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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -For clarification in regard to the point raised by Mr. BERNACCHI, do I understand that Standing Orders permit a Member of Council to ask a question either from the Chairman, or if he so wishes, from the Chairman of a particular Select Committee? In other words, it is left to Members' discretion?
CHAIRMAN: -Sir, that has always been my impression. You can ask a question of the Chairman of a Select Committee.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, I concur, as long as these questions are not put to the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -Being a friend of Mr. SALES', Mr. Chairman, I have always avoided doing that.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:
(a) What effective measures is the Urban Services Department taking to keep the city clean and to prevent offensive smells emanating from drains and gutters?
(b) Is the Chairman aware that there is much public concern over the apparently deteriorating sanitary condition of the urban areas?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
(a) Not only has the cleansing action of rain water been somewhat lacking this year but normal street washing has been suspended. Water tankers have had to be used to provide well water for latrines and bathhouses. In these conditions drains and nullahs have tended to become foul more frequently than in previous years and the water seals in the gully traps to dry up and allow foul air to escape.
Special attention is given to drains in the urban areas by the Urban Services Department's gully trap labourers in the course of weekly inspections. The traps are cleaned out and the water seal is restored where necessary. Defective drains are reported at once to the Drainage Office of the Public Works Department.
Eighty-four Urban Services Department workers inspect over 9,000 drains weekly throughout the urban area.
Last month 436 choked and defective drains were reported to the Public Works Department. At the end of the month only 7 cases were outstanding.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Cleansing of open nullahs is undertaken by departmental labour. The Public Works Department clears the silt from all decked nullahs at this time of the year to allow for free flow. The numerous beat sweepers continue their normal cleansing work and there are also six Special Cleansing Squads in operation, particularly in areas where litter and obstructions cannot be dealt with adequately by beat sweepers alone. These Squads complete their rounds approximately every two months and some deterioration in the areas concerned occurs in that period. Prosecutions for obstruction continue at a high rate; there were over 400 in September. Over 8 thousand warning notices were issued under Section 22 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance in the period 18th September to 17th October.
The magnitude of the task of cleansing the urban areas is considerable. 1,200 tons of refuse are taken each day by the department from the urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon to Gin Drinker's Bay. The quantity increases steadily each year.
(b) With regard to the second part of the question, personally I have not yet been made aware of wide-spread public concern, but I am fully conscious of the danger of deterioration in standards under the present difficult circumstances. I wish to assure you, Sir, that the department is alive to the need for vigorous measures to maintain good cleansing standards and that means to uphold and improve efficiency are under review.
MR. SALES: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Will you please refer to the Select Committee concerned the need for the early resumption of street cleansing with water, and for adequate arrangements to be made for that purpose if the Select Committee concerned feels that that should be done?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question:
(a) Will the Chairman please clarify the Government's view as to the position of the Urban Council in respect of the Urban Services Department?
(b) To what extent does the Urban Services Department function in the New Territories?
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Page 113 of 194
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: -For clarification in regard to the point raised by Mr. BERNACCHI, do I understand that Standing Orders permit a Member of Council to ask a question either from the Chairman, or if he so wishes, from the Chairman of a particular Select Committee? In other words, it is left to Members' discretion?
CHAIRMAN: -Sir, that has always been my impression. You can ask a question of the Chairman of a Select Committee.
MR. SALES-Mr. Chairman, I concur, as long as these questions are not put to the Chairman of the Urban Amenities Select Committee. (Laughter).
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Being a friend of Mr. SALES', Mr. Chairman, I have always avoided doing that.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question :·
(a) What effective measures is the Urban Services Department taking to keep the city clean and to prevent offensive smells emanating from drains and gutters?
(b) Is the Chairman aware that there is much public concern over the apparently deteriorating sanitary condition of the urban areas?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
(a) Not only has the cleansing action of rain water been somewhat lacking this year but normal street washing has been suspended. Water tankers have had to be used to provide well water for latrines and bathhouses. In these conditions drains and nullahs have tended to become foul more frequently than in previous years and the water seals in the gully traps to dry up and allow foul air to escape.
Special attention is given to drains in the urban areas by the Urban Services Department's gully trap labourers in the course of weekly inspections. The traps are cleaned out and the water seal is restored where necessary. Defective drains are reported at once to the Drainage Office of the Public Works Department.
area.
Eighty-four Urban Services Department workers inspect over 9,000 drains weekly throughout the urban Last month 436 choked and defective drains were reported to the Public Works Department. At the end of the month only 7 cases were outstanding.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
209
Cleansing of open nullahs is undertaken by depart- mental labour. The Public Works Department clears the silt from all decked nullahs at this time of the year to allow for free flow. The numerous beat sweepers con- tinue their normal cleansing work and there are also six Special Cleansing Squads in operation, particularly in areas where litter and obstructions cannot be dealt with adequately by beat sweepers alone. These Squads com- plete their rounds approximately every two months and some deterioration in the areas concerned occurs in that period. Prosecutions for obstruction continue at a high rate; there were over 400 in September. Over 8 thou- sand warning notices were issued under Section 22 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance in the period 18th September to 17th October.
The magnitude of the task of cleansing the urban areas is considerable. 1,200 tons of refuse are taken each day by the department from the urban areas of Hong Kong and Kowloon to Gin Drinker's Bay. The quantity increases steadily each year.
(b) With regard to the second part of the question, personally I have not yet been made aware of wide-spread public concern, but I am fully conscious of the danger of deterioration in standards under the present difficult circumstances. I wish to assure you, Sir, that the department is alive to the need for vigorous measures to maintain good cleansing standards and that means to uphold and improve efficiency are under review.
MR. SALES: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Will you please refer to the Select Committee concerned the need for the early resumption of street cleansing with water, and for adequate arrangements to be made for that purpose if the Select Committee concerned feels that that should be done?
CHAIRMAN: Yes, Sir.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question:-
(a) Will the Chairman please clarify the Government's view as to the position of the Urban Council in respect of the Urban Services Department?
(b) To what extent does the Urban Services Department
function in the New Territories?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.