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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-The reason is because in the past, many of the complaints were in regard to lorries which, if my recollection is correct, were doing contract jobs for the Public Works Department.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-As far as I am concerned, Mr. Chairman, this question refers to lorries which you hire to carry refuse from houses.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I think that Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in was referring to lorries which were carrying debris, not refuse, Mr. Chairman.
MR. FUNG:-Mr. Chairman, in fact I made that complaint two months ago.
I put up an inquiry at a public meeting complaining that practically all the lorries from building sites were not covered.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Mr. Chairman, my answer to that question is that I have no powers to make contractors cover their lorries.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, who paid for the tarpaulins for these lorries referred to in your reply?
CHAIRMAN:-I assume that Government did, Sir, but I will check the point for you.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, would you please be good enough to pass on your excuse to the Director of Public Works? (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-Mr. Chairman, may I repeat that I have no powers to make contractors cover their lorries.
CHAIRMAN:-I doubt whether there is any provision to compel contractors to cover debris being removed from building sites, but I will certainly look into the point. I think that it is more a matter for the Police than for the Director of Public Works.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, certainly you yourself have no powers to compel contractors of lorries to use tarpaulins even though the lorries carry Urban Council refuse, or do you?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, if we hire the lorries, I think we can insist on the use of tarpaulins to cover the refuse.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Certainly, Mr. Chairman, I think if the Public Works Department set their mind to it, they could endeavour to seek the co-operation of lorry contractors to cover the refuse or debris being carried from building sites.
小
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
505
(3) DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:
Will the Chairman inform this Council of the success of the experiment in the use of sea water for street cleaning? If no deleterious result has been found, has the Cleansing Division any plan to expand its usage in other areas?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
During the past year, several hawker areas have been cleansed with sea water by the use of hoses connected to salt water hydrants. These areas are in Centre Street, Peel Street, Boundary Street, Nga Tsin Long Road and Shun Ning Road. There has been no noticeable deterioration in the condition of road surfaces, gratings and other metal fixtures on the streets, which might be attributable to the action of salt water. These operations have been welcomed by hawkers, and the kaifongs have given their co-operation. Hosing was suspended during the summer but has now been resumed in all areas except Shun Ning Road where it will be started again on 16th January. Extension of the hosing scheme is limited by the location of the hydrants. These must be grouped closely in the area to obviate the need for excessively long hoses, which are cumbersome to handle, vulnerable to traffic and require additional labour. Additional hawker areas with suitably located hydrants are now being considered for extension of the present scheme.
Apart from the hosing scheme, 3 old street washers were used experimentally by the Special Cleansing Squads to carry salt water for the cleansing of scavenging lanes at a time when well supplies were running low. Only 1 of these vehicles has remained in continuous service. Despite precautionary measures to reduce the effects of salt water, deterioration in the metal work, particularly the tank and pump, was accelerated. It is not proposed to extend this experiment, particularly as well supplies have for some time past returned to normal.
DR. LEE-I am very glad to know, Mr. Chairman, that you are going to resume hosing in Shun Ning Road. I wonder whether you would be good enough to send some Hawker Control Force personnel to control the area used by hawkers, because although it is a one-way traffic road, it is practically impossible for any vehicle to go through that street?
CHAIRMAN:-I will look into your point, Sir.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Perhaps, Mr. Chairman, Dr. LEE'S point could be referred to the Hawkers Select Committee. (Laughter).
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Page 265 of 312
504
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-The reason is because in the past, many of the complaints were in regard to lorries which, if my recollection is correct, were doing contract jobs for the Public Works Department.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-As far as I am concerned, Mr. Chairman, this question refers to lorries which you hire to carry refuse from houses.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I think that Mr. CHEUNG Wing-in was refer- ring to lorries which were carrying debris, not refuse, Mr. Chairman.
MR. FUNG:-Mr. Chairman, in fact I made that complaint two months ago.
I put up an inquiry at a public meeting complaining that practically all the lorries from building sites were not covered.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, my answer to that question is that I have no powers to make contractors cover their lorries.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, who paid for the tarpaulins for these lorries referred to in your reply?
CHAIRMAN:-I assume that Government did, Sir, but I will check the point for you.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:
Mr. Chairman, would you please be good enough to pass on your excuse to the Director of Public Works? (Laughter).
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS: -Mr. Chairman, may I repeat that I have no powers to make contractors cover their lorries.
CHAIRMAN:--I doubt whether there is any provision to compel contractors to cover debris being removed from building sites, but I will certainly look into the point. I think that it is more a matter for the Police than for the Director of Public Works.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, certainly you yourself have no powers to compel contractors of lorries to use tarpaulins even though the lorries carry Urban Council refuse, or do you?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, if we hire the lorries, I think we can insist on the use of tarpaulins to cover the refuse.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Certainly, Mr. Chairman, I think if the Public Works Department set their mind to it, they could endeavour to seek the co-operation of lorry contractors to cover the refuse or debris being carried from building sites.
小
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
505
(3) DR. P. F. Woo asked the following question:
Will the Chairman inform this Council of the success of the experiment in the use of sea water for street cleaning? If no deleterious result has been found, has the Cleansing Division any plan to expand its usage in other areas?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
During the past year, several hawker areas have been cleansed with sea water by the use of hoses connected to salt water hydrants. These areas are in Centre Street, Peel Street, Boundary Street, Nga Tsin Long Road and Shun Ning Road. There has been no noticeable deterioration in the condition of road surfaces, gratings and other metal fix- tures on the streets, which might be attributable to the action of salt water. These operations have been welcomed by hawkers, and the kaifongs have given their co-operation. Hosing was suspended during the summer but has now been resumed in all areas except Shun Ning Road where it will be started again on 16th January. Extension of the hosing scheme is limited by the location of the hydrants. These must be grouped closely in the area to obviate the need for excessively long hoses, which are cumbersome to handle, vulnerable to traffic and require additional labour. Additional hawker areas with suitably located hydrants are now being considered for extension of the present scheme.
Apart from the hosing scheme, 3 old street washers were used experimentally by the Special Cleansing Squads to carry salt water for the cleansing of scavenging lanes at a time when well supplies were running low. Only 1 of these vehicles has remained in continuous service. Despite pre- cautionary measures to reduce the effects of salt water, deterioration in the metal work, particularly the tank and pump, was accelerated. It is not proposed to extend this experiment, particularly as well supplies have for some time past returned to normal.
DR. LEE-I am very glad to know, Mr. Chairman, that you are going to resume hosing in Shun Ning Road. I wonder whether you would be good enough to send some Hawker Control Force personnel to control the area used by hawkers, because although it is a one-way traffic road, it is practically impossible for any vehicle to go through that street?
CHAIRMAN:-I will look into your point, Sir.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Perhaps, Mr. Chairman, Dr. LEE'S point could be referred to the Hawkers Select Committee. (Laughter).
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