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MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, thank you for your reply. You may not be aware that the last time a Chairman of the Urban Council used the phrase "seized of the importance and the urgency of the question" the matter took several years to materialise. (Laughter). Might I express the hope that the same experience would not result in this instance. Now, Mr. Chairman, has representation been made to Government that the Urban Amenities Select Committee wants a senior member of the staff who has qualifications over and above those presently held by the incumbent of this post?
CHAIRMAN:-The answer is "yes".
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, have you also made known to Government that the Urban Amenities Select Committee is convinced that, with the rapid expansion of recreational facilities, a second officer should be engaged as an assistant to the new recruit, in order that he may particularly devote his time to organizing in a proper manner the use of the actual recreational facilities for under-privileged children?
CHAIRMAN: -Up to this stage, Sir, discussion has centred mainly on the successor to the present Superintendent of Gardens, but any views that have been expressed in the Urban Amenities Select Committee on this subject of staff have been conveyed to Government.
MR. SALES: Could I, on this occasion, Mr. Chairman, ask you please to emphasise the importance of the second post as well, for the proper use of the facilities which are now being provided?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, Sir,
Mr. SALES: --Thank you.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) May this Council know what measures your Department is taking to keep the urban areas cleaner?
(b) In view of the rapidly deteriorating condition of our roads and streets, what additional steps do you contemplate taking apart from street sweeping and washing?
At the request of THE CHAIRMAN, DR. R. H. S. Lee, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
I am not aware that there has been any general or rapid deterioration of standards. I will not elaborate on the difficulties arising due to the lack of water for street cleansing, also to the large number of unfilled vacancies on the
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
115
establishment for both motor drivers and labourers, but will confine my reply to new measures taken during the past six months to raise standards. These are, Sir: The strengthening of the six special cleansing squads, each comprising 24 men under a Health Inspector, equipped with lorries and street-washing vehicles which are now covering their areas with increased frequency--that is, 40 working days to cover the areas on the Island and 29 working days in Kowloon.
Intensified and more effective action by the Public Works Department, Police and the Urban Services Department to prevent and to remove obstructions due to illegal dumping of building debris and earth on roads and pavements as well as other obstructions.
Re-organization of the refuse collection routes in Tsim Sha Tsui and parts of Yau Ma Tei has reduced the accumulation of baskets of rubbish at refuse stops for long periods. The employment of 12 lorries in the evenings for the removal and incineration at temporary dumps of crates, boxes, etc. left on the streets by hawkers and others.
The introduction of salt-water cleansing on a limited scale in three areas in Hong Kong and Kowloon where hawkers congregate, by the use of hoses connected to salt water hydrants. The experimental use of two street washers attached to the special cleansing squads carrying salt water. The employment of three new refuse collecting vehicles in Kowloon. The arrival of new vehicles for Hong Kong is awaited but is unlikely to take long.
Training courses for all supervisory grades (Foreman and below) in the Cleansing Division started on 16th March this year and are continuing.
Proposed measures include:-
The investigation of the possibility of removing more rubbish at night.
The introduction of mechanical sweepers, at first on a limited scale. Proposals on both these matters will be made at the time of the Estimates.
The Kennedy Town incinerator is scheduled for completion in early 1965. Its capacity is 750 tons per day. The Lai Chi Kok incinerator will be completed in the year 1965/66. The capacity of this incinerator is 1,000 tons. Sites have been reserved for two additional plants, one in Chai Wan, Hong Kong, and one in Eastern Kowloon.
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MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, thank you for your reply. You may not be aware that the last time a Chairman of the Urban Council used the phrase "seized of the importance and the urgency of the question" the matter took several years to materialise. (Laughter). Might I express the hope that the same experience would not result in this instance. Now, Mr. Chairman, has representation been made to Government that the Urban Amenities Select Committee wants a senior member of the staff who has qualifications over and above those presently held by the incumbent of this post?
CHAIRMAN:-The answer is "yes".
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, have you also made known to Government that the Urban Amenities Select Committee is convinced that, with the rapid expansion of recreational facilities, a second officer should be engaged as an assistant to the new recruit, in order that he may particularly devote his time to organizing in a proper manner the use of the actual recreational facilities for under-privileged children?
CHAIRMAN: -Up to this stage, Sir, discussion has centred mainly on the successor to the present Superintendent of Gardens, but any views that have been expressed in the Urban Amenities Select Committee on this subject of staff have been conveyed to Government.
MR. SALES: Could I, on this occasion, Mr. Chairman, ask you please to emphasise the importance of the second post as well, for the proper use of the facilities which are now being provided?
CHAIRMAN:-Yes, Sir,
Mr. SALES: --Thank you.
MR. A. de O. SALES asked the following question:-
(a) May this Council know what measures your Department is
taking to keep the urban areas cleaner?
(b) In view of the rapidly deteriorating condition of our roads and streets, what additional steps do you contemplate taking apart from street sweeping and washing?
At the request of THE CHAIRMAN, DR. R. H. S. Lee, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
I am not aware that there has been any general or rapid deterioration of standards. I will not elaborate on the dif- ficulties arising due to the lack of water for street cleans- ing, also to the large number of unfilled vacancies on the
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
115
establishment for both motor drivers and labourers, but will confine my reply to new measures taken during the past six months to raise standards. These are, Sir: The strengthening of the six special cleansing squads, each comprising 24 men under a Health Inspector, equipped with lorries and street-washing vehicles which are now covering their areas with increased frequency--that is, 40 working days to cover the areas on the Island and 29 working days in Kowloon.
Intensified and more effective action by the Public Works Department, Police and the Urban Services Department to prevent and to remove obstructions due to illegal dumping of building debris and earth on roads and pavements as well as other obstructions.
Re-organization of the refuse collection routes in Tsim Sha Tsui and parts of Yau Ma Tei has reduced the accumula- tion of baskets of rubbish at refuse stops for long periods. The employment of 12 lorries in the evenings for the removal and incineration at temporary dumps of crates, boxes, etc. left on the streets by hawkers and others.
The introduction of salt-water cleansing on a limited scale in three areas in Hong Kong and Kowloon where hawkers congregate, by the use of hoses connected to salt water hydrants. The experimental use of two street washers attached to the special cleansing squads carrying salt water. The employment of three new refuse collecting vehicles in Kowloon. The arrival of new vehicles for Hong Kong is awaited but is unlikely to take long.
Training courses for all supervisory grades (Foreman and below) in the Cleansing Division started on 16th March this year and are continuing.
Proposed measures include:-
The investigation of the possibility of removing more rubbish
at night.
The introduction of mechanical sweepers, at first on a limited scale. Proposals on both these matters will be made at the time of the Estimates.
The Kennedy Town incinerator is scheduled for completion in early 1965. Its capacity is 750 tons per day. The Lai Chi Kok incinerator will be completed in the year 1965/66. The capacity of this incinerator is 1,000 tons. Sites have been reserved for two additional plants, one in Chai Wan, Hong Kong, and one in Eastern Kowloon.
Page 68 of 312
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