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MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, my simple reply is that no matter how good the work we should always make improvement. I agree that improvement needs to be made.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. PAO two questions.
In the past two years, 75 ranks of government officers have participated in the prosecution process. I would like to know how many people have been prosecuted by them and when we authorise these people to take out prosecutions, whether these people have actually taken out prosecution actions?
Secondly, concerning the cleaning of streets. Apart from littering, many members are concerned about the washing of the streets particularly pavements. I would like to know if the streets are washed everyday and how frequent are they washed?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—The first question is about the prosecution figure. I will find out the figure after the meeting and will give Mr. WONG a written reply after the meeting. Mr. WONG, sorry, I am afraid I do not have the figure on hand.
Secondly, actually the streets are washed everyday. But it is difficult for me to say how many times the streets are cleaned. Actually the Department will classify the streets into different categories. Some streets are washed twice a day, some are washed more than twice a day. So actually streets are washed according to the arrangements made by the Department. As for the cost effectiveness of street washing, actually the Department has conducted a study on the cost effectiveness of the routes of streets to be washed and the priority. As a result the cost effectiveness of street washing has been promoted and enhanced. I hope that Mr. WONG can understand that the Department has spared no efforts in cleaning streets.
MR. WONG SIU-YEE (in Cantonese): Actually everyday when we pass Fa Yuen Street in Mongkok, we can find tonnes of rubbish there. I would like to know if littering is permitted in that area? If not, what sort of measures can we take rather than deploying more staff to clean up the rubbish lying around in that street?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I can assure Members that littering is not permitted in that area. That is a permitted hawking area. We must understand that in a hawking area, littering is inevitable. But I agree that we must not permit people to litter around, especially the hawkers. We will reflect the issue to the Department and study whether we can carry out any special measures to clean up the street. Thank you, Mr. WONG.
MR. WONG SIU-YEE (in Cantonese): I have a follow-up question. I would like to know if we levy any fees on hawkers for the clearing of rubbish.
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MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—I understand that when we levy licence fees on hawkers, there is no fee for clearing of rubbish. So I do not think the hawkers in Fa Yuen Street have paid any fee for clearing of rubbish.
THE HON. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask Mr. PAO a question. Overall speaking, has the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign reduced the number of rubbish? If not, could we focus our publicity efforts on separating rubbish as well as reducing urban waste?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese): Concerning the increase or decrease in the number of urban waste, many factors would affect that issue e.g. diets or living habits. So it is difficult for us to deduce why there is an increase or decrease in the number of urban waste. It is difficult for me to answer this question. But personally, an indirect factor affecting the quantity of rubbish is that we have reduced the number of people who litter around. From the report mentioned in my reply, if Members are interested, they could read it and they would find that members of the public have changed their living habit or diet and as a result they have reduced the quantity of rubbish created and this help in the way to reduce the quantity of urban waste.
THE HON. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):—I think there are ways to help resolving this issue, e.g. some consumption habit and too much packaging. This will increase the burden on our collection of rubbish. I think we should try to move towards this direction to educate the public. Regarding the spreading of this message, I would like to know if we could do something about this?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese): Concerning the ways to reduce the volume of waste, as far as I know, the Public Health Select Committee is very concerned about this issue. I agree that some consumption habits must be changed. We may persuade or encourage some manufacturers to simplify their packaging. Perhaps in future we will think of ways to promote such work but the Keep Hong Kong Clean Campaign may not be in a position to do so. I think other Select Committee should cooperate in carrying out such work.
MR. CHAN KWOK-MING (in Cantonese):—Mr. WONG Siu-yee has just mentioned that in Sai Yeung Choi Street South, everyday we can find loads of rubbish and I am sure the Department is well aware of the situation. In that district, we do not have a refuse collection point and I wonder if there will be one in the next few years. So every time after the hawkers have finished trading in the evening, there are loads of rubbish. Bad smell has emanated from the rubbish. Although departmental staff have cleared the rubbish early in the morning, the situation is still quite serious since loads of rubbish are there overnight. I wonder whether the Department has any methods to solve the problem?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—I think this does not concern the work of the Keep Hong Kong Clean Steering Committee but perhaps I could refer Mr. CHAN's question to the Public Health Select Committee for further consideration.
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