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example, the liquid mud on the tyres of several scores of lorries will leave an accumulated mess.
Yet in many, if not most, cases, it would be impracticable to require a driver to wash from the tyres every trace of mud before leaving. There is legal doubt whether it is reasonably practicable to remove mud wedged between double wheels. Consequently, despite prosecution, some nuisance will persist.
The Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, of which you are the Chairman, has recently considered various aspects of this problem and is considering amending legislation to require earth-carrying lorries to cover their loads with tarpaulins to prevent flying dust in dry weather, but it is recognized that further measures are required in respect of mud at building sites which is a major source of dust. A possible solution would be to require the contractor to engage staff to keep the approaches to his site clean. Such an arrangement applies generally at public dumps where the appropriate office of the Public Works Department arranges for mud to be cleaned up at the entrance to the dump and some contractors at private sites do undertake this work on the advice of the Public Works Department and the Urban Services Department. My friend, the Director of Public Works, will shortly send a circular to all registered building contractors drawing attention to this problem and calling for their co-operation in keeping site approaches clean. It is also proposed to intensify prosecutions in appropriate cases under By-law 10 of the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances By-laws. This joint approach should bring improvement in conditions.
DR. LEE:- You referred in paragraph 2, Mr. Chairman, to amending legislation to the present by-laws. Can you tell me when this amended legislation will be in draft form for the relevant select committee to consider?
CHAIRMAN:- Sir, I regret that I cannot give you any definite information or forecast as to when this legislation will be ready. The drafting of legislation must take its place in the priority list and all I can say is that I will make enquiries to see if it can be expedited.
DR. LEE: Do you agree, Mr. Chairman, that it is only a matter of 2 lines. Will it take the Legal Department such a long time to make up its mind?
CHAIRMAN:- Sir, I am not a lawyer. I do not know how long it takes to say even quite simple things in legal terms. (Laughter)
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MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, will you confirm that I did ask a similar question about three months ago with regard to flying dust from lorries in the streets which caused a nuisance, and in answer to my question, you replied, Sir, that the proper legislation has been under consideration.
CHAIRMAN: -I believe that is correct, Sir. (Laughter)
(8) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:
In view of the foul smell emanating from the Gin Drinkers Refuse Dump, what action has the Urban Services Department taken to ameliorate it, and if possible to abate it?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
You will appreciate, Sir, that this is not a new problem. Smell is adjunctive to any refuse dump, particularly during summer months, but measures are taken at Gin Drinkers Bay to reduce it as far as possible.
Refuse from Kowloon is off-loaded by vehicle and bulldozed to the dump's edge. As the dump face progresses outwards the off-loading point is moved forward correspondingly, and the exposed refuse behind it is covered with a thick layer of earth.
Refuse from Hong Kong is off-loaded from the barges at the seawall and this is also bulldozed across to the dump's edge, but as the off-loading point in this case is static, there is a working area between the seawall and the dump edge in which the bulldozers are operating continuously. This area cannot be covered, but it is being reduced in width to the greatest extent possible without interfering with off-loading work.
Such smell as there is, is more noticeable during times of southerly and westerly winds which are most prevalent from June to September, but by no means constant. With the onset of more easterly winds and the cooler weather, the incidence of smell will be very considerably reduced. Fly gangs operate at the dump and the control of flies is assisted by the action of the bulldozers continuously disturbing the surface of the working area. On a visit to the dump on 24th July, I notice very few flies and little smell.
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example, the liquid mud on the tyres of several scores of lorries will leave an accumulated mess.
Yet in many, if not most, cases, it would be impracticable to require a driver to wash from the tyres every trace of mud before leaving. There is legal doubt whether it is reasonably practicable to remove mud wedged between double wheels. Consequently, despite prosecution, some nuisance will persist.
The Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, of which you are the Chairman, has recently considered various aspects of this problem and is considering amending legislation to require earth-carrying lorries to cover their loads with tarpaulins to prevent flying dust in dry weather, but it is recognized that further measures are required in respect of mud at building sites which is a major source of dust. A possible solution would be to require the contractor to engage staff to keep the approaches to his site clean. Such an arrangement applies generally at public dumps where the appropriate office of the Public Works Depart- ment arranges for mud to be cleaned up at the entrance to the dump and some contractors at private sites do undertake this work on the advice of the Public Works Department and the Urban Services Department. My friend, the Director of Public Works, will shortly send a circular to all registered building contractors drawing attention to this problem and calling for their co-operation in keeping site approaches clean. It is also proposed to intensify prosecutions in appropriate cases under By-law 10 of the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances By-laws. This joint approach should bring improvement in conditions.
DR. LEE:-You referred in paragraph 2, Mr. Chairman, to amend- ing legislation to the present by-laws. Can you tell me when this amended legislation will be in draft form for the relevant select com- mittee to consider?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I regret that I cannot give you any definite information or forecast as to when this legislation will be ready. The drafting of legislation must take its place in the priority list and all I can say is that I will make enquiries to see if it can be expedited.
DR. LEE: Do you agree, Mr. Chairman, that it is only a matter of 2 lines. Will it take the Legal Department such a long time to make up its mind?
CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I am not a lawyer. I do not know how long it takes to say even quite simple things in legal terms. (Laughter)
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MR. HU: Mr. Chairman, will you confirm that I did ask a similar question about three months ago with regard to flying dust from lorries in the streets which caused a nuisance, and in answer to my question, you replied, Sir, that the proper legislation has been under consideration.
CHAIRMAN: -I believe that is correct, Sir. (Laughter)
(8) DR. R. H. S. LEE asked the following question:
In view of the foul smell emanating from the Gin Drinkers Refuse Dump, what action has the Urban Services Department taken to ameliorate it, and if possible to abate it?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
You will appreciate, Sir, that this is not a new problem. Smell is adjunctive to any refuse dump, particularly during summer months, but measures are taken at Gin Drinkers Bay to reduce it as far as possible.
Refuse from Kowloon is off-loaded by vehicle and bulldozed to the dump's edge. As the dump face progresses out- wards the off-loading point is moved forward corre- spondingly, and the exposed refuse behind it is covered with a thick layer of earth.
Refuse from Hong Kong is off-loaded from the barges at the seawall and this is also bulldozed across to the dump's edge, but as the off-loading point in this case is static, there is a working area between the seawall and the dump edge in which the bulldozers are operating continuously. This area cannot be covered, but it is being reduced in width to the greatest extent possible without interfering with off-loading work.
Such smell as there is, is more noticeable during times of southerly and westerly winds which are most prevalent from June to September, but by no means constant. With the onset of more easterly winds and the cooler weather, the incidence of smell will be very considerably reduced. Fly gangs operate at the dump and the control of flies is assisted by the action of the bulldozers continuously dis- turbing the surface of the working area. On a visit to the dump on 24th July, I notice very few flies and little smell.
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