1964 — Page 108

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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and diesel engines cannot be viewed with complacency and I agree that all available steps should be taken to control this potential hazard.

The second part of this question deals with possible action to abate the nuisance and Council's involvement in the matter. This Council is not directly concerned with the control of smoke nuisances emanating from buses, trucks and taxis. This is a matter for the Police. It should be appreciated, however, that atmospheric pollution as a whole and this Council is concerned with smoke nuisances arising from domestic premises and certain licensed premises is injurious to physical health and there is a clear association between pollution of the air and the incidence of bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. Control of this type of air pollution depends on the proper maintenance of engines, particularly of fuel injection equipment, and the main offenders in this respect are users of diesel driven engines such as goods vehicles, buses and taxis. The responsibility rests on the owners of these vehicles. Diesel engines, if properly maintained, serviced and adjusted, and properly driven, need not emit smoke except possibly for a moment or two when starting. Police Officers regularly examine such vehicles and bring to the notice of owners and drivers, cases where it is considered that exhaust fumes are excessive. Under Section 103 of Part 2 of the Vehicle and Road Traffic (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1956 whereby every motor vehicle is required to be maintained in such condition as not to permit the emission of smoke offenders are liable to prosecution.

If you wish, Sir, this matter can be brought to the attention of the Traffic Advisory Committee through our representative on it, Mr. WATSON. (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask the Vice-Chairman whether or not in a number of our highly-congested city streets, toxic gases coming from motor vehicles could be found in high concentration?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-It is extremely difficult to measure accurately the amount of pollution in any one spot, because there are so many variable factors involved, such as different atmospheric conditions prevailing.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-From many sources, Mr. Chairman, I am given to understand that the increasing number of cars, together with the increased emission from motor vehicles of toxic gases, has become a matter of serious concern to the public. Do I understand, Mr. Chairman, that the Vice-Chairman agrees with this view and that every step, as he says, should be taken to abate it?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I do, Sir.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask our representative on the Traffic Advisory Committee, through you, how long is it since this subject has been discussed in the Traffic Advisory Committee?

MR. WATSON:-Mr. Chairman, it has not been discussed since April this year when I took office. (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask, through you, Mr. Chairman, from the previous representative on the Traffic Advisory Committee, whether any discussion was held on the steps to be taken by the Police to abate this nuisance?

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, nothing on this subject was discussed from April 1963 to March 1964.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, do I understand then that this matter is within the province of the Traffic Advisory Committee and not within this Council?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-It is suggested, Sir, that the only way this Council can make its views known is through the Traffic Advisory Committee, since this is a matter for the Police and not the Urban Council.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, for the purpose of clarification, would you care to say to what extent this Council can take action if it receives a complaint from the public concerning any nuisance caused by a car in the street which is producing a fairly high concentration of toxic gases?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-It should be reported to the Police, Sir.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In other words, the Council has no powers to take action on the basis of its being a general nuisance?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-Not as far as I am aware, Sir.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, this is a matter which is of serious concern to the public, because for nearly 2 years the Traffic Advisory Committee has not discussed this subject. This morning I

