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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(2) In the absence of MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN put the following question of which notice had been given by MR. CHEONG-LEEN:
I have received several complaints that following the November "Keep Hong Kong City Clean Campaign", the problem of dog droppings in the streets is again becoming serious. What is being done to see that this serious nuisance is kept under control?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In Cantonese):—
This question concerns the fouling of streets by dogs.
As the Department is not aware of this matter again becoming serious, I hope that Mr. CHEONG-LEEN will pass any complaints he has received to the Division concerned (if he has not already done so).
As Members are no doubt aware, it is believed that, because of the campaign, several hundred dogs were destroyed. The situation should therefore be that much better.
Prompt passing of information or complaints will assist considerably in keeping this problem under control, as, obviously, dog owners are becoming more circumspect. The Department has made a bid for additional litter wardens and if this is successful, then the problem may be more adequately taken care of.
MR. MACKENZIE (In English):—Mr. Chairman, is it not true that possibly some thousands of dogs have been turned loose in the streets as a result of the "Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign", adding to possibly some tens of thousands of stray animals? And is it therefore not to be concluded that the situation is rather worse rather than better?
CHAIRMAN (In English):—Not necessarily so, Mr. MACKENZIE. The dogs would have been on the streets anyway. So it is just as good, I think.
DR. HUANG (In Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would add that our Committee has asked the Director of Agriculture & Fisheries for a meeting, and as we know they are understaffed the Committee is supporting them in a request to the Government to provide more staff and I know that this has been approved. So, the catching of stray dogs will be improved.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
363
(3) In the absence of MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN put the following question of which notice had been given by MR. CHEONG-LEEN:
I have received complaints from residents in Resettlement Estates that there are still many ladies' lavatories in the old Mark I and Mark II blocks which do not have doors. Could the Chairman advise how many ladies' lavatories in these Estates do not yet have doors, and how soon is it expected that doors will be installed?
MR. PETER C. K. CHAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE RESETTLEMENT SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (In Cantonese):—
All the communal latrines in Mark I and Mark II blocks have either a wooden door or a brick screen at the main entrances. I therefore assume that the question refers to the doors to the individual compartments within the latrines. Individual compartment doors have been fitted in the female latrines in a total of 36 blocks so far, leaving 196 blocks to be done in a phased programme. It is expected that the work will be completed in a further 50 blocks during the next year. It is not possible to speed up the programme without causing unacceptable inconvenience to the tenants.
MR. SALES (In English):—My Friend Mr. Peter C. K. CHAN was extremely modest in his answer to the question. He disclaimed having ever been in a female lavatory, yet he described it in such great detail. Would he perhaps like to explain that to us in Select Committee the next time? (Laughter).
MR. T. S. LO (In English):—Mr. Chairman, I wonder if, perhaps, the Chairman representing that Committee could tell us whether he feels that his inability to go into a ladies' lavatory restricts his management powers with regard to them and, perhaps, does that explain the reason why they are at the moment unsatisfactory?
MR. CHAN (In Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, on one inspection the staff cleared the latrines and we were able to see that there were no compartment doors. Later on, the Engineering Division of the Resettlement Department set up individual compartment doors in blocks 1 to 6 of the Tung Tau Estate and we saw that there were wooden doors. In due course, we will be making another inspection, and I am sure Mr. LO will be able to come with us.
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