Page 85 of 166
158
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Wan Chai have been complaining about the obnoxious smell arising from the refuse being sent there and collected daily; can further steps be taken to reduce and even eliminate this nuisance completely?
MR. TONG KAM-BIU, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, this question concerns measures to tackle the smell nuisance at the Spring Garden Lane Refuse Collection Point.
The Spring Garden Lane RCP, an off-street and purpose-built one, has been in operation since mid 1979 and is open for public use from 6.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. An electrohydraulic refuse compaction trailer is provided inside the RCP for collection of refuse, which amounts to two tonnes per day. The trailer is towed away twice daily for disposal of the refuse.
A carbon filtration system is installed at the RCP to purify the foul air before discharge. To prevent the escape of foul smell from the RCP, the roller shutter at the main entrance is lowered during collection times. The RCP and its immediate vicinity are hosed down three times every day. With these precautionary measures, there should be no smell nuisance under normal circumstances.
However, when the trailer breaks down, which unfortunately has occurred more than 30 times since June this year, it has to be replaced by conventional refuse collection vehicles, and this might have given rise to smell nuisance. During collection, there is always a discharge of exhaust from conventional vehicles. Because of the possible adverse effect of the exhaust on the health of our cleansing staff and private refuse collectors, the main entrance of the RCP has to be kept open for adequate ventilation. This RCP, which was built more than 10 years ago, is not equipped with a vehicle exhaust system as in the case of modern RCPs which help to drain away the exhaust from the vehicles.
The department has requested the Architectural Services Department to modify the power supply system of the RCP so that trailers of other models may be used, and such improvement work is expected to complete by December this year. By then, conventional refuse collection vehicles will no longer be used when the trailer breaks down, and the smell nuisance should be abated.
Meanwhile, the Department's staff will do whatever possible to keep the smell at this RCP to the minimum, such as covering up the refuse before the arrival of the collection vehicles and arranging for more frequent collections.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Mr. TONG for his answer. Can Mr. TONG guarantee that the Department will implement the improvement measures as soon as possible?
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, improving the environment and collecting refuse are the responsibilities of the Council. I can assure Mr. CHEONG-LEEN that the Department will attempt to improve the situation as soon as possible.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
159
assure Mr. CHEONG-LEEN that the Department will attempt to improve the situation as soon as possible.
7. MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question (in English):— Can 1991 or 1992 be designated as the year for the Urban Council to give particular emphasis in fostering and promoting traditional handicrafts featuring the handicraft works of local artists, with the cooperation and support of Government and other interested organizations, such as the Hong Kong Tourist Association and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council?
MR. JOHN K. P. FAN, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE MUSEUMS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-Mr. Chairman, this question concerns the designation of 1991 or 1992 as the year for the Urban Council to give particular emphasis in promoting traditional handicrafts with the cooperation of relevant organizations in the community.
Mr. CHEONG-LEEN's suggestion to provide a clearer focus for the Council's efforts in fostering and promoting traditional handicrafts in co-operation with other interested organizations is laudable, and can certainly be considered after the current commitments for the new museums over the next two years have been met.
Meanwhile, it may not be amiss to briefly outline Council's current activities in these areas.
At present, the Council promotes traditional handicrafts which fall within the ambits of the Museums and Libraries Select Committees. A comprehensive range of extension activities covering talks, exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations, interest clubs and competitions are organized each year to arouse community interest in the support of traditional handicrafts.
Since 1987, the Museum of History has presented a series of weekend lectures and demonstrations on the making of grasshoppers, paper lanterns, carving of wooden statues, Chinese knotting, dough dolls, and IQ Chains. Special exhibitions on traditional woodblock prints, rubbings of local stone inscriptions, local puppetry and product designs were also presented.
The Museum of Art has organized competitions, demonstrations and workshops on pottery, print and jewellery making, and provides an outlet for the sale of high standard works of art created by local artists.
The Libraries also organize interest clubs, talks and exhibitions on papercraft, origami, folk arts and crafts, silhouette cutting, seal engraving, Chinese puppetry and knotting.
A total of 185,000 participants attended the various activities presented by the Council on handicrafts in 1989-90.
Page 85
Page 86
Page 86 of 166