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312 1 192 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL Page 108 of 312 193 and diesel engines cannot be viewed with complacency and I agree that all available steps should be taken to control this potential hazard. The second part of this question deals with possible action to abate the nuisance and Council's involvement in the matter. This Council is not directly concerned with the control of smoke nuisances emanating from buses, trucks and taxis. This is a matter for the Police. It should be appreciated, however, that atmospheric pollution as a whole and this Council is concerned with smoke nuisances arising from domestic premises and certain licensed premises is injurious to physical health and there is a clear association between pollution of the air and the incidence of bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. Control of this type of air pollution depends on the proper maintenance of engines, particularly of fuel injection equipment, and the main offenders in this respect are users of diesel driven engines such as goods vehicles, buses and taxis. The responsibility rests on the owners of these vehicles. Diesel engines, if properly maintained, serviced and adjusted, and properly driven, need not emit smoke except possibly for a moment or two when starting. Police Officers regularly examine such vehicles and bring to the notice of owners and drivers, cases where it is considered that exhaust fumes are excessive. Under Section 103 of Part 2 of the Vehicle and Road Traffic (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1956 whereby every motor vehicle is required to be maintained in such condition as not to permit the emission of smoke offenders are liable to prosecution. If you wish, Sir, this matter can be brought to the attention of the Traffic Advisory Committee through our representative on it, Mr. WATSON. (Laughter). MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask the Vice-Chairman whether or not in a number of our highly-congested city streets, toxic gases coming from motor vehicles could be found in high concentration? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-It is extremely difficult to measure accurately the amount of pollution in any one spot, because there are so many variable factors involved, such as different atmospheric conditions prevailing. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-From many sources, Mr. Chairman, I am given to understand that the increasing number of cars, together with the increased emission from motor vehicles of toxic gases, has become a matter of serious concern to the public. Do I understand, Mr. Chairman, that the Vice-Chairman agrees with this view and that every step, as he says, should be taken to abate it? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I do, Sir. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask our representative on the Traffic Advisory Committee, through you, how long is it since this subject has been discussed in the Traffic Advisory Committee? MR. WATSON:-Mr. Chairman, it has not been discussed since April this year when I took office. (Laughter). MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask, through you, Mr. Chairman, from the previous representative on the Traffic Advisory Committee, whether any discussion was held on the steps to be taken by the Police to abate this nuisance? MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, nothing on this subject was discussed from April 1963 to March 1964. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, do I understand then that this matter is within the province of the Traffic Advisory Committee and not within this Council? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-It is suggested, Sir, that the only way this Council can make its views known is through the Traffic Advisory Committee, since this is a matter for the Police and not the Urban Council. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, for the purpose of clarification, would you care to say to what extent this Council can take action if it receives a complaint from the public concerning any nuisance caused by a car in the street which is producing a fairly high concentration of toxic gases? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-It should be reported to the Police, Sir. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In other words, the Council has no powers to take action on the basis of its being a general nuisance? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-Not as far as I am aware, Sir. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, this is a matter which is of serious concern to the public, because for nearly 2 years the Traffic Advisory Committee has not discussed this subject. This morning I

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312 1 192 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL Page 108 of 312 193 and diesel engines cannot be viewed with complacency and I agree that all available steps should be taken to control this potential hazard. The second part of this question deals with possible action to abate the nuisance and Council's involvement in the matter. This Council is not directly concerned with the control of smoke nuisances emanating from buses, trucks and taxis. This is a matter for the Police. It should be appreciated, however, that atmospheric pollution as a whole and this Council is concerned with smoke nui- sances arising from domestic premises and certain licensed premises is injurious to physical health and there is a clear association between pollution of the air and the incidence of bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. Control of this type of air pollution depends on the proper maintenance of engines, particularly of fuel injec- tion equipment, and the main offenders in this respect are users of diesel driven engines such as goods vehicles, buses and taxis. The responsibility rests on the owners of these vehicles. Diesel engines, if properly maintained, serviced and adjusted, and properly driven, need not emit smoke except possibly for a moment or two when start- ing. Police Officers regularly examine such vehicles and bring to the notice of owners and drivers, cases where it is considered that exhaust fumes are excessive. Under Section 103 of Part 2 of the Vehicle and Road Traffic (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1956 whereby every motor vehicle is required to be maintained in such condi- tion as not to permit the emission of smoke offenders are liable to prosecution. If you wish, Sir, this matter can be brought to the attention of the Traffic Advisory Committee through our represen- tative on it, Mr. WATSON. (Laughter). MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask the Vice-Chair- man whether or not in a number of our highly-congested city streets, toxic gases coming from motor vehicles could be found in high con- centration? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-It is extremely difficult to measure accurately the amount of pollution in any one spot, because there are so many variable factors involved, such as different atmospheric conditions prevailing. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-From many sources, Mr. Chairman, I am given to understand that the increasing number of cars, together with the increased emission from motor vehicles of toxic gases, has become a matter of serious concern to the public. Do I understand, Mr. Chair- man, that the Vice-Chairman agrees with this view and that every step, as he says, should be taken to abate it? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I do, Sir. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask our representa- tive on the Traffic Advisory Committee, through you, how long is it since this subject has been discussed in the Traffic Advisory Com- mittee? MR. WATSON:-Mr. Chairman, it has not been discussed since April this year when I took office. (Laughter). MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-May I ask, through you, Mr. Chairman, from the previous representative on the Traffic Advisory Committee, whether any discussion was held on the steps to be taken by the Police to abate this nuisance? MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, nothing on this subject was dis- cussed from April 1963 to March 1964. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, do I understand then that this matter is within the province of the Traffic Advisory Committee and not within this Council? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-It is sug- gested, Sir, that the only way this Council can make its views known is through the Traffic Advisory Committee, since this is a matter for the Police and not the Urban Council. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, for the purpose of clarifica- tion, would you care to say to what extent this Council can take action if it receives a complaint from the public concerning any nuisance caused by a car in the street which is producing a fairly high concen- tration of toxic gases? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-It should be reported to the Police, Sir. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In other words, the Council has no powers to take action on the basis of its being a general nuisance? DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-Not as far as I am aware, Sir. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, this is a matter which is of serious concern to the public, because for nearly 2 years the Traffic Advisory Committee has not discussed this subject. This morning I

