HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
121
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 3rd July, 1962, were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of July 1962.
(2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st April, 1962, to 30th June, 1962.
(3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st April, 1962, to 30th June, 1962.
QUESTIONS.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-
Is the Chairman satisfied with the condition of the streets and scavenging lanes in the urban areas, and will he say what has been done to improve the standard of cleanliness there since I raised the matter last year?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
So long as the present overcrowding persists in the Colony, it would be, to say the least, foolhardy for any occupant of this chair to express himself as being satisfied with the condition of the streets and scavenging lanes in the urban area. There will, I believe, always be scope for betterment.
However, I am glad of this opportunity to pay a tribute to the especial interest in this matter which you, Sir, have shown as Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, and to record what the department has been able to do, largely at the urging of that Committee, to raise standards in recent months.
To supplement the regular staff, two special cleansing squads were formed in March of this year, to sweep and wash streets and scavenging lanes and to remove articles obstructing cleansing work, if these had not been removed by their owners after 24 hours' warning. In May two more squads were formed. Up to 31st July these four squads, covering substantial parts of the urban areas in Kowloon and Hong Kong, had not only swept and washed all pavements and scavenging lanes as they came to them, but had brought about the removal, either by the owners or by the squads themselves, of approximately 26,000 articles of all kinds (excluding vehicles) which were utilizing public space.
Most of the obstructions withdrawn by their owners re-appear after the squads have passed on. Business activities overflow again from ground floor premises onto the pavements or into scavenging lanes. Many upper floor tenants, who are untouched by the squads' activities, continue their thoughtless habit of throwing things out of their windows. But the places where the squads have been at work have received a very thorough cleansing, and apart from the dirt washed away and the refuse swept up, our records show that up to 31st July no less than 711 lorry loads of abandoned articles and rubbish had been removed from the lanes and streets.
On all sides the squads have received invaluable assistance from the Kaifong Welfare Advancement Associations as they have passed through the various districts. Continuous attention has been given by Chairmen and Members to such matters as preparing residents for the arrival of the cleansing squads, explaining that the squads' work is a valuable contribution towards more hygienic conditions, and urging residents to remove obstructions to cleansing. I cannot speak too highly of the contribution which the Associations have made towards the smooth progress of the cleansing work and the co-operation of the residents.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:-
In view of the constant complaints from members of the public about the smell emitting from the public latrines at both Pottinger and D'Aguilar Streets, why is it not possible to keep these public facilities from being a public nuisance? To what extent are they being used by the public, and can they be closed with the recent addition of new public latrines in the Central District?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:—
I think that I should say first that I do not consider these latrines to be public nuisances. Six surprise visits have been paid in recent weeks by the Assistant Director (Cleansing) to both latrines at various times of day, and I visited both latrines in company with the Assistant Superintendent (Cleansing) on 3rd August. On no
Page 68 of 150
$150
120
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
121
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 3rd July, 1962,
were confirmed.
PAPERS.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following papers:
(1) Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban
Services Department for the month of July 1962. (2) Urban Council and Urban Services Department Statistical Report for the period 1st April, 1962, to 30th June, 1962, (3) Report by the Commissioner for Resettlement on the progress of clearance and resettlement operations during the period 1st April, 1962, to 30th June, 1962.
QUESTIONS.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question :-
Is the Chairman satisfied with the condition of the streets and scavenging lanes in the urban areas, and will he say what has been done to improve the standard of cleanliness there since I raised the matter last year?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
So long as the present overcrowding persists in the Colony,
would be, to say the least, foolhardy for any occupant of this chair to express himself as being satisfied with the condition of the streets and scavenging lanes in the urban area. There will, I believe, always be scope for betterment.
However, I am glad of this opportunity to pay a tribute to the especial interest in this matter which you, Sir, have shown as Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Com- mittee, and to record what the department has been able to do, largely at the urging of that Committee, to raise standards in recent months.
To supplement the regular staff, two special cleansing squads were formed in March of this year, to sweep and wash streets and scavenging lanes and to remove articles obstructing cleansing work, if these had not been removed by their owners after 24 hours' warning. In May two more squads were formed. Up to 31st July these four squads, covering substantial parts of the urban areas in Kowloon and Hong Kong, had not only swept and washed all pavements and scavenging lanes as they came to them, but had brought about the removal, either by the owners
or by the squads themselves, of approximately 26,000 articles of all kinds (excluding vehicles) which were utilizing public space.
Most of the obstructions withdrawn by their owners re-appear after the squads have passed on. Business activities over- flow again from ground floor premises onto the pavements or into scavenging lanes. Many upper floor tenants, who are untouched by the squads' activities, continue their thoughtless habit of throwing things out of their windows. But the places where the squads have been at work have received a very thorough cleansing, and apart from the dirt washed away and the refuse swept up, our records show that up to 31st July no less than 711 lorry loads of abandoned articles and rubbish had been removed from the lanes and streets.
On all sides the squads have received invaluable assistance from the Kaifong Welfare Advancement Associations as they have passed through the various districts. Con- tinuous attention has been given by Chairmen and Members to such matters as preparing residents for the arrival of the cleansing squads, explaining that the squads' work is a valuable contribution towards more hygienic conditions, and urging residents to remove obstructions to cleansing. I cannot speak too highly of the contribu- tion which the Associations have made towards the smooth progress of the cleansing work and the co- operation of the residents.
DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question: -
In view of the constant complaints from members of the public about the smell emitting from the public latrines at both Pottinger and D'Aguilar Streets, why is it not possible to keep these public facilities from being a public nuisance? To what extent are they being used by the public, and can they be closed with the recent addition of new public latrines in the Central District?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:—
I think that I should say first that I do not consider these latrines to be public nuisances. Six surprise visits have been paid in recent weeks by the Assistant Director (Cleansing) to both latrines at various times of day, and I visited both latrines in company with the Assistant Superintendent (Cleansing) on 3rd August. On no
Page 68 of 150
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.