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ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN:
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Ladies and Gentlemen, may I call the meeting to order.
MINUTES
The minutes of meeting held on 11 May 1993 were confirmed.
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of May 1993.
QUESTIONS
1. MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):-Some MAC Chairmen and residents in the public housing estates in Chaiwan generally, in particular, in Hiu Tsui Court, Siu Sai Wan complain of RCV drivers refusing to collect the refuse when the collecting points are obstructed by illegal parking, even though cleaning workers push the refuse bins out for their convenience. Why do they refuse to load the refuse into their vehicles?
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):--The question concerns the general complaint made by some Chairmen of Mutual Aid Committees and residents in Chai Wan Public housing estates, particularly those living in Hiu Tsui Court, that drivers of Refuse Collection Vehicles will not collect the refuse when the Refuse Collection Points are obstructed by illegal parking, even though the cleansing workers push the refuse bins out for their convenience. This question also seeks the reasons for such refusal.
In every housing estate, space is provided and designated for the storage and collection of refuse. Under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances (Urban Council) Bylaws, it is the responsibility of the owner/management of the property to maintain clear and sufficient means of access to the refuse collecting area at all times for our collection vehicles.
Hiu Tsui Court in Siu Sai Wan Estate is managed by the Housing Department. It consists of two blocks with a total of 600 units, the daily refuse yield from which amounts to about 18 circular bins. An area of open space near the approach road next to the multi-storey carpark is designated for the storage of refuse, from which collection is normally carried out at about 9.00 a.m. Whenever illegal parking, especially during weekends and public holidays, occurs along the approach road causing obstruction to the RCV, it is correct that the staff of the cleansing contractor do indeed push the bins to the middle of the road for collection. However, this practice is unacceptable for refuse collection purposes for many reasons, in that it poses dangers or problems associated with safety, environmental hygiene, obstruction, creation of dust and other nuisances, as well as creating a potential risk to passers-by. Given the tight collection schedule on the RCV's daily round of refuse collection points, it has to proceed to other points of collection and can only return to the Refuse Collection Point in Hiu Tsui Court the next day to clear the refuse. Accordingly, the RCV driver is acting appropriately and correctly in not collecting refuse in the circumstances described.
Whilst the same situation may sometimes occur in other areas of Chai Wan, nevertheless collections from public housing estates in this District generally operate satisfactorily.
Whenever obstruction to RCVs occurs, our staff always inform the Housing Department to rectify the situation so that removal of the refuse can be carried out as soon as possible. The Housing Manager of Siu Sai Wan/Hiu Tsui Court has been requested to resolve this problem and in fact, since 21 May 1993, no similar incidents of obstruction to the access road have occurred. The Department will continue to urge the Housing Department to keep access roads clear for our RCV, to avoid refuse having to be left uncollected within their estates, whenever problems of this nature arise.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):—I would thank Professor LEUNG for his very full answer. I have no supplementary questions.
2. MR. MA LEE-WO asked the following question (in Cantonese):—In many places overseas, public toilets are usually equipped with diaper changing facilities. In Hong Kong such facilities are also provided in the toilets of some large department stores. I would like to ask whether the Council would provide this kind of facilities in public toilets under its management (e.g. toilets on streets and in parks, libraries and markets, etc.) to facilitate parents looking after their babies?
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-The question asks whether the Council will provide diaper changing facilities within the public toilets under its management.
The Working Group on Public Toilet vets all the public toilet projects before their implementation. The Working Group approved a revised schedule of Standard Provision and Details for Public Toilets in December 1991. Since that time all new public toilets have been designed in accordance with the Schedule. In May 1992 it was agreed that diaper changing facilities should be incorporated within Disabled Toilets. From that time all redeveloped and refurbished public toilets with disabled toilet compartments have been equipped or/are planned to be equipped with such facilities. This is applicable to all Urban Council venues.
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