HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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DR. THE HON. SAMUEL WONG PING-WAI (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, will this Council consider privatising the Cheung Sha Wan Abattoir? If the demand for fresh meat continues to decline, is it possible for us to close down one abattoir and then for the remaining one to operate on a two-shift basis each day?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, even though it may be premature to make a decision as to whether the Cheung Sha Wan Abattoir should be privatized or not. However, if we look at the present figures of animals being slaughtered, the actual operation of meat supply and the need for fresh meat by Hong Kong people and also the fact that the Urban Council is not the sole operator of slaughter-houses in Hong Kong, and the Regional Council has also three slaughter-houses, I think at present it is not the right time to privatize the Cheung Sha Wan Abattoir. In the long run, actually the solution should be the commissioning of the Sheung Shui Abattoir. By that time, closure of the Cheung Sha Wan Abattoir may be the best solution to solve the problem.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):―Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have two supplementary questions. The first question concerns the By-products Plants of the Kennedy Town Abattoir. I understand that as early as in 1988 there was a plan to dispense with the By-products Plant at Kennedy Town because it has caused many nuisances including bad smell as well as air pollution. Moreover, the by-products come from dead animals including goats and pigs. I would like to know when will the By-products Plant be moved? Secondly, according to town planning, the possibility of proceeding with the Green Island Reclamation is very great as a result of the new airport project, it is now time for the Council to reconsider the relocation of Kennedy Town Abattoir in order to tie in with the Green Island Reclamation project? If yes, what is the time frame?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, Mr. WONG's question consists of two parts. The first part is about the By-products Plant, secondly it is about the Green Island Reclamation project in relation to the relocation of the abattoir. Firstly, the By-products Plant must be beside an abattoir otherwise there would be a lot of complicated operational problems. So if the abattoir is to remain but if we have to relocate the By-products Plant then there would be more problems. Secondly, in the past, we did consider the possibility of privatizing the operations of the By-products Plant. The By-products Plant at present generates $3 million for the Urban Council. However, we are making no profits because the operational cost of the By-products Plant amounts to $11 million per year. Moreover, it is a public service. So it is unavoidable that the operation of the By-products Plant must be combined with the Abattoir. Secondly, with regard to the Green Island Reclamation project, the Administration has carefully considered the possibility of relocating the Kennedy Town Abattoir to the Green Island Reclamation. However, Mr. WONG may be aware of the fact that the timing of the proposed Green Island
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