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Dr. Lee :-Will the Chairman take this matter up with the appropriate department so that the suffering members of the public can have early attention to this disease?
CHAIRMAN :-Including the Chairman?
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question :—
"Is the Chairman aware that some sanitary staff in Sham Shui Po are in the habit of emptying nightsoil into street drains (instead of into the collecting vehicle) at night, thus creating very offensive smell in the neighbourhood? Will he take appropriate steps to stop this insanitary practice?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :-
"As you will be aware, except in the one district of Hong Kong where the Sherriff-Baker nightsoil collection scheme now operates, the system of conservancy in the urban areas involves the carrying of nightsoil buckets after mid-night from domestic premises to a barge moored on the waterfront. Some of these buckets have to be carried considerable distances and I regret to say that cases have occurred where Sanitary Coolies have tried to make things easier by simply tipping the nightsoil down a street drain. Needless to say, supervisory staff are always on the look-out to catch offenders but, because of the scattered nature of the work, they cannot follow every single Sanitary Coolie round. Strict disciplinary action is always taken against offenders and since September alone there have been ten cases of this nature. The extension of the Sherriff-Baker scheme will remove the temptation in due course. In the meantime, I can assure you that strenuous steps will continue to be taken to prevent the staff concerned from failing in their duties."
DR. LEE -A supplementary question. Will the Chairman pay special attention to Lai Chi Kok Road where the most complaints come from?
CHAIRMAN :—I was not aware, but I will mention that to the staff concerned.
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MR. SALES :—May I ask a supplementary question? In relation to this practice which I have noted in Waterloo Road as well, has action been taken about a complaint which I made in private about Waterloo Road?
CHAIRMAN :- -I was not aware of your complaint but I will look into the matter.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question
"Is the Chairman satisfied that the present method of dressing and handling animal carcases in Ma Tau Kok Slaughter House is in accordance with modern practice? If not, when are steps to be taken to remedy it, and to ensure that such a primitive method would not be used when the new abattoirs are built?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :—
"I am not satisfied that the present method of dressing and handling animals at Ma Tau Kok is in accordance with modern practice and this is precisely why it is proposed to replace the present abattoir within the next 3 or 4 years, with a structure of the most up-to-date and scientific design embodying a line system. Plans for this structure are progressing steadily. The proposed site is at Cheung Sha Wan Reclamation. I am, however, satisfied that within the existing restricted premises such improvements as are feasible to facilitate dressing and handling have in fact already been carried out. These improvements include the installation of more water points and the construction of a new meat-hanging shed with 1,080 additional hooks and of new gut washing slabs."
MR. BERNACCHI : -A supplementary question arising out of the fact that when I joined this Council in 1952, the plans for the new abattoir were already progressing steadily-1 would like to know when it will be completed.
COL. CLAGUE:-Mr. Chairman, were they not going in the wrong direction at that time?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN :-May I ask what was going in the wrong direction, the abattoir or the Council?
Page 93 of 139
Page 93 of 139
п
Page 93 of 139
166
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Dr. Lee :-Will the Chairman take this matter up with the appropriate department so that the suffering members of the public can have early attention to this disease?
CHARIMAN :-Including the Chairman ?
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question :—
"Is the Chairman aware that some sanitary staff in Sham Shui Po are in the habit of emptying nightsoil into street drains (instead of into the collecting vehicle) at night, thus creating very offensive smell in the neighbourhood? Will he take appropriate steps to stop this insanitary practice?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :-
"As you will be aware, except in the one district of Hong Kong where the Sherriff-Baker nightsoil collection scheme now operates, the system of conservancy in the urban areas involves the carrying of nightsoil buckets after mid-night from domestic premises to a barge moored on the waterfront. Some of these buckets have to be carried considerable distances and I regret to say that cases have occurred where Sanitary Coolies have tried to make things easier by simply tipping the nightsoil down a street drain. Needless to say, supervisory staff are always on the look-out to catch offenders but, because of the scatter- ed nature of the work, they cannot follow every single Sanitary Coolie round. Strict disciplinary action is always taken against offenders and since September alone there have been ten cases of this nature. The extension of the Sherriff-Baker scheme will remove the temptation in due course. In the meantime, I can assure you that strenuous steps will continue to be taken to prevent the staff concerned from failing in their duties."
DR. LEE -A supplementary question. Will the Chairman pay special attention to Lai Chi Kok Road where the most com- plaints come from?
CHAIRMAN :—I was not aware, but I will mention that to the staff concerned.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
167
MR. SALES :—May I ask a supplementary question? In relation to this practice which I have noted in Waterloo Road as well, has action been taken about a complaint which I made in private about Waterloo Road?
CHAIRMAN :- -I was not aware of your complaint but I will look into the matter.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question
"Is the Chairman satisfied that the present method of dressing and handling animal carcases in Ma Tau Kok Slaughter House is in accordance with modern practice? If not, when are steps to be taken to remedy it, and to ensure that such a primitive method would not be used when the new abattoirs are built?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows :—
"I am not satisfied that the present method of dressing and handling animals at Ma Tau Kok is in accordance with modern practice and this is precisely why it is proposed to replace the present abattoir within the next 3 or 4 years, with a structure of the most up-to- date and scientific design embodying a line system. Plans for this structure are progressing steadily. The proposed site is at Cheung Sha Wan Reclamation. I am, however, satisfied that within the existing restricted premises such improvements as are feasible to facilitate dressing and handling have in fact al- ready been carried out. These improvements include the installation of more water points and the con- struction of a new meat-hanging shed with 1,080 additional hooks and of new gut washing slabs."
MR. BERNACCHI : -A supplementary question arising out of the fact that when I joined this Council in 1952, the plans for the new abattoir were already progressing steadily-1 would like to know when it will be completed.
COL. CLAGUE:-Mr. Chairman, were they not going in the wrong direction at that time?
MR. CHEONG-LEEN :-May I ask what was going in the wrong direction, the abattoir or the Council?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.