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so as to lessen the discomfort of the inhabitants in this densely populated area?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
I agree that the Ma Tau Kok slaughterhouse emits a smell and that this is at its worst in summer. Such an inconvenience is inseparable from a building planned and used like this one.
At the time when this slaughterhouse was constructed, about the beginning of this century, it stood apart from domestic structures in undeveloped land. Now there is urban development all around it, particularly close on the opposite side of Ma Tau Kok Road from the slaughterhouse. And, of course, the numbers of animals admitted have increased enormously; in 1965 the average monthly slaughter figure was, in round numbers, cattle-13,000, pigs-165,000, sheep--900.
There is no remedy for the smell associated with these activities unless the premises are totally enclosed. It will be appreciated that there is no plan to carry out such work at Ma Tau Kok. The aim is to close down the slaughterhouse and use the new abattoir at Cheung Sha Wan. Meanwhile all possible steps to minimize smell have already been taken. For example, the incineration of diseased carcasses is now only rarely carried out, and late last year an additional 3" water main was laid on; this gives all the supply needed and water is freely used to hose down the premises.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, since this abattoir was built about half a century ago, and since the conditions of this area have been greatly changed, is it the intention of Government to move the abattoir and to develop the area more effectively?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:---I am not sure, Mr. Chairman, what will happen to the old slaughterhouse, but it will not be used as a slaughterhouse. It will be moved entirely to Cheung Sha Wan which is a very much better site. It is on the sea front, and the whole thing is totally enclosed.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, is it Government's intention to close down this abattoir and transfer all the slaughtering of pigs, cattle and sheep to the Cheung Sha Wan abattoir?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-That is so.
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MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, is it the intention of Government to close down the Ma Tau Kok Abattoir?
CHAIRMAN:-I would like to assure you on that point.
DR. BELL:—Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary on this question? When do you expect the Cheung Sha Wan Abattoir to be open and ready to slaughter?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-The latest date given, Mr. Chairman, is May/June, 1968.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, just to lay some stress on this, would you please say when the matter of this new abattoir was first raised in this Council?
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-If you are looking at (Laughter). Mr. NORTON, who was appointed as an architect in 1947, spent three or six months on full pay in England, before coming to Hong Kong, studying abattoir. When he came to Hong Kong his first job was to prepare plans for the abattoir, and after he had done this the experts got on to it, the experts in the Department, and also in this Council, and Mr. NORTON's plans were pigeonholed. I think about 1952 or 1953 some experts from England were appointed. Time has moved on, and I do not think that those plans that are now being developed are greatly different from those which Mr. NORTON produced in 1947. But this is not Mr. NORTON's fault. I think there were too many experts.
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, as a point of interest, questions have been asked, as I know, over the past ten years periodically, as to when the abattoir was going to be ready for slaughtering, and the answers have varied. The answer has always been about one or two years ahead of when the question was asked. I notice the answer is the same today, and may I have your assurance that this time it is the truth, and not prevarication. (Laughter).
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I think we are on to something this time, piling has just been completed, and that is a thing which has never been achieved before. (Laughter). Some 180 tons of equipment have arrived for it, and some more is expected this month. The building is supposed to start in about four or five months' time, and they say it will take twelve months. That is all I am able to say on that.
MR. SALES: Is it not a fact that the civil servant, formerly of Shanghai, who was engaged for this project has since retired? (Laughter). That is the understanding of the Select Committee.
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Page 331 of 382
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so as to lessen the discomfort of the inhabitants in this densely populated area?
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES replied as follows:-
I agree that the Ma Tau Kok slaughterhouse emits a smell and that this is at its worst in summer. Such an incon- venience is inseparable from a building planned and used like this one.
At the time when this slaughterhouse was constructed, about the beginning of this century, it stood apart from domestic structures in undeveloped land. Now there is urban development all around it, particularly close on the oppo- site side of Ma Tau Kok Road from the slaughterhouse. And, of course, the numbers of animals admitted have increased enormously; in 1965 the average monthly slaughter figure was, in round numbers, cattle-13,000, pigs-165,000, sheep--900.
There is no remedy for the smell associated with these activities unless the premises are totally enclosed. It will be appre- ciated that there is no plan to carry out such work at Ma Tau Kok. The aim is to close down the slaughterhouse and use the new abattoir at Cheung Sha Wan. Meanwhile all possible steps to minimize smell have already been taken. For example, the incineration of diseased car- cases is now only rarely carried out, and late last year an additional 3" water main was laid on; this gives all the supply needed and water is freely used to hose down the premises.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, since this abattoir was built about half a century ago, and since the conditions of this area have been greatly changed, is it the intention of Government to move the abattoir and to develope the area more effectively?
DEPUTY DIREctor of MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES: ---I am not sure, Mr. Chairman, what will happen to the old slaughterhouse, but it will not be used as a slaughterhouse. It will be moved entirely to Cheung Sha Wan which is a very much better site. It is on the sea front, and the whole thing is totally enclosed.
MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, is it Government's intention to close down this abbatoir and transfer all the slaughtering of pigs, cattle and sheep to the Cheung Sha Wan abattoir?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-That is so.
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641
MR. HU:Mr. Chairman, is it the intention of Government to close down the Ma Tau Kok Abattoir?
CHAIRMAN:-I would like to assure you on that point.
DR. BELL:—Mr. Chairman, may I ask a supplementary on this question? When do you expect the Cheung Sha Wan Abattoir to be open and ready to slaughter?
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-The latest date given, Mr. Chairman, is May/June, 1968.
DR. BELL:Mr. Chairman, just to lay some stress on this, would you please say when the matter of this new abattoir was first raised in this Council?
me-
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS:-If you are looking at (Laughter). Mr. NORTON, who was appointed as an architect in 1947, spent three or six months on full pay in England, before coming to Hong Kong, studying abattoir. When he came to Hong Kong his first job was to prepare plans for the abattoir, and after he had done this the experts got on to it, the experts in the Department, and also in this Council, and Mr. NORTON's plans were pidgeonholed. I think about 1952 or 1953 some experts from England were appointed. Time has moved on, and I do not think that those plans that are now being developed are greatly different from those which Mr. NORTON produced in 1947. But this is not Mr. NORTON's fault. I think there were too many experts.
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, as a point of interest, questions have been asked, as I know, over the past ten years periodically, as to when the abattoir was going to be ready for slaughtering, and the answers have varied. The answer has always been about one or two years ahead of when the question was asked. I notice the answer is the same today, and may I have your assurance that this time it is the truth, and not prevarication. (Laughter).
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES:-I think we are on to something this time, piling has just been completed, and that is a thing which has never been achieved before. (Laughter). Some 180 tons of equipment have arrived for it, and some more is expected this month. The building is supposed to start in about four or five months' time, and they say it will take twelve months. That is all I am able to say on that.
MR. SALES: Is it not a fact that the civil servant, formerly of Shanghai, who was engaged for this project has since retired? (Laughter). That is the understanding of the Select Committee.
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