Page 109 of 135
182
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
It may be appropriate here to assess the Campaign, as although great strides had been made, yet we are far from complete success.
As I see it, there are several primary factors which are critical to the success of keeping Hong Kong clean. These are:-Education and Publicity; Equipment; Manpower; Deterrent; and Community Involvement.
1. Education and Publicity-Four years have passed since the Campaign began. During this period, a lot of effort and money had been devoted to conveying the message that a cleaner Hong Kong is a better place to live in. In future, publicity will be continued on a lower key. In the next financial year, monthly publicity themes will be directed at particular anti-litter laws to jog people's memories, followed up by enforcement. The Director of Education had also been requested to consider how to improve promotion of Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign activities in schools.
2. Equipment--Cleaning a metropolitan area of our size needs proper tools. The Urban Services Department is carrying out a review on all aspects of cleansing. The Environmental Hygiene Select Committee had requested that as each section of the review is completed, it should be brought before the Committee without waiting for completion of the review in order not to waste time. This exercise is badly needed because, for instance, in the present total fleet of 13 mechanical sweepers, there are 4 different makes of these specialised vehicles, coming from 3 countries, creating problems in stocking spare parts and servicing. During the first 6 months of 1976, these vehicles were withdrawn for maintenance on the average of 33% of the time, going up to 72% for 4 obsolete vehicles. This is unacceptable. No commercial organization can survive on such a record. Steps have been taken to replace the obsolete sweepers and standardise on replacement vehicles. We will also have to assess whether greater mechanization is needed and the best deployment of equipment.
3. Manpower-This can be divided into 2 sections, adequacy in numbers and efficient deployment and supervision. Certain posts have not been filled due to the two years recession and/or to uncertainty about future policy. It is clear that there must be sufficient manpower to implement the Council's policy. Both the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee and the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign Committee had asked for a review of staffing and the latter had specifically requested a review of the post of anti-litter warden and to fill the establishment posts up to strength. Efficient deployment and supervision is essential to improve productivity and we will press for this. For example, from statistics, on the average, each anti-litter warden only brings less than two cases to court per day. We are advised that part of their time is spent handing out warning notices. We feel that after four years of publicity, this aspect of the work is disproportionate to enforcement of the anti-litter laws.
4. Deterrent-At present, on the average, fines imposed for littering is about $30 although the maximum penalty is $1,000 for a first offence. The early success when these laws first came into force can be attributed to fear of being fined heavily. However, the situation has now deteriorated in that there is insufficient enforcement of the anti-litter laws because of lack of manpower and when the very few cases are brought before the Courts, those found guilty are let off lightly, making a mockery of the laws. I have already referred to proposals to strengthen anti-litter warden numbers and review of their work. I therefore now propose that there should be a mandatory minimum penalty of $100. This would be an effective deterrent to litter bugs.
5. In the final analysis, it requires the fullest community involvement and participation to fulfil the genuine desire of each and every person in Hong Kong to make Hong Kong a cleaner and better place to live in.
With these words, Mr. Chairman, I support the motion.
(Dr. P. C. WONG left the meeting at this point.)
MR. HENRY H. O. LUK (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, Fellow Councillors, we are very happy to see that over the past year, Hong Kong has been reviving exceedingly fast from the economic depression, and we are again enjoying prosperity generally. But when we look ahead of us, our future is not all that promising. We are about to face another great challenge.
The economic situation in some of the Western countries has just improved. These countries have not yet been able to pull themselves entirely out of the economic stress. However, another oil crisis is emerging into the scene. This is a world-wide problem, and not a problem that Hong Kong has to face alone, much less one which Hong
Page 109 of 135
183
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL