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The Working Group was also mindful of the fact that the Siu Sai Wan site is probably the best available on Hong Kong Island to accommodate a new sports ground.
The alternative site suggested by Members of the Chai Wan North Area Committee appears to refer to an area that will soon become the Urban Council Chai Wan Park Extension. Construction work is already well underway and this project should be completed by the end of this year.
Apart from this, I understand that this site would, in any case, not be suitable for a sports ground. This is mainly because of its irregular shape and size which could not meet the orientation requirements for a sports ground.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I thank the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee for removing the confidential cover to papers that I have already seen. However, there is still the question of time. How long before work can be started for the Siu Sai Wan site?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in English):--We have already discussed thoroughly in the Working Party that we will proceed with the Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground as soon as possible and that will take about 14 months in total, including the time for design and construction.
4. MR. WONG SHUI-LAI asked the following question (in Cantonese):-Since my question in the November 1991 Urban Council Meeting about the Sheung Wan roast pig factory located in the residential area which created a lot of nuisance both to the nearby residents and the environment, black smoke, heat, strong smell, wet, oily and slippery pavement still exist. This is not the only roast pig factory that cause nuisance to nearby residents particularly in the urban area, e.g. the one that located at the ground floor of Wah Fai Mansion, Smithfield Road, Kennedy Town which was eventually ordered to be shut down by the court.
I would like to know whether the Council has any plan or intention to stop renew the licences for those roast pig factories located in the residential area by prior notice before the due date for renewal? If so, when will this policy/plan be implemented? If not, why?
MR. MA LEE-WO, VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the licensed pig roasting factory at No. 36, Sai Street, Hong Kong. This question is in two parts. The first part concerns nuisances created by the operation of this food business.
This food factory is subject to fortnightly inspection of the hygiene staff of the Department to ensure that any nuisances are detected and remedied promptly. This is indicative of the close attention being paid to these premises by the Department, since other food factories are usually inspected at three to four week intervals.
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Although no complaint of nuisance concerning these premises have been received by the Department since November 1991 when Mr. WONG last raised this matter, and in fact, no complaint has been received in 1991. Nevertheless, some irregularities have been detected during departmental inspection, such as dirty wall surfaces and untidy toilet floor. Yet, all these were subsequently rectified by the licensee following warnings from our officers.
Due to the nature of this kind of trade, it is very difficult for the operator to totally avoid some spillage of oil or liquid onto the pavement outside the factory. The licensee, however, is fully co-operative with departmental staff and seeks to minimise any possible nuisances by washing and degreasing the pavement whenever the condition so requires.
With regard to air pollution nuisance like black smoke, this is basically within the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Department. USD and the EPD is liaising closely in this regard and any complaint with regard to air pollution caused by this food factory would be referred to the EPD for appropriate action.
The second part of the question asks whether there is any policy or plan to stop renewing the licences of pig roasting establishments in these residential areas.
When replying to Mr. WONG's question in November 1991, it was explained why there was no intention to stop renewing this kind of licence. A revised licence renewal system was introduced by the Council in 1990 to deal with special problematic cases identified by the Department. Details of this system were given in the reply to Mr. WONG and we are closely monitoring this roast pig factory.
In early 1991, with regard to the pig roasting factory in Sai Street, a 90-day notice was issued to the licensee under the revised licence renewal system. The licensee was required to meet additional requirements imposed by Fire Services Department, Buildings and Lands Department and USD before the licence expired on 1 October 1991. The licence was subsequently renewed on that day, once all the requirements were complied with by the licensee.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I have two follow-up questions. Concerning this pig roasting factory, all along we have received many complaints. It may be true that the USD has not received any complaints with regard to this factory. Because in Central and Western District, there are District Board members as well as elected UC Members including myself have received many complaints within this four months time. I have raised this question twice. I think this can reflect the seriousness of the problem I would like to explain to members why I have to raise this question again. Secondly, concerning the policy on issue of licences. In the November Council meeting, many of my questions had not been answered. Many 'kai fongs' and I myself would like to know the following: the EPD in fact has prosecuted the licensee of the factory in October 1991. Why did the Department insist on issuing the licence? Is there any reason to
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