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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(A) One is the computerization of litter offence records. In the past, no records were kept of litter offenders, so magistrates could only treat all litter bugs as first offenders. We have decided to make use of Electronic Data Processing equipment available to record litter offences and will in future be able to pinpoint 'repeat offenders' when prosecuting litter bugs. Of course, we hope there will not be any.
(B) Secondly, some public spirited companies and individuals have expressed a willingness to show their support to this biggest ever campaign undertaken by the Urban Council and Government. We have already approved sponsorship of litter bins by private companies and the ground rules have now been agreed. We hope that shortly after Chinese New Year, we will see a breed of newly designed litter bins in public places which will not only brighten up our city but also remind the public of the importance of Keeping Hong Kong clean.
Despite the hard work, new ideas, and support of the public, there is no shortage of problems. The example of the street I mentioned just now is one lined with hawker stalls who carry on business till late at night, and I recall mentioning a similar situation at the Macau Ferry Concourse during last year's annual debate. Householders pay rates, shopkeepers pay rates and income tax, but hawker stall holders do not pay any rates, let alone income tax. We must seriously ask ourselves whether this is fair, fair to tax payers, fair to rate payers and fair to our U.S.D. beat sweepers. Since these hawker concentrations are identifiable and the hawkers there are regular traders, should we not insist that they organize (and pay for) some sort of effective clean-up operation immediately after the end of their business day, rather than ask the Council to do it for them for free out of public funds? I believe at least one hawker area has set up such a self-disciplinary scheme. If it works, it is commendable and should be emulated by others. If it doesn't, the Urban Council ought to think of some enforcement along the lines of a self-financing basis, and make those who make the mess pay for cleaning up the mess.
Another problem is residential areas which are not high-rise. With high rise buildings and large estates, there is sufficient scale of economy to employ private refuse collectors to take household refuse from one's door-step to an authorized Refuse Collection Point. But in some of our older streets, with low-rise buildings, residents find it more convenient—I stress convenient to them and not to the public—to simply put their daily refuse into a small plastic bag and drop it in the middle of a quiet lane early in the morning on the way to work or late at night, knowing quite well that our U.S.D. workers will sweep it up the next morning. This anti-social behaviour adds to the cost and work of our already stretched labour force. In practical terms, private refuse collectors are not interested in catering for small pockets of low rise residential buildings. Rather than living with the situation of sweeping up and collecting these small piles of daily household refuse from the streets, could we not consider some mini-refuse collection containers at strategic points to take care of this unsightly problem? In the long run it should prove more cost effective, and this really boils down to more effective use of public funds.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Imaginative Approach to Amenities
A good city and environment not only needs to be clean, it must provide adequate amenities to relieve the tensions of our hectic urban life. We have over the years made great strides in certain areas, particularly the provision of swimming pools, a tennis centre, a sports ground of international standards and one of the most modern Space Museums in the World. But the expectations of our young people are rising at a pace faster than ever before, and it is not sufficient to simply dust off blue prints of past projects and plant them in places wherever land becomes available.
Although there is logic in saving time and construction costs by standardizing schedules of accommodation for Urban Council projects, as we have done for multi-purpose market buildings, games halls and swimming pool complexes, we must avoid falling in the pit-fall of stereotyping at the expense of imagination and innovation.
There have been instances where the Urban Council has taken the lead in providing imaginative facilities, and we can see how the pioneering of modern play equipment in children playgrounds at Victoria Park and Caine Road have increased the popularity of the venues to the extent that similar facilities have sprung up in Country Parks, in the New Territories and in private housing estates.
However, this healthy stimulus must not be regarded as a one way street, and we must not be ashamed to also take a leaf or two out of progressive private developments. Anyone who has observed the large amounts of potted greenery in multi-storey car parks in Chi Fu Fa Yuen and Taikoo Shing would agree there is much room for improvement in the beautification of the more barren spots of our concrete jungle. Could we have our flyovers lined with similar greenery? What about potted plants hung on some of the metal fences and railings that divide our roads or line our pavements? Alternatively, if public spirited companies are interested in sponsoring 'Keep our City Clean' litter bins, what about a similar sponsorship scheme for 'Keep our City Green' flower beds?
Imagination must not only be applied to the environment and amenities, but to recreational facilities as well. I agree that first class sports facilities make it easier to put Hong Kong on the map, but when it boils down to a choice between catering for top class sportsmen and masses of youth looking for ordinary recreational past-times, it is the latter that will count more towards providing an outlet for pent-up energy that we do not wish to be manifested in upturning motor cars and rubbish bins on festival days. Imagination must keep up with and move ahead of the desires of our youth.
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