed continues.
In addition, the attention of the Director of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department, whose dog-control teams are responsible for the collection of stray dogs, is drawn to the presence of such dogs. These dogs, if not claimed within 4 days after collection, are destroyed—except where they are sick—when they are destroyed immediately. This action is supplemented by free destruction_of_dogs voluntarily surrendered. 6,568 dogs were caught during the year 1970-71. 3,134 of these were destroyed. A further 1,086 dogs were surrendered for destruction.
MR. SALES: —Mr. Chairman, may I ask you, in connection with the reply given in the last but one sentence in the third paragraph, why is there such a disparity between latrines on the Island and in Kowloon for dogs. (Laughter). Could you give me the respective dog populations of the two areas? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:—I am not able to do that, Mr. SALES. I think it is a question of siting and, in Hong Kong, where blocks are sited in the more country areas on the Peak and Stanley and thereabouts, it is easier to get a site and build these latrines. We would be happy to build these wherever we can—if we get sites.
MR. SALES: —Sir, are you telling this Council that our country cousins on the Peak are better served than people who live in the civilized districts in the Urban areas? (Laughter).
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MR. MACKENZIE:—Mr. Chairman, I am rather more concerned with sick and stray dogs rather than the pampered versions on the Peak. I have noted around market areas particularly many animals in very bad and poor condition. Driving in the car or walking in these areas, you can see them quite freely. I notice in the report for the month, that the Department is co-operating with the Agriculture and Fisheries Department. I wonder if this co-operation could be extended, and a little more effort made to remove some of these particularly sicker animals?
CHAIRMAN:—I think the Agriculture and Fisheries Department does all it can to eliminate these dogs. I think their staff are limited. I am not certain whether they are asking for more gangs to round up these strays.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:—Mr. Chairman, over the past two years, has the situation been improving or worsening and based on the latest statistics available, does the Department expect that the fouling of the streets could deteriorate during 1972?
CHAIRMAN:—I would hope not, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN. We will do our utmost to improve things.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:—Would you care to answer the first part of my question, which is that from the statistics which are available since two years ago, has the situation shown any improvement or deterioration?
CHAIRMAN:—Statistics? I am not sure to what statistics you refer, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN. I can only say we do our best. We have got these latrines going and, in fact, people do ask us to provide these facilities round their own and other blocks. We are happy to do this; but there are certainly many stray dogs around still.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:—Well, then do you think that with only 68 latrines, 54 in Hong Kong and only 14 in Kowloon, to service over two million people (laughter) who own dogs, this is going to be the answer to the problem, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN:—Rounding up the dogs is the answer, and, if people would look after their dogs, this also would help.
MR. SALES:—Mr. CHEONG-LEEN was asking about two million people, not two million dogs. (Laughter).
(Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN arrived at this point).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:—Mr. Chairman, I thought I made myself pretty plain when I said two million who own dogs. Now, may I continue further Mr. Chairman, one small supplementary question, as far as you are aware Mr. Chairman, does the Agriculture and Fisheries
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