HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
and clinics should provide their own incinerators for the disposal of medical dressings. The object of this suggestion was partly to reduce the increasing volume of the free collection service now provided by the Urban Services Department and partly to lessen the risk of infection through unnecessary conveyance of these articles. The Director of Medical and Health Services agreed to the suggestion and addressed a number of private hospitals on the point.
(b) All main Government hospitals, both existing and those to be built, have or will have their own incinerators. The majority of private hospitals either already have their own incinerators or, in response to the Director of Medical and Health Services' letter, are kindly arranging to install them. Some 3 or 4 private hospitals do not have incinerators and, because of the built-up surroundings of the hospitals, it would not be desirable to install them.
(c) I can give no assurance that no new hospital will be built without an incinerator as with any building potential fire risks and objections from local residents have to be taken into account. Furthermore, there is no legal provision which necessitates the installation of an incinerator. The decision depends entirely on the site but it is the Director of Medical and Health Services' intention that all main Government hospitals should include them and, unless there are good reasons to the contrary, he is enlisting the co-operation of all private hospitals with a view to installing appropriate appliances. The non-Government hospitals have been most co-operative.
MR. SALES: May I put a supplementary question? satisfied that all necessary watch is being kept on such private hospitals and clinics which use the standard means of disposing of their refuse so as to lessen the risk of infection?
CHAIRMAN: Every care is taken by the departmental staff who are collecting dressings, etc. from private hospitals to ensure the utmost standards of cleanliness.
MR. SALES: From the general to the particular, may I ask you whether there has been a recent case where a private hospital was prepared to install an incinerator and has been asked not to do so?
CHAIRMAN: I think this stems from a misunderstanding, Mr. Sales. The letter which actually recommended that the hospital in question should have an incinerator also admitted that construction might be undesirable in certain highly residential areas. In the case in question—I think we know which one it is—there were certain complaints from local residents. I believe the matter has been satisfactorily settled.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. SALES: In what respect, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN: I believe the complaints have either been withdrawn or satisfactory arrangements have been made.
MR. SALES: Will an incinerator be installed?
CHAIRMAN: I am afraid I am not in a position to state whether or not it will be installed in the present case.
MR. SALES: May I ask that the file be sent to me at a later date?
CHAIRMAN: With pleasure.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: Is there a serious danger to the public arising from this risk of infection?
CHAIRMAN: I am afraid I am not a medical man. I cannot express an opinion.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: May I address this question through you to the Assistant Director of Medical and Health Services?
CHAIRMAN: Yes.
DR. MOORE: The answer, of course, is it depends entirely on whether the contents are prevented from escaping from the container. I think that is safeguarded.
MR. A. DE O. SALES asked the following question:
"(a) Will the Chairman state which markets in Kowloon are due to be pulled down and re-built?
(b) Will the Chairman please inform the Council what supervision is being exercised over certain markets in Kowloon, say, at Kun Chung, Sham Shui Po and Mong Kok? How often are they washed and cleaned? What staff is employed at each of these markets?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
"(a) The Market Reconstruction Programme approved by the Select Committee (of which you are a member) envisages at present the demolition and rebuilding of the following Kowloon Markets:
Kowloon City
Sham Shui Po
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and clinics should provide their own incinerators for the disposal of medical dressings. The object of this sugges- tion was partly to reduce the increasing volume of the free collection service now provided by the Urban Services Department and partly to lessen the risk of infection through unnecessary conveyance of these articles. The Director of Medical and Health Services agreed to the suggestion and addressed a number of private hospitals on the point.
(b) All main Government hospitals, both existing and those to be built, have or will have their own incinerators. The majority of private hospitals either already have their own incinerators or, in response to the Director of Medical and Health Services' letter, are kindly arranging to install them. Some 3 or 4 private hospitals do not have incinera- tors and, because of the built-up surroundings of the hospitals, it would not be desirable to install them.
(c) I can give no assurance that no new hospital will be built without an incinerator as with any building potential fire risks and objections from local residents have to be taken into account. Furthermore there is no legal provision which necessitates the installation of an incinerator. The decision depends entirely on the site but it is the Director of Medical and Health Services' intention that all main Government hospitals should include them and, unless there are good reasons to the contrary, he is enlisting the co-operation of all private hospitals with a view to installing appropriate appliances. The non-Government hospitals have been most co-operative."
Are you
MR. SALES: -May I put a supplementary question? satisfied that all necessary watch is being kept on such private hospitals and clinics which use the standard means of disposing of their refuse so as to lessen the risk of infection?
CHAIRMAN: -----Every care is taken by the departmental staff who are collecting dressings, etc. from private hospitals to ensure the utmost standards of cleanliness.
MR. SALES: From the general to the particular, may I ask you whether there has been a recent case where a private hospital was prepared to install an incinerator and has been asked not to do so?
CHAIRMAN:-I think this stems from a misunderstanding, Mr. Sales. The letter which actually recommended that the hospital in question should have an incinerator also admitted that construction might be undesirable in certain highly residential areas. In the case
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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in question-I think we know which one it is-there were certain com- plaints from local residents. I believe the matter has been satisfactorily settled.
MR. SALES: In what respect, Mr. Chairman?
CHAIRMAN:-I believe the complaints have either been withdrawn or satisfactory arrangements have been made.
MR. SALES: -Will an incinerator be installed?
CHAIRMAN: -I am afraid I am not in a position to state whether or not it will be installed in the present case.
MR. SALES: -May I ask that the file be sent to me at a later date?
CHAIRMAN:-With pleasure.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Is there a serious danger to the public arising from this risk of infection?
CHAIRMAN --I am afraid I am not a medical man. I cannot express an opinion.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I address this question through you to the Assistant Director of Medical and Health Services?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes.
DR. MOORE:The answer, of course, is it depends entirely on whether the contents are prevented from escaping from the container. I think that is safeguarded.
MR. A. DE O. SALES asked the following question:·
"(a) Will the Chairman state which markets in Kowloon are
due to be pulled down and re-built?
(b) Will the Chairman please inform the Council what super- vision is being exercised over certain markets in Kowloon, say, at Kun Chung, Sham Shui Po and Mong Kok? How often are they washed and cleaned? What staff is employed at each of these markets?"
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
"(a) The Market Reconstruction Programme approved by the Select Committee (of which you are a member) envisages at present the demolition and rebuilding of the following Kowloon Markets:
Kowloon City
Sham Shui Po
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