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312

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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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and diesel engines cannot be viewed with complacency and I agree that all available steps should be taken to control this potential hazard.

The second part of this question deals with possible action to abate the nuisance and Council's involvement in the matter. This Council is not directly concerned with the control of smoke nuisances emanating from buses, trucks and taxis. This is a matter for the Police. It should be appreciated, however, that atmospheric pollution as a whole and this Council is concerned with smoke nui- sances arising from domestic premises and certain licensed premises is injurious to physical health and there is a clear association between pollution of the air and the incidence of bronchitis and other respiratory diseases. Control of this type of air pollution depends on the proper maintenance of engines, particularly of fuel injec- tion equipment, and the main offenders in this respect are users of diesel driven engines such as goods vehicles, buses and taxis. The responsibility rests on the owners of these vehicles. Diesel engines, if properly maintained, serviced and adjusted, and properly driven, need not emit smoke except possibly for a moment or two when start- ing. Police Officers regularly examine such vehicles and bring to the notice of owners and drivers, cases where it is considered that exhaust fumes are excessive. Under Section 103 of Part 2 of the Vehicle and Road Traffic (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1956 whereby every motor vehicle is required to be maintained in such condi- tion as not to permit the emission of smoke offenders are liable to prosecution.

If you wish, Sir, this matter can be brought to the attention of the Traffic Advisory Committee through our represen- tative on it, Mr. WATSON. (Laughter).

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask the Vice-Chair- man whether or not in a number of our highly-congested city streets, toxic gases coming from motor vehicles could be found in high con- centration?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-From many sources, Mr. Chairman, I am given to understand that the increasing number of cars, together with

the increased emission from motor vehicles of toxic gases, has become a matter of serious concern to the public. Do I understand, Mr. Chair- man, that the Vice-Chairman agrees with this view and that every step, as he says, should be taken to abate it?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I do, Sir.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, could I ask our representa- tive on the Traffic Advisory Committee, through you, how long is it since this subject has been discussed in the Traffic Advisory Com- mittee?

MR. WATSON:-Mr. Chairman, it has not been discussed since April this year when I took office. (Laughter).

MRS. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, nothing on this subject was dis- cussed from April 1963 to March 1964.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, do I understand then that this matter is within the province of the Traffic Advisory Committee and not within this Council?

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-It is sug- gested, Sir, that the only way this Council can make its views known is through the Traffic Advisory Committee, since this is a matter for the Police and not the Urban Council.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, for the purpose of clarifica- tion, would you care to say to what extent this Council can take action if it receives a complaint from the public concerning any nuisance caused by a car in the street which is producing a fairly high concen- tration of toxic gases?