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# HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
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(a) In the last year, how many prosecutions were taken out by the Urban Services Department against cleansing contractors of Hong Kong Housing Authority and Hong Kong Housing Society?
(b) What is the frequency of inspection to the above mentioned public housing estates by the Urban Services Department's Cleansing Section?
(c) Has the Council conducted an assessment in terms of categorization of cleanliness, on the conditions of public housing estates? If yes, what are the position and relevant statistics? Will the Urban Services Department step up inspection to those public housing estates assessed to be lower in standards of cleanliness? What is the frequency of inspection?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT, CHAIRMAN OF THE Public Health SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—This is a four-part question concerning the hygienic condition of public housing estates, and my reply is as follows:
In the past year, 2 prosecutions were taken out by the Urban Services Department against cleansing contractors and fines in a total amount of $1,000 were inflicted. Staff of the Urban Services Department will continue to inspect and closely monitor the environmental hygiene condition in public housing estates.
Staff of the Urban Services Department's Cleansing Section will inspect the refuse collection points in public housing estates of the Hong Kong Housing Authority every day to ensure that the refuse of these estates are cleared properly without any cumulation.
At the UC meeting on 13 May this year, an amended motion by Mr. Christopher CHUNG Shu-kun requesting the Housing Authority to, on a quarterly basis, assess the cleanliness of the public housing estates under its jurisdiction and publicize the assessment to the public so as to effectively monitor and enhance the hygienic condition of these estates was carried. This request was referred to the Hong Kong Housing Authority for consideration. The Housing Department has informed the USD that it will submit an information paper on the management of cleansing contracts for public housing estates to the Public Health Select Committee for discussion at its September meeting, and representatives from the Housing Department will attend the meeting.
MR. CHAN Kwok-leung (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, there were only two prosecutions by the Department against cleansing contractors of Housing Department. Does it mean that the cleanliness of housing estates is satisfactory? Half of our residents live in public housing estates and there are many such estates within the urban area. Why do we have only several prosecutions?
The second part of the reply document clearly states that the Department only inspects refuse collection points at housing estates daily. Housing estates are large places with public floor areas, lobbies, corridors, stairs, road etc. It is not
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