1966 — Page 106

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 106 of 279

186

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, I object to some inaccuracies in Mr. SALES' statement. The Environmental Hygiene Select Committee to my knowledge has met at least twice, if not three times since the beginning of the Council year in April.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, isn't Dr. BELL also a member of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee?

DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, that is why I was able to say that it had met at least twice.

(12) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:

Many building sites, being worked on or otherwise, have erected wooden hoardings on the pavements of main thoroughfares and back streets in Hong Kong and Kowloon. Will the Chairman please state:

(a) whether the dilapidated and dangerous condition of these structures interferes with street cleansing by the department and whether mosquitoes and vermin breed there?

(b) whether the Cleansing Division staff report the rotten condition of these structures to the Public Works Department and to the Police and, if so, what, if any, action is taken by these Departments to improve matters for the sake of public hygiene and safety?

THE VICE-CHAIRMAN replied as follows:

The answer to the first part of the question is that dilapidated hoardings and structures do interfere with street cleansing by causing obstructions. The Health Staff make regular inspections of these hoardings and structures but no mosquito or vermin breeding places have yet been found. If any breeding place were found appropriate action would be taken.

The answer to the second part of the question is that it is the practice of the staff of the Department to report dilapidated or dangerous structures to the Public Works Department. Where the obstructions can readily be removed or repaired easily, the staff approach the foreman responsible for the building site direct. If removal or repair of the structure cannot be carried out easily the Public Works Department will require the responsible architect to take the necessary action. In the event of the

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

187

architect failing to take action within four days of the date of the letter sent to him, the Public Works Department will arrange for the necessary work to be carried out at the owner's expense. In addition a "cease work" order may be imposed until the remedial work has been completed.

The staff do not normally report such structures to the Police except when they are occupied by street-sleepers.

DR. BELL:— Mr. Chairman, may I ask a number of supplementary questions? In your paragraph 2 you say "the practice of the staff of the department to report". What do you mean by the staff what category of staff are you referring to?

VICE-CHAIRMAN:- Staff of both the Hygiene and Cleansing Division. The Cleansing Division are immediately affected because of the obstruction caused to their cleansing by these things.

DR. BELL:- Do you mean the coolie who is actually sweeping the streets would report this?

VICE-CHAIRMAN:- I presume it would be the foreman.

DR. BELL:- The foreman? Do you find, Mr. Chairman, that if the foreman of a works site is approached by a foreman of the Street Cleansing Division they pay much attention to what is said?

VICE-CHAIRMAN:- I cannot answer that with any certainty Dr. BELL, but I hope he would take some notice.

DR. BELL:- I am leading up to the question that I would like to ask and that is, could you arrange for the staff of the department on the beat, so to speak, to report back to Headquarters so that Headquarters could then take action on it? Because it would seem to me, if I know the man in the street, that the foreman of the Cleansing Division speaking to the foreman of a works site, is unlikely to achieve much once could, perhaps, result in a great deal more dilapidation and danger in these structures. I notice you say in your reply that "they do not report to the police" or "no report is made to the police except in the case of street sleepers." I wonder again if it would be possible to instruct the staff to make the report to the Urban Services Department headquarters, in order that a report can be given to the police when pedestrians are required, because of the dilapidated nature of the hoardings, to step out on to the street and run the risk of being knocked down by traffic on such a street? I would suggest that particular attention is paid to Connaught Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central near the region of the Fire Station and the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.

