1964 — Page 149

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 149 of 312

274

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

ment Information Bureau, and in resite areas. Serving labourers have been invited to work overtime as a short-term expedient. These steps have not yet met with any great success, except that there has been a very slight improvement in the position at the Gin Drinkers Bay dump.

As regards vehicles, the high rate of vehicle breakdowns, especially in Kowloon, has been the subject of attention for some time, and a proposal has been made to Government for the introduction of a system whereby refuse collection vehicles could be serviced and repaired at night, as well as in the daytime.

Another measure taken has been the use of additional lorries from commercial sources and the Government transport pool to clear away the baskets, crates and boxes already mentioned. These are burnt at four different incineration points. At the same time discussions have been held with importers in the poultry lanes to obtain their co-operation in better disposal of baskets used for livestock. The collection of refuse is returning to normal, I think, after the severe disruption caused by the typhoons last month, but there are still quantities of debris and junk in various places throughout the urban areas which have yet to be disposed of and these are receiving attention.

MR. BERNACCHI :- Mr. Chairman, the first supplementary is: reference to the last paragraph of your reply, by what means are these receiving attention?

CHAIRMAN :- The inspectors in charge of each area have been asked to pay special attention to the clearance of this debris and junk and I know from an inspection which I made myself in a particular area yesterday evening that it is gradually being removed in lorries.

MR. BERNACCHI :- The next supplementary is: cannot general approval be obtained for an increase in the wages of street sweepers- I would refer to your answer at the last public meeting-which are particularly low?

CHAIRMAN :- Sir, the question of the wages of cleansing labourers is, as I have already mentioned, under close consideration. It is not within the competence of the Department or of this Council to make any adjustment of wages. I can only say, Sir, that I know that a detailed and painstaking analysis of figures is at present being carried out by the Labour Department, in conjunction with the Colonial Secretariat, to assess the need for a wage adjustment.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

275

MR. BERNACCHI - I would like to thank you, Sir, for your very full answers to my original question and supplementaries.

DR. LEE - I rise to ask a supplementary question in respect to this question of a night shift for servicing the vehicles. Can the Chairman give us an idea when this night shift will start?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS :- Mr. Chairman, I understand from you that it was approved yesterday. I do not know whether it is true, but we are expecting the approval at any time. (Laughter).

CHAIRMAN :- As I understand it, we are hoping to receive early approval. (Laughter).

DR. LEE: With regard to this question of local incineration sites for the burning of baskets and junk, I wonder if the Chairman would take an early opportunity to examine this matter to have it done at Gin Drinkers Bay rather than spread out in different parts of the urban area. Such local incineration has become a source of complaints to the Chairman and Members of the various Select Committees.

CHAIRMAN :- Sir, I would be glad to consider your point, but I can assure you that the idea of having these incineration places (of which there are four) in the urban areas, was to avoid, if possible, the delays arising from the removal of crates and boxes to Gin Drinkers Bay, and to dispose of them as quickly as possible. However, I will certainly look into the point.

MR. WILFRED WONG :- Mr. Chairman, in view of the shortage of labour and the slow rate of refuse removal, has the Department considered the contracting of refuse removal on a piecemeal basis, such as in quantities of so many cubic yards of refuse?

CHAIRMAN :- Sir, you are encroaching upon a subsequent question. (Laughter). The position is that both labour and vehicles were employed after the two recent typhoons on a contract basis for short periods, but the question of employing contract labour on a large scale is one which would have to be gone into very carefully by Government in order to see whether it would be in the public interest.

MR. WONG :- Thank you.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN :- Mr. Chairman, do I understand that the longer it takes Government to decide on this subject the more the situation can deteriorate in terms of the number of vacancies?

CHAIRMAN :- All I can say is that if you drew a graph of the figures for the past six months which I gave you just now, it would continue to go upwards.

