1979

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QUESTION

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

MISS CECILIA L. Y. YEUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese): It has been brought to my notice that there are a number of buildings in urban areas which are built on the slopes and are supported by pillars. In the ground spaces beneath such buildings, a lot of debris, building material refuse, etc. have accumulated for quite a long time. From the environmental hygiene point of view, may the Council be informed as to whether the Urban Services Department is held responsible for such cleansing services? If so, whether any nuisance notices have been served on the owners of the buildings by our department?

MRS GRACE HO, CHAIRMAN OF URBAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English): This question deals with the responsibility for the removal of building debris, refuse, etc. from land underneath buildings which are constructed on slopes and supported by pillars.

The land on which buildings of this kind are constructed is private property, and it is not the responsibility of the Urban Services Department to clean it. However, whenever accumulations of refuse or debris in such places are observed by or brought to the notice of departmental staff, and if the accumulations are likely to give rise to a health nuisance, notices are served on the persons responsible, requiring them to clear the offending matter. During the year ending 31 March 1979, District Health staff of the Urban Services Department served 56 notices for the abatement of these nuisances and also administered more than 400 verbal warnings.

MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr Chairman, something about parts underneath flyovers, normally these parts are partitioned by iron railings, what happens to the refuse and debris accumulated there?

CHAIRMAN (in English): This is an extension of the original question, but I would be obliged if Mrs Ho could answer.

MRS HO (in English): I wish Miss YEUNG, in setting out questions, could be more explicit so that I could have time to check up on the answers, otherwise I would be doing her a discourtesy in not replying properly. I believe that would be a matter, I am not sure, whether it is the Highways Department or whether it is the Urban Services Department, who is responsible for that. I think I have to check up on this one.

CHAIRMAN (in English): Will the ladies please address the Chair. (Laughter)

MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr Chairman, may I reframe my supplementary question. If there is no passageway leading to the place where the refuse is being accumulated, how would it be possible for the landowners or the people responsible to clear the place, for instance, it could be caused by typhoon, and how are they going to clear the place, especially the parts underneath the pillars?

MRS HO (in English): I think, Mr Chairman, the main point is whether the land belongs to the owner of the building and, if it does, surely it is his responsibility to make sure that there is access for cleaning up. It is his responsibility.

CHAIRMAN (in English): Perhaps Miss YEUNG has a specific example in mind which might be brought to the attention of the department for special investigation.

MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese): For instance, Yuet Wah Street in Kwun Tong. Actually, a person can notice very well that because of the pillars on the slopes, a lot of refuse has accumulated around the parts where the pillars are found, and also in Central, in mid-level areas, a lot of buildings are also on pillars, also in North Point, any person can notice the refuse being accumulated there. Some of the buildings are extremely clean and others are not, and some seem to be falling down actually.

CHAIRMAN (in English): An investigation will be carried out on this specific example and perhaps a reply given in writing by the department to Miss YEUNG. Would you agree to that, Mrs Ho?

MRS HO (in English): Yes. I would suggest that if Miss YEUNG is not satisfied, probably she will carry out an inspection with the department and point out matters which have come to her attention.

STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF THE LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD

MR CHAN CHI-KWAN, PETER (in English): Mr Chairman, As the Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board, I wish to clarify the present situation on liquor licensing in respect of a number of establishments for eating and drinking in a certain new building complex in Tsim Sha Tsui, which has been a controversial subject in some local newspapers recently.

The Council's policy is that consideration for application for liquor licence is only given to premises licensed or likely to be licensed as a restaurant (general or light refreshment) and that a liquor licence is valid only when the premises to which the licence is related are a licensed restaurant. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that a place in which liquor is sold or supplied for consumption on the premises is hygienically run.

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