HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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On the acquisition of equipment, I think we should promote mechanized street sweeping. In many countries of Europe, electric carts with suction tubes are used for street washing and cleaning. We can do much more there.
Finally, I would like to say a few words on contracting out of street cleaning services. Many districts in Hong Kong and Kowloon have contracted out this job. As the Chairman of the Finance Select Committee, I have learnt, or it was already learnt before, that as much as one million dollars can be saved annually for each district. I hope we can expand this scheme. With these remarks, I second the motion.
Ms. JENNIFER CHOW KIT-BING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I agree to strengthen manpower or empower suitable staff to improve environmental health education. Litter bugs and people who spit indiscriminately should be prosecuted, especially in view of the coming Summer months. However, the above measure pinpoints the general situation only. On special occasions, special measures should be taken. During festivities to celebrate our return to China, our citizens and as many as one million tourists from afar will join the celebrations. We can imagine what a problem rubbish cleaning and public health will become The Urban Services Department should make appropriate arrangements to prevent this fragrant harbour of Hong Kong from becoming a smelly harbour.
As the cleaning work for Hong Kong is massive, this Council should step up cooperation with the Clean Hong Kong Committee in promoting cleanliness to citizens and tourists before and after our return to China. On the publicity side, new immigrants should be a target group. As for contracting out more cleaning work to professional companies, I think it is a general trend to be implemented step by step. We should start contracting out in blackspots first. Blackspots include gathering places of unlicensed cooked food stall operators. We should also find out if there are sufficient rubbish collection points or temporary ones for use by the general public. Placing rubbish in the streets affect environmental health.
Of course, we should review the standards achieved by professional companies to see if they meet our requirements. Certain regulations should be laid down for companies to abide by and certain monitoring devices should be designed. For example, the Department and the public should assess the efficiency of cleaning companies and the validity of contracts in order to maintain a satisfactory service. Perhaps we can set up complaint hotlines or mail-grams.
I hope the Department will make corresponding arrangements for manpower assessment and devise plans for privatization and contracting out to cleaning companies. We should find out how Departmental manpower should be distributed to save up on cost and the number of workers. I suggest
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