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Page 106 of 279 186 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, I object to some inaccuracies in Mr. SALES' statement. The Environmental Hygiene Select Committee to my knowledge has met at least twice, if not three times since the beginning of the Council year in April. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, isn't Dr. BELL also a member of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee? DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, that is why I was able to say that it had met at least twice. (12) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question: Many building sites, being worked on or otherwise, have erected wooden hoardings on the pavements of main thoroughfares and back streets in Hong Kong and Kowloon. Will the Chairman please state: (a) whether the dilapidated and dangerous condition of these structures interferes with street cleansing by the department and whether mosquitoes and vermin breed there? (b) whether the Cleansing Division staff report the rotten condition of these structures to the Public Works Department and to the Police and, if so, what, if any, action is taken by these Departments to improve matters for the sake of public hygiene and safety? THE VICE-CHAIRMAN replied as follows: The answer to the first part of the question is that dilapidated hoardings and structures do interfere with street cleansing by causing obstructions. The Health Staff make regular inspections of these hoardings and structures but no mosquito or vermin breeding places have yet been found. If any breeding place were found appropriate action would be taken. 2. The answer to the second part of the question is that it is the practice of the staff of the Department to report dilapidated or dangerous structures to the Public Works Department. Where the obstructions can readily be removed or repaired easily, the staff approach the foreman responsible for the building site direct. If removal or repair of the structure cannot be carried out easily the Public Works Department will require the responsible architect to take the necessary action. In the event of the 3. HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 187 architect failing to take action within four days of the date of the letter sent to him, the Public Works Department will arrange for the necessary work to be carried out at the owner's expense. In addition a "cease work" order may be imposed until the remedial work has been completed. The staff do not normally report such structures to the Police except when they are occupied by street-sleepers. DR. BELL:— Mr. Chairman, may I ask a number of supplementary questions? In your paragraph 2 you say "the practice of the staff of the department to report". What do you mean by the staff what category of staff are you referring to? VICE-CHAIRMAN:- Staff of both the Hygiene and Cleansing Division. The Cleansing Division are immediately affected because of the obstruction caused to their cleansing by these things. DR. BELL:- Do you mean the coolie who is actually sweeping the streets would report this? VICE-CHAIRMAN:- I presume it would be the foreman. DR. BELL:- The foreman? Do you find, Mr. Chairman, that if the foreman of a works site is approached by a foreman of the Street Cleansing Division they pay much attention to what is said? VICE-CHAIRMAN:- I cannot answer that with any certainty Dr. BELL, but I hope he would take some notice. DR. BELL:- I am leading up to the question that I would like to ask and that is, could you arrange for the staff of the department on the beat, so to speak, to report back to Headquarters so that Headquarters could then take action on it? Because it would seem to me, if I know the man in the street, that the foreman of the Cleansing Division speaking to the foreman of a works site, is unlikely to achieve much once could, perhaps, result in a great deal more dilapidation and danger in these structures. I notice you say in your reply that "they do not report to the police" or "no report is made to the police except in the case of street sleepers." I wonder again if it would be possible to instruct the staff to make the report to the Urban Services Department headquarters, in order that a report can be given to the police when pedestrians are required, because of the dilapidated nature of the hoardings, to step out on to the street and run the risk of being knocked down by traffic on such a street? I would suggest that particular attention is paid to Connaught Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central near the region of the Fire Station and the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. Page 106 of 279

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Page 106 of 279 186 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I object to some inaccuracies in Mr. SALES' statement. The Environmental Hygiene Select Committee to my knowledge has met at least twice, if not three times since the beginning of the Council year in April. MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, isn't Dr. BELL also a member of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee? DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, that is why I was able to say that it had met at least twice. (12) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question: Many building sites, being worked on or otherwise, have erected wooden hoardings on the pavements of main thoroughfares and back streets in Hong Kong and Kow- loon. Will the Chairman please state: (a) whether the dilapidated and dangerous condi- tion of these structures interferes with street cleansing by the department and whether mos- quitoes and vermin breed there? (b) whether the Cleansing Division staff report the rotten condition of these structures to the Public Works Department and to the Police and, if so, what, if any, action is taken by these Depart- ments to improve matters for the sake of public hygiene and safety? THE VICE-CHAIRMAN replied as follows: The answer to the first part of the question is that dilapidated hoardings and structures do interfere with street cleansing by causing obstructions. The Health Staff make regular inspections of these hoardings and structures but no mosquito or vermin breeding places have yet been found. If any breeding place were found appropriate action would be taken. 2. The answer to the second part of the question is that it is the practice of the staff of the Department to report dilapidated or dangerous structures to the Public Works Department. Where the obstructions can readily be removed or repaired easily, the staff approach the fore- man responsible for the building site direct. If removal or repair of the structure cannot be carried out easily the Public Works Department will require the responsible architect to take the necessary action. In the event of the 3. HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 187 architect failing to take action within four days of the date of the letter sent to him, the Public Works Depart- ment will arrange for the necessary work to be carried out at the owner's expense. In addition a "cease work" order may be imposed until the remedial work has been completed. The staff do not normally report such structures to the Police except when they are occupied by street-sleepers. DR. BELL:—Mr. Chairman, may I ask a number of supplementary question? In your paragraph 2 you say "the practice of the staff of the department to report". What do you mean by the staff what category of staff are you referring to? VICE-CHAIRMAN:-Staff of both the Hygiene and Cleansing Divi- sion. The Cleansing Division are immediately affected because of the obstruction caused to their cleansing by these things. DR. BELL:-Do you mean the coolie who is actually sweeping the streets would report this? VICE-CHAIRMAN:-I presume it would be the foreman. DR. BELL:-The foreman? Do you find, Mr. Chairman, that if the foreman of a works site is approached by a foreman of the Street Cleansing Division they pay much attention to what is said? VICE-CHAIRMAN:-I cannot answer that with any certainty Dr. BELL, but I hope he would take some notice. DR. BELL:-I am leading up to the question that I would like to ask and that is, could you arrange for the staff of the department on the beat, so to speak, to report back to Headquarters so that Head- quarters could then take action on it? Because it would seem to me, if I know the man in the street, that the foreman of the Cleansing Division speaking to the foreman of a works site, is unlikely to achieve much once could, perhaps, result in a great deal more dilapidation and danger in these structures. I notice you say in your reply that "they do not report to the police" or "no report is made to the police except in the case of street sleepers." I wonder again if it would be possible to instruct the staff to make the report to the Urban Services Depart- ment headquarters, in order that a report can be given to the police when pedestrians are required, because of the dilapidated nature of the hoardings, to step out on to the street and run the risk of being knocked down by traffic on such a street? I would suggest that partic- ular attention is paid to Connaught Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central near the region of the Fire Station and the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.