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Page 149 of 312 274 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL ment Information Bureau, and in resite areas. Serving labourers have been invited to work overtime as a short-term expedient. These steps have not yet met with any great success, except that there has been a very slight improvement in the position at the Gin Drinkers Bay dump. As regards vehicles, the high rate of vehicle breakdowns, especially in Kowloon, has been the subject of attention for some time, and a proposal has been made to Government for the introduction of a system whereby refuse collection vehicles could be serviced and repaired at night, as well as in the daytime. Another measure taken has been the use of additional lorries from commercial sources and the Government transport pool to clear away the baskets, crates and boxes already mentioned. These are burnt at four different incineration points. At the same time discussions have been held with importers in the poultry lanes to obtain their co-operation in better disposal of baskets used for livestock. The collection of refuse is returning to normal, I think, after the severe disruption caused by the typhoons last month, but there are still quantities of debris and junk in various places throughout the urban areas which have yet to be disposed of and these are receiving attention. In MR. BERNACCHI :- Mr. Chairman, the first supplementary is: reference to the last paragraph of your reply, by what means are these receiving attention? CHAIRMAN :- The inspectors in charge of each area have been asked to pay special attention to the clearance of this debris and junk and I know from an inspection which I made myself in a particular area yesterday evening that it is gradually being removed in lorries. MR. BERNACCHI :- The next supplementary is: cannot general approval be obtained for an increase in the wages of street sweepers- I would refer to your answer at the last public meeting-which are particularly low? CHAIRMAN :- Sir, the question of the wages of cleansing labourers is, as I have already mentioned, under close consideration. It is not within the competence of the Department or of this Council to make any adjustment of wages. I can only say, Sir, that I know that a detailed and painstaking analysis of figures is at present being carried out by the Labour Department, in conjunction with the Colonial Secretariat, to assess the need for a wage adjustment. HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 275 MR. BERNACCHI - I would like to thank you, Sir, for your very full answers to my original question and supplementaries. DR. LEE - I rise to ask a supplementary question in respect to this question of a night shift for servicing the vehicles. Can the Chairman give us an idea when this night shift will start? DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS :- Mr. Chairman, I understand from you that it was approved yesterday. I do not know whether it is true, but we are expecting the approval at any time. (Laughter). CHAIRMAN :- As I understand it, we are hoping to receive early approval. (Laughter). DR. LEE: With regard to this question of local incineration sites for the burning of baskets and junk, I wonder if the Chairman would take an early opportunity to examine this matter to have it done at Gin Drinkers Bay rather than spread out in different parts of the urban area. Such local incineration has become a source of complaints to the Chairman and Members of the various Select Committees. CHAIRMAN :- Sir, I would be glad to consider your point, but I can assure you that the idea of having these incineration places (of which there are four) in the urban areas, was to avoid, if possible, the delays arising from the removal of crates and boxes to Gin Drinkers Bay, and to dispose of them as quickly as possible. However, I will certainly look into the point. MR. WILFRED WONG :- Mr. Chairman, in view of the shortage of labour and the slow rate of refuse removal, has the Department considered the contracting of refuse removal on a piecemeal basis, such as in quantities of so many cubic yards of refuse? CHAIRMAN :- Sir, you are encroaching upon a subsequent question. (Laughter). The position is that both labour and vehicles were employed after the two recent typhoons on a contract basis for short periods, but the question of employing contract labour on a large scale is one which would have to be gone into very carefully by Government in order to see whether it would be in the public interest. MR. WONG :- Thank you. MR. CHEONG-LEEN :- Mr. Chairman, do I understand that the longer it takes Government to decide on this subject the more the situation can deteriorate in terms of the number of vacancies? CHAIRMAN :- All I can say is that if you drew a graph of the figures for the past six months which I gave you just now, it would continue to go upwards. Page 149 of 312

Baseline (Original)

of 312 Page 149 of 312 274 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL ment Information Bureau, and in resite areas. Serving labourers have been invited to work overtime as a short- term expedient. These steps have not yet met with any great success, except that there has been a very slight improvement in the position at the Gin Drinkers Bay dump. As regards vehicles, the high rate of vehicle breakdowns, especially in Kowloon, has been the subject of attention for some time, and a proposal has been made to Govern- ment for the introduction of a system whereby refuse collection vehicles could be serviced and repaired at night, as well as in the daytime. Another measure taken has been the use of additional lorries from commercial sources and the Government transport pool to clear away the baskets, crates and boxes already mentioned. These are burnt at four different incineration points. At the same time discussions have been held with importers in the poultry laans to obtain their co-operation in better disposal of baskets used for livestock. The collection of refuse is returning to normal, I think, after the severe disruption caused by the typhoons last month, but there are still quantities of debris and junk in various places throughout the urban areas which have yet to be disposed of and these are receiving attention. In MR. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, the first supplementary is: reference to the last paragraph of your reply, by what means are these receiving attention? CHAIRMAN:-The inspectors in charge of each area have been asked to pay special attention to the clearance of this debris and junk and I know from an inspection which I made myself in a particular area yesterday evening that it is gradually being removed in lorries. MR. BERNACCHI:-The next supplementary is: cannot general approval be obtained for an increase in the wages of street sweepers- I would refer to your answer at the last public meeting-which are particularly low? CHAIRMAN :-Sir, the question of the wages of cleansing labourers is, as I have already mentioned, under close consideration. It is not within the competence of the Department or of this Council to make any adjustment of wages. I can only say, Sir, that I know that a detailed and painstaking analysis of figures is at present being carried out by the Labour Department, in conjunction with the Colonial Secretariat, to assess the need for a wage adjustment. HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 275 MR. BERNACCHI-I would like to thank you, Sir, for your very full answers to my original question and supplementaries. DR. LEE-I rise to ask a supplementary question in respect to this question of a night shift for servicing the vehicles. Can the Chairman give us an idea when this night shift will start? DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, I understand from you that it was approved yesterday. I do not know whether it is true, but we are expecting the approval at any time. (Laughter). CHAIRMAN:-As I understand it, we are hoping to receive early approval. (Laughter). DR. LEE:With regard to this question of local incineration sites for the burning of baskets and junk, I wonder if the Chairman would take an early opportunity to examine this matter to have it done at Gin Drinkers Bay rather than spread out in different parts of the urban Such local incineration has become a source of complaints to the Chairman and Members of the various Select Committees. area. CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I would be glad to consider your point, but I can assure you that the idea of having these incineration places (of which there are four) in the urban areas, was to avoid, if possible, the delays arising from the removal of crates and boxes to Gin Drinkers Bay, and to dispose of them as quickly as possible. However, I will certainly look into the point. MR. WILFRED WONG:Mr. Chairman, in view of the shortage of labour and the slow rate of refuse removal, has the Department con- sidered the contracting of refuse removal on a piecemeal basis, such as in quantities of so many cubic yards of refuse? CHAIRMAN: --Sir, you are encroaching upon a subsequent question. (Laughter). The position is that both labour and vehicles were employed after the two recent typhoons on a contract basis for short periods, but the question of employing contract labour on a large scale is one which would have to be gone into very carefully by Government in order to see whether it would be in the public interest. MR. WONG:-Thank you. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, do I understand that the longer it takes Government to decide on this subject the more the situation can deteriorate in terms of the number of vacancies? CHAIRMAN: -All I can say is that if you drew a graph of the figures for the past six months which I gave you just now, it would continue to go upwards.

