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to serve the public, guiding them as to where they may park their cars, and not just to put summons tickets on them because the public is encouraged by the Urban Council to use these amenities.
(7) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:
(a) Is the Chairman satisfied that there are enough litter bins available on the streets of Hong Kong and Kowloon?
(b) Is it feasible to place litter bins outside premises which obviously, noticeably and habitually litter the streets e.g. certain shop premises or hawker stalls?
(c) Can anything be done to improve upon the ghastly colour, shape and state of repair of our present litter bins which neither blend with the surroundings nor apparently attract people to use them?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
There are 2,420 litter bins in use in the urban areas. This is an increase of 1,500 in the number of litter bins, since Mr. CHEONG-LEEN asked an almost identical question in this Council in December 1959, that is, five and a half years ago. It was until recently the opinion of the staff of the Cleansing Division that the present number of bins was sufficient for present needs. The recent "Keep Your District Clean" campaigns have revealed a need for more litter bins and it is proposed to make provision in next year's estimates for an additional 400 bins, which is more than the normal annual increase.
With regard to the second part of the question, it is the practice to provide litter bins in all places where litter is expected, such as bus and tram stops, ferry concourses, post offices, theatres, playgrounds, and the neighbourhood of busy stores. It is normally the aim to have at least one litter bin for each 300 yards of street in the busier sections of the urban areas, but the siting of bins may be adjusted by the staff concerned in the light of usage. Street litter bins are neither designed nor intended to cope with refuse from shop premises or hawker stalls. Shopkeepers should, and are encouraged to, make use of domestic rubbish bins inside their premises, in the same way as householders. Special arrangements are made for the disposal of refuse in hawker areas by a system of collection twice daily at times when trading is slack.
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The present colours and shapes of the litter bins now in use were decided upon after experiments carried out some years ago. The yellow bins are not intended to blend with their surroundings; they are supposed to be easily seen by persons who wish to make use of them. All litter bins are repainted twice a year and repairs are carried out when necessary. They are washed regularly, at least once every three days. If you wish, I will refer the question of colour, shape and state of litter bins to the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee for consideration.
DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, I would very much wish that you would so refer and at the same time I would wish that you would please exhibit these also to the Committee holding up a pair of men's trousers. A prominent member of the public of Hong Kong posted these to me, having torn them on a litter bin in the Central District. It does not say much for the state of repair of our litter bins. Would you be kind enough, Mr. Chairman, please to refer these to the Committee along with the question of state of repair, colour, shape and design. (Laughter).
MR. SALES:- Mr. Chairman, has it been determined at what time of day or night the gentleman met with the accident? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:- May I ask if it is Dr. BELL's intention to table these trousers? (Laughter).
DR. BELL: Yes,
MR. MARDEN:- Mr. Chairman, I think she should seat them rather than table them. (Laughter).
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, to get back to your answer to para. 1. Of the number of litter bins in the Colony, it works out at something like 160,000 people per litter bin in the street. Now I know that you don't expect domestic rubbish to be put in these but supposing that 160,000 people had one bus ticket to put in it, I think that they would be overflowing. I do not think that you have enough bins, and I hope, Sir, that at least you might be able to get some more bins in the Urban Areas.
MR. SALES: Dr. BELL may be forgiven for her arithmetic. (Laughter).
MR. LI:- Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that more bins be put in the Kowloon Tong Park where the litter bins are quite conspicuous by their absence.
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to serve the public, guiding them as to where they may park their cars, and not just to put summons tickets on them because the public is encouraged by the Urban Council to use these amenities.
(7) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:
(a) Is the Chairman satisfied that there are enough litter bins
available on the streets of Hong Kong and Kowloon?
(b) Is it feasible to place litter bins outside premises which obviously, noticeably and habitually litter the streets e.g. certain shop premises or hawker stalls?
(c) Can anything be done to improve upon the ghastly colour, shape and state of repair of our present litter bins which neither blend with the surroundings nor apparently attract people to use them?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
There are 2,420 litter bins in use in the urban areas. This is an increase of 1,500 in the number of litter bins, since Mr. CHEONG-LEEN asked an almost identical question in this Council in December 1959, that is, five and a half years ago. It was until recently the opinion of the staff of the Cleansing Division that the present number of bins was sufficient for present needs. The recent "Keep Your District Clean" campaigns have revealed a need for more litter bins and it is proposed to make provision in next year's estimates for an additional 400 bins, which is more than the normal annual increase.
With regard to the second part of the question, it is the practice to provide litter bins in all places where litter is expected, such as bus and tram stops, ferry concourses, post offices, theatres, playgrounds, and the neighbourhood of busy stores. It is normally the aim to have at least one litter bin for each 300 yards of street in the busier sections of the urban areas, but the siting of bins may be adjusted by the staff concerned in the light of usage. Street litter bins are neither designed nor intended to cope with refuse from shop premises or hawker stalls. Shopkeepers should, and are encouraged to, make use of domestic rubbish bins inside their premises, in the same way as householders. Special arrangements are made for the disposal of refuse in hawker areas by a system of collection twice daily at times when trading is slack.
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163
The present colours and shapes of the litter bins now in use were decided upon after experiments carried out some years ago. The yellow bins are not intended to blend with their surroundings; they are supposed to be easily seen by persons who wish to make use of them. All litter bins are repainted twice a year and repairs are carried out when necessary. They are washed regularly, at least once every three days. If you wish, I will refer the question of colour, shape and state of litter bins to the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee for considera-
tion.
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I would very much wish that you would so refer and at the same time I would wish that you would please exhibit these also to the Committee holding up a pair of men's trousers. A prominent member of the public of Hong Kong posted these to me, having torn them on a litter bin in the Central District. It does not say much for the state of repair of our litter bins. Would you be kind enough, Mr. Chairman, please to refer these to the Committee along with the question of state of repair, colour, shape and design. (Laughter).
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, has it been determined at what time of day or night the gentleman met with the accident? (Laughter).
CHAIRMAN:-May I ask if it is Dr. BELL's intention to table these trousers? (Laughter).
DR. BELL: Yes,
MR. MARDEN:-Mr. Chairman, I think she should seat them rather than table them. (Laughter).
DR. BELL: Mr. Chairman, to get back to your answer to para. 1. Of the number of litter bins in the Colony, it works out at something like 160,000 people per litter bin in the street. Now I know that you don't expect domestic rubbish to be put in these but supposing that 160,000 people had one bus ticket to put in it, I think that they would be overflowing. I do not think that you have enough bins, and I hope, Sir, that at least you might be able to get some more bins in the Urban Areas.
MR. SALES: Dr. BELL may be forgiven for her arithmetic. (Laughter).
MR. LI: —Mr. Chairman, may I suggest that more bins be put in the Kowloon Tong Park where the litter bins are quite conspicuous by their absence.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.