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and a lot of people will be leaving Hong Kong. But I don't think this will happen because salt water is itself an anti-septic to a certain extent. The presence of bacteria in salt water may be due to the fact that the bacteria count there is extremely high or the water is heavily contaminated by human waste. The USD is once again criticised and people are saying that you only tackle problems when they arise. In public health and hygiene, we must understand one fact, actually cholera is not usually water borne or seawater borne, but the concentration is so high this time that they still exist in seawater and so perhaps the USD should really tackle this in a more thorough manner. In other words, they should have adequate information collected over the year so that when things happen, we have statistics available. Because now, for instance, I am not aware of how many samples of seawater have been tested to contain the bacteria. So I don't really know how to react.
(3) MR. PAUL YOUNG TZE-KONG asked the following question (in English):- In response to my questions in this Council on the licensing of private refuse collection vehicles on 8 June 1993 and 8 March 1994, the Chairman of the Public Health Select Committee advised that the result of a survey on the private refuse collection trade would be made known to the Council in June 1994. May I know the outcome of this survey and whether there are plans to bring the hygienic standards of these vehicles under the jurisdiction of this Council?
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns outcome of the survey on private refuse collection vehicles and the Department's recommendations.
Earlier this year the Department conducted a comprehensive survey on private refuse collection vehicles (RCV) with regard to their mode of operation, scale of business including the different types of waste they collect, vehicles and equipment used, staff employed and other relevant information.
Three separate surveys were conducted in respect of the collection of household waste, commercial waste and industrial waste by private RCVs in urban area.
Some difficulties were encountered in conducting the surveys because the private refuse collection trade was not particularly forthcoming or co-operative, and were generally unwilling to reveal frankly the details of their business. Much time-consuming effort had to be exerted in obtaining and verifying data by other means. In fact, a brief report has been given by the Urban Services Department during the last Public Health Select Committee meeting.
The Department is now preparing a full report on the survey. It will be presented in the next Public Health Select Committee meeting presumably in September when the issue will be discussed in detail by Members.
(4) MR. PAUL YOUNG TZE-KONG asked the following question (in English): Since my efforts in drawing the attention of this Council to the
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problem a few years ago, increasing numbers of commuters leaving MTR stations are still approached at exits by people distributing handbills. Such exits are quickly littered with handbills which are tossed away by the recipients with scarcely a glance hence creating an eyesore and technically making the recipients litterers. Despite warning signs posted by the Department nearby, these handbill distributors seem to operate with impunity at MTR exits. Can they be charged with littering? What other action can be taken to prevent them from continuing their operations, and who will be responsible for taking such action?
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the problem of distribution of handbills near MTR exits.
The Commissioner of Police, upon consultation, has advised that persons distributing publicity material in public places to voluntary recipients are not committing any offence. The problem associated with the distribution of handbills and publicity materials, however, is that very often they tend to become litter dumped by irresponsible members of the public around the distribution points e.g. MTR exits. While staff of the Department have been taking legal action whenever possible against persons found dumping the handbills as litter, no action can be taken whatsoever against the distributors.
To tackle this problem, the Department has adopted a two-pronged approach, that is, publicity through mass media and stepped-up law enforcement. In respect of publicity, radio APIs and posters have been produced while at the same time enforcement blitz operations have been conducted. In the 6 months period from December 1993 to May 1994, for instance, a total of 184 offenders have been prosecuted. In addition, the Department has placed warning notices to alert members of the public and has also placed more litter containers in the vicinity of blackspots, such at MTR exits to facilitate the deposition of handbills as litter. The Department will also increase the frequency of litter removal whenever situations allows.
In short, the Department is endeavouring to keep the streets clean but it clearly requires the co-operation of members of the public if that goal is to be achieved.
MOTIONS
1. MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, moved the following motion:—
RESOLVED that:—
(a) a Declaration be made under section 79(1) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132 to amend further the Declaration of Markets in the Urban Council Area first published in the Gazette as Government Notice Number 1620 of 1960; and
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