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Pollution Advisory Committee (EPCOM) is responsible for giving advice on these activities. Publicity and campaign activities are being actively implemented by the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD). These are the agencies that are in a proper and appropriate position to co-ordinate waste recycling and minimization.
For the present, the appropriate and vital role for Council is the maintenance of an efficient collection service. However, the Council is only too pleased to lend its support to any initiative which the Administration, and EPCOM or EPD in particular, may undertake in this direction.
The Department has indeed given support to various waste recycling and minimization schemes in the context of the environmental protection campaign activities organised by the Environmental Campaign Committee. These include: (a) As far as operationally feasible, collection of segregated bags of separated waste on request of individual estate managements, although to date on a very limited basis as a form of trial scheme; (b) Provision of logistical support to any waste recycling and minimization activities organised by schools or other organisations; and (c) Establishment of an office paper recycling scheme within USD Headquarters, some Urban Council venues and district offices so as to promote environmental awareness among office workers. To date, the result has been encouraging and this waste paper recycling scheme will later be extended to all district offices and Urban Council venues and facilities.
MR. LAM CHAK-PIU (in Cantonese):-According to Dr. LEUNG's reply, I have observed that in terms of environmental protection, this Council, apart from maintaining the normal objectives of carrying our work, has not taken any steps to respond to the call for environmental protection. Mr. MAN Sai-cheong has raised some suggestions in earlier meeting. The explanation given then is the same as Dr. LEUNG has just given. We are only just concerned with the responsibilities of the Council. But as a Municipal Council, we should have the responsibility to promote environmental protection and we should also devise some schemes to make preparation for such a campaign. Referring to our Statement of Aims this year as well as our budget, no specific arrangements are being made in this regard. I wonder if special work could be taken up by the Health Education Section to make response to the campaign? I wonder if due thought will be given to this matter in our Select Committee?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):-As I said in the reply, recycling depends very much on the householder. The ideal situation would be for the householders to have the waste sorted out before collections. The present situation is the way we collect our refuse from householders of the multi-storey building, multiple units and high rise blocks, is dedicated to the private contractors. So before the refuse is sent to our refuse collection points, the waste is already mixed up. Some sorting is being done in our refuse collection points. But if we have to force householders to separate different kinds of wastes for collections, either is by legislation for which at present we don't have any statutory power to enforce the householders to do so. Mr. Lam mentioned about health education, I think this can be done. In our Council we have the Health Education Sub-Committee under the Public Health Select Committee. So I think that Sub-Committee can work towards that direction to educate the public to separate the wastes for collection. I think we can achieve this as far as we can do. This is the way I see that our Council can contribute to the recycling process.
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MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, in Dr. LEUNG's reply, Dr. LEUNG seems to have focused on the issue of waste recycling which is relevant to the Council's work or jurisdiction. That is the only answer which we can contribute to the Environmental Protection Campaign. I think it is rather too conservative. Of course, waste collection is part of our jurisdiction. But for other kind of environmental protection work, from Dr. LEUNG's reply, we know that the Government has not allocated any resources to us nor has the Government assigned any particular duties to us. As a Municipal Council responsible for the whole urban area, I think we should have the responsibility to take the initiative in helping environmental protection work. Although the Government has not yet added such responsibility to our jurisdiction, I think we should still start within the Council. I suggest that Dr. LEUNG can consider several approaches to be carried out internally. First of all, within the Council and the Urban Services Department, do we have certain principles of priority in procuring materials which are able to reduce environmental pollution. For example, when our refuse collection vehicles are collecting refuse, should we pay attention to the problem of air pollution caused by our vehicles. I wonder if Dr. LEUNG can consider setting up an internal working group within the Council and the Department which can then make some suggestions in the course of environmental protection within the jurisdiction of the Council. By doing so, the services provided to the public and the internal working condition will be in line with the environmental protection course. I wonder if Dr. LEUNG can take up with this suggestion and then to discuss it with the Department to set up such a working group on environmental protection?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, this is a very positive suggestion. I will certainly pass it onto the next Public Health Select Committee meeting to consider what we can contribute in these aspects. Certainly as a positive step we should go towards this direction.
DR. ELSIE TU (in English):—Mr. Chairman, referring to Mr. LAM's question about health education, may I ask Dr. LEUNG if it is not correct that very recently the Urban Council took part in the health education exercise in competitions among school children. One of the subjects was: the reuse of waste, the household waste. This is the beginning, could we continue in this line?
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