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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
The total labourer establishment of the Cleansing Division is 5,284, of which 2,310 are employed on beat sweeping on day and night shifts for 364 days a year.
At the end of March there were 239 labourer vacancies in the division. Because of the shortage of labour, the mechanization of the sweeping service is under constant review in the Department. Members are no doubt aware of the limitation on the use of mechanized sweepers in that they can be used only on roads where there are no parked cars and on flyovers. There are now 6 such sweepers in use and three more were approved in the 1971-72 estimates and are on order.
MR. MACKENZIE:- Mr. Chairman, would you not agree, that six sweepers in Hong Kong, a city of this size and complexity, is totally inadequate?
CHAIRMAN:- Yes, we have ordered three more, Mr. MACKENZIE.
(Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- What are the chances of filling-in the 239 vacancies which at present exist?
CHAIRMAN:- Not very good, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN.
MR. FORSGATE:- Mr. Chairman, can I help Mr. MACKENZIE with a supplementary? Your Department presumably made an investigation about the total number of mechanized sweepers which could be usefully employed. What is that number, roughly?
CHAIRMAN:- I need notice of the question. All I can say is, we know what flyovers and additional roads are coming into use and that we must try to cater for them.
MR. MACKENZIE:- Mr. Chairman, would it not be useful to have some overseas expert's opinion brought in to examine carefully what degree of mechanization could be introduced in sweeping?
CHAIRMAN:- I do not think it would help, Mr. MACKENZIE. It is a question of physical obstruction on the roads and these obstructions are going to remain there, in the way of cars and hawkers and all the rest. If these were not there, we could certainly introduce more mechanical sweepers. I do not think any experts are needed to tell us that.
MR. BERNACCHI:- The question as I understand it is, how many?
CHAIRMAN:- As I said, I need notice.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. BERNACCHI:- What sort of notice, by the next meeting?
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MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, are you not aware that several years ago the relevant Select Committee agreed as a matter of policy that there should be increased cleansing mechanization in Hong Kong?
CHAIRMAN:- I am, and there is even greater need today because of the labour shortage. We are unable to recruit labour.
MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, in the interval, what measures were taken by your Department to implement that policy decision?
CHAIRMAN:- We have investigated what roads need and can be swept with mechanical sweepers.
MR. SALES:- In the event, Mr. Chairman, surely the Department must have established to the satisfaction of the Select Committee, the number of sweepers that should be required in Hong Kong and that was the question which Mr. FORSGATE put to you just now?
CHAIRMAN:- I think that was accepted, but sometimes we have to convince other people to produce the money so that we can have the sweepers.
MR. SALES:- Could you in the circumstances let the Standing Committee of the Whole Council know precisely what the target figure is for mechanized sweepers, how many are needed in each area in Hong Kong and how many have been approved by the Government so that we may in turn pursue this matter urgently?
CHAIRMAN:- Certainly.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, are you doing anything to attract younger men to sweep by offering them better conditions?
CHAIRMAN:- I cannot offer any better conditions than the Government approve, Mrs. ELLIOTT.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- I said are you doing anything about this?
CHAIRMAN:- What do you think we had a go-slow for recently?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, since you did mention that there had recently been a go-slow, and I believe representations have already been made to you, are you pursuing the subject of the representations made to you with the Secretariat?
CHAIRMAN:- Certainly.
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