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1972. Though the effects achieved so far are not ideal yet, the term 'litterbug' has already made a strong impression on the public. Littering at every nook and cranny in the streets did decrease at the initial stage of the campaign, but now people slip into their old ways and litter as before. If we still do not act now, Hong Kong will go back to the days of dirt of a decade ago. As the Governor, Sir Murray MACLEHOSE, pointed out in his policy speech last October, none of us wants that, either for ourselves or our international reputation.
In order to go on resolutely with the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign to gain its end, I find that we should enforce the cleansing law without gloves and gear it to the measures adopted in the course of the campaign. Meanwhile, the authorities should take positive action to set up additional off-street refuse collection points in all districts for the improvement of environmental hygiene.
About the setting up of off-street refuse collection points, the issue was in fact raised by me as early as 1976. Some time in 1976, I received a complaint from the headmaster of a school in Sai Yee Street, Kowloon. According to what he said, the on-street refuse collection point in the section of Sai Yee Street between his school and another one was filthy and unhygienic at all times. The condition there was intolerable. And, about 30 feet from the on-street refuse collection point, there were six cooked food stalls. It goes without saying that the refuse collection point was emitting a horrid and offensive smell, and the health of the school children was seriously affected. It was also particularly unhygienic to have a refuse collection point so near to the cooked food stalls. This is really a big blemish on the local urban services. I hope that prompt and proper improvement would be made on that refuse collection point.
I had at that time visited the site in question on several occasions and witnessed that the section of the street outside the entrances to the two schools was in a state of mess and disorder. I then at once reported to the Council, requesting that the case be referred to the Urban Services Department for attention.
I can remember the reply which the U.S.D. gave me then. It said it totally agreed that the location of the refuse collection point in question, which had been chosen years ago, was not a very ideal one, and added that it was intended to remove the point and improve the situation. However, the refuse collection point has not been removed or improved, though several years have passed. To pair with the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign in order to achieve greater effects, there should be an urgent review by the authorities on the plan for removing that refuse collection point and efforts to expedite action.
Furthermore, in my opinion, the following nine points are essential in strengthening the muscle of the campaign:
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(i) Mechanical sweepers should be used to clean all streets on both sides of the harbour and the New Territories to save money and manpower. All vehicles in the area to be cleaned should be removed or otherwise towed away before the scheduled time for street sweeping.
(ii) Occupants of existing buildings and residential premises should themselves be responsible for cleaning their places.
(iii) Occupants of commercial buildings should themselves be responsible for cleaning their own buildings.
(iv) Newly erected buildings should be provided with refuse chutes and refuse storage chambers.
(v) There should be provision of refuse chutes and refuse storage chambers in new resite areas, low-cost housing estates, and estates under the Home Ownership Scheme.
(vi) The use of bamboo baskets for containing and conveying refuse should be strictly forbidden to prevent having small pieces of refuse or waste water left behind.
(vii) Hawkers should bring with them PVC bags for containing refuse and discard the bags into the dustbins after business. No littering should be allowed.
(viii) Each and every shop or residential unit should have its own lidded dustbin. PVC bags should be placed inside the dustbins to facilitate clearing.
(ix) Heavier punishment should be imposed on litterbugs. Fixed penalties may be inflicted on them, as on illegal parking.
The above are but skeleton points; details are of course to be added when it comes to actual implementation. It is hoped that the public would give full cooperation in establishing a long-lasting spirit and resolution on the above basic criteria to maintain environmental hygiene. And, from then on, the cleanliness of the whole community, so that Hong Kong will become one of the world-renowned clean cities.
And, lastly, from a report from Radio Hong Kong's programme this morning, somebody mentioned raising the allowance for taxpayers, and it was being rejected as illogical. In fact, I had raised this similar point some years before, but I would like to raise it now again. I think what was suggested by the Legislative Councillor had the support of the general public in Hong Kong, but unfortunately, it was described as illogical by the Financial Secretary. In 1973, the tax allowance was $10,000, and a year before, $12,500. From 1973 up to now, the inflation rate is more than 10 times, so I think the tax allowance should be increased to $100,000. At the moment, workers have to pay tax, even street sweepers have to pay tax, so there is no such similar incidence in other parts of the world. Of course, we have to impose tax, but the purpose of getting tax from the general public is to use the revenue for other kinds of expenditures. There was a surplus of $3,000 million in Hong Kong last year, but unfortunately, a large part of that surplus was being used up for defence purposes. I understand that with the
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