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Page 149 of 312

274

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

ment Information Bureau, and in resite areas. Serving labourers have been invited to work overtime as a short- term expedient. These steps have not yet met with any great success, except that there has been a very slight improvement in the position at the Gin Drinkers Bay dump.

As regards vehicles, the high rate of vehicle breakdowns, especially in Kowloon, has been the subject of attention for some time, and a proposal has been made to Govern- ment for the introduction of a system whereby refuse collection vehicles could be serviced and repaired at night, as well as in the daytime.

Another measure taken has been the use of additional lorries from commercial sources and the Government transport pool to clear away the baskets, crates and boxes already mentioned. These are burnt at four different incineration points. At the same time discussions have been held with importers in the poultry laans to obtain their co-operation in better disposal of baskets used for livestock. The collection of refuse is returning to normal, I think, after the severe disruption caused by the typhoons last month, but there are still quantities of debris and junk in various places throughout the urban areas which have yet to be disposed of and these are receiving attention.

MR. BERNACCHI :-Mr. Chairman, the first supplementary is: reference to the last paragraph of your reply, by what means are these receiving attention?

CHAIRMAN:-The inspectors in charge of each area have been asked to pay special attention to the clearance of this debris and junk and I know from an inspection which I made myself in a particular area yesterday evening that it is gradually being removed in lorries.

MR. BERNACCHI:-The next supplementary is: cannot general approval be obtained for an increase in the wages of street sweepers- I would refer to your answer at the last public meeting-which are particularly low?

CHAIRMAN :-Sir, the question of the wages of cleansing labourers is, as I have already mentioned, under close consideration. It is not within the competence of the Department or of this Council to make any adjustment of wages. I can only say, Sir, that I know that a detailed and painstaking analysis of figures is at present being carried out by the Labour Department, in conjunction with the Colonial Secretariat, to assess the need for a wage adjustment.

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

275

MR. BERNACCHI-I would like to thank you, Sir, for your very full answers to my original question and supplementaries.

DR. LEE-I rise to ask a supplementary question in respect to this question of a night shift for servicing the vehicles. Can the Chairman give us an idea when this night shift will start?

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, I understand from you that it was approved yesterday. I do not know whether it is true, but we are expecting the approval at any time. (Laughter).

CHAIRMAN:-As I understand it, we are hoping to receive early approval. (Laughter).

DR. LEE:With regard to this question of local incineration sites for the burning of baskets and junk, I wonder if the Chairman would take an early opportunity to examine this matter to have it done at Gin Drinkers Bay rather than spread out in different parts of the urban Such local incineration has become a source of complaints to the Chairman and Members of the various Select Committees.

area.

CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I would be glad to consider your point, but I can assure you that the idea of having these incineration places (of which there are four) in the urban areas, was to avoid, if possible, the delays arising from the removal of crates and boxes to Gin Drinkers Bay, and to dispose of them as quickly as possible. However, I will certainly look into the point.

MR. WILFRED WONG:Mr. Chairman, in view of the shortage of labour and the slow rate of refuse removal, has the Department con- sidered the contracting of refuse removal on a piecemeal basis, such as in quantities of so many cubic yards of refuse?

CHAIRMAN: --Sir, you are encroaching upon a subsequent question. (Laughter). The position is that both labour and vehicles were employed after the two recent typhoons on a contract basis for short periods, but the question of employing contract labour on a large scale is one which would have to be gone into very carefully by Government in order to see whether it would be in the public interest.

MR. WONG:-Thank you.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, do I understand that the longer it takes Government to decide on this subject the more the situation can deteriorate in terms of the number of vacancies?

CHAIRMAN: -All I can say is that if you drew a graph of the figures for the past six months which I gave you just now, it would continue to go upwards.

1964 — Page 149

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