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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY VICE-CHAIRMAN
VICE-CHAIRMAN (in English):—Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order. I am chairing the meeting in the absence of the CUC.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Madam Chairman, on behalf of all members present and not present, it gives me much pleasure to congratulate you on being returned unopposed to represent us on the Legislative Council. (Applause)
VICE-CHAIRMAN (in English):—Thank you very much, Hilton and all colleagues.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 1988, were confirmed.
PAPERS
The following papers were laid on the table:
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the months of July and August 1988.
QUESTIONS
1. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):----I note from both the Chinese and English language press a great many complaints about mosquito breeding noticed by the public and I have also heard a lot of complaints about mosquitoes being worse this year than previously. Are these complaints justified? And have we stepped up our anti-mosquito work, and if not, why not?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE replied to the question (in English):—Madam Chairman, this question concerns mosquito control. It asks whether mosquito nuisance is worse this year than previously and whether we have stepped up anti-mosquito work or not.
According to the Department's statistics, we received a total number of 454 complaints against mosquito breeding in the period from May to August this year. This is only slightly higher than last year's figure of 433. On the basis of these figures alone, it would appear that this year's situation is a little worse than last year. However, I must caution against drawing any firm conclusion from such statistics because, firstly, these complaints are not always justified
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and secondly, the public may not report all cases of mosquito breeding to the Department.
Mosquito breeds only in the presence of fresh water, especially stagnant water. The basic measure of controlling the breeding is to drain out the stagnant water, and in cases where this is impossible or impractical to carry out, insecticide spray may be necessary to prevent breeding. For example, in hill streams banks and collections of water along the course, the road side gullies, pools of water in construction sites, there is a genuine need to closely supervise and look out for mosquito breeding irrespective of whether there is any complaint or not. The departmental staff pay regular visits to these places every week. In the 4 months period I have just mentioned, the Department's staff have eliminated a total of 2,496 breeding places, as a result, a total number of 180 summonses were issued against offenders who bred mosquito and 243 notices were issued requiring responsible persons to remove potential mosquito breeding places. Although some of these summonses are still awaiting hearing, it is believed that they normally result in successful prosecution. The comparative figure for the same period last year were 2,254 (for breeding places eliminated), 143 (for summonses issued), and 250 (for notices issued).
The anti-mosquito work carried out by the Department comprises two different aspects. The first aspect involves visits to all construction sites on a weekly basis by district staff. If potential breeding places are identified, the responsible persons will be issued with a statutory notice requiring them to eliminate the potentials for breeding. Such measures may include filling of holes, draining out of stagnant water, covering up or removal of unused water containers. If such notices are not complied with within a reasonable period of time, prosecution will be taken out against the responsible person. If upon field visits subsequently, the sites concerned are found to breed mosquito, summons will be taken out immediately. These inspections are carried out all the year round.
The second aspect concerns visits to residential areas, hillsides, streams, and private gardens. The system of visits operates along the same lines as that for construction sites. Depending on circumstance, such locations are visited on a weekly or monthly basis. In the case of mosquito breeding place being first found in a residential building, the normal course of action to take is the issue of a warning letter and summons will be taken only when the nuisance is found recurred. Complaints from the public against mosquito breeding are dealt with in a similar measure.
Every year, two anti-mosquito campaigns are conducted in the months of April and September. In addition to carrying out a very thorough systematic survey and taking out actions as necessary by the staff to all potential breeding places, the public are also educated through the media about the ways to help them to prevent mosquito breeding in their premises. The September phase of such a campaign is presently in its full swing.
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