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experience on the Council would have been a very valuable member and I personally regret that she has not again offered herself for re-election.
This is also an occasion during which I can now congratulate our fellow Councillors, Hilton CHEONG-LEEN, Peter C. K. CHAN, Cecilia YEUNG, LAM Chak-piu, Frederick FUNG, MAN Sai-cheong and CHAN Kwok-ming, for being re-elected to this Council and it goes without saying that I look forwards to working with them again during the next Council session.
I would like to congratulate our old friend, Brook BERNACCHI, for being re-elected back to the Council and he is ready setting a course for the next two years ahead as what I read from the paper. I would also wish to bid a hearty welcome to the three other newly elected members, Messrs Mok Ying-fan, Ma Lee-wo and WONG Kwok-tung.
Of course, on the appointed side Samuel WONG and TONG Kam-biu, we congratulate you both for having been re-appointed to this Council. I have now worked with you for many years. It is a great pleasure I welcome you back again. We should also welcome Dr. Stan CHEUNG and Mr. Jason YUEN as newly appointed members to this Council. I am sure they will fit in to our team and work well with the rest of us.
I would like to end by saying that my three years as Chairman have been very challenging and taken much more of my time than I anticipated but, on the other hand, I have found the period rewarding and stimulating. I must also admit that I have enjoyed being the Chairman of the Council.
I would like to thank all of you for your support, guidance, co-operation and, above all, for your good humour and friendship, all of which I greatly value. As you know, I have been re-appointed to the Council for a further period of two years and I look forward to working again with most of you for the next two years at least.
QUESTIONS
1.
Mr. JOSEPH Y. S. CHAN asked the following question (in Cantonese):- Some private refuse collectors have been dumping refuse indiscriminately onto any open space/site available instead of delivering it to the incineration plants for disposal. In so doing, it affects adversely the environment. May I be informed that what action against the malpractice has been taken by the Council and whether any consideration has been given to prevent its recurrence?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE replied the question (in English):---The question asks what action the Council has taken against the illegal dumping of refuse onto any open space which may affect the environment adversely.
Since the Urban Council is responsible for keeping the city clean, we are always ready to take actions against any illegal dumping of municipal wastes.
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The Urban Services Department is aware that over the years some private refuse contractors/collector (PRC) have dumped building debris and some times refuse and junk indiscriminately at hillsides, vacant sites and unfenced government land sites. The case of these practices is due to:
(a) lacking of proper disposal outlets for building debris for PRCS in the urban areas;
(b) long haulage distance from Hong Kong or Kowloon to the legal refuse/building debris disposal point at Junk Bay Landfill;
(c) high transportation cost;
(d) the laziness on the part of the contractor/drivers who wish to dispose of building debris/refuse easily.
To tackle the problem the Urban Services Department on behalf of our Council has been taking the following actions:
(i) USD staff regularly patrol potential dumping sites in their respective districts with a view to preventing such illegal acts and taking legal actions against offenders. In the past 6 months USD staff have successfully brought 20 prosecutions against such offenders. The average fine is about $500 per case with the highest fine being $1,000. Under the law, the maximum penalty is $10,000 and six months imprisonment.
(ii) In the case of illegal dumping of refuse being discovered without anyone being identified and caught, the USD will arrange for its removal as soon as possible. In most cases the dumping can be removed within 24 hours after reporting. As regards the building debris being found on quiet roadsides and hillsides, USD staff will not remove them because they are not considered as municipal refuse and the competent authorities for their removal at such locations are the Highways Department and the Buildings and Lands Department. Therefore the USD staff upon detecting such dumpings or upon receiving the complaints would refer them to Highways Department and Buildings and Lands Department for urgent actions. Very often these dumpings are seen removed in a few days after the referral.
(iii) In 1985, after consultation with Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services USD introduced a Permit System whereby private refuse companies and Cleansing Companies are allowed to dispose of their refuse at Kennedy Town Incineration Plant. 10 such permits have been issued for 1988/89. This Permit System has been found very useful and helps reduce illegal dumping to a large extent.
(iv) The annual Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign has placed considerable emphasis on educating the public against littering in public places. In November 1988, the Joint UC/RC Steering Committee on Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign organized a Clear Road/Clean Work site phase to educated private refuse collectors and work site contractors on the disposal of refuse/debris and response has been very satisfactory. The same activity, probably with renewed vigour, will continue later this year.