2026-05-13 23:23:03 · Baseline

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Page 106 of 279

186

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I object to some inaccuracies in Mr. SALES' statement. The Environmental Hygiene Select Committee to my knowledge has met at least twice, if not three times since the beginning of the Council year in April.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, isn't Dr. BELL also a member of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee?

DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, that is why I was able to say that it had met at least twice.

(12) DR. A. M. S. BELL asked the following question:

Many building sites, being worked on or otherwise, have erected wooden hoardings on the pavements of main thoroughfares and back streets in Hong Kong and Kow- loon. Will the Chairman please state:

(a) whether the dilapidated and dangerous condi- tion of these structures interferes with street cleansing by the department and whether mos- quitoes and vermin breed there?

(b) whether the Cleansing Division staff report the rotten condition of these structures to the Public Works Department and to the Police and, if so, what, if any, action is taken by these Depart- ments to improve matters for the sake of public hygiene and safety?

THE VICE-CHAIRMAN replied as follows:

The answer to the second part of the question is that it is the practice of the staff of the Department to report dilapidated or dangerous structures to the Public Works Department. Where the obstructions can readily be removed or repaired easily, the staff approach the fore- man responsible for the building site direct. If removal or repair of the structure cannot be carried out easily the Public Works Department will require the responsible architect to take the necessary action. In the event of the

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

187

architect failing to take action within four days of the date of the letter sent to him, the Public Works Depart- ment will arrange for the necessary work to be carried out at the owner's expense. In addition a "cease work" order may be imposed until the remedial work has been completed.

The staff do not normally report such structures to the Police except when they are occupied by street-sleepers.

DR. BELL:—Mr. Chairman, may I ask a number of supplementary question? In your paragraph 2 you say "the practice of the staff of the department to report". What do you mean by the staff what category of staff are you referring to?

VICE-CHAIRMAN:-Staff of both the Hygiene and Cleansing Divi- sion. The Cleansing Division are immediately affected because of the obstruction caused to their cleansing by these things.

DR. BELL:-Do you mean the coolie who is actually sweeping the streets would report this?

VICE-CHAIRMAN:-I presume it would be the foreman.

DR. BELL:-The foreman? Do you find, Mr. Chairman, that if the foreman of a works site is approached by a foreman of the Street Cleansing Division they pay much attention to what is said?

VICE-CHAIRMAN:-I cannot answer that with any certainty Dr. BELL, but I hope he would take some notice.

DR. BELL:-I am leading up to the question that I would like to ask and that is, could you arrange for the staff of the department on the beat, so to speak, to report back to Headquarters so that Head- quarters could then take action on it? Because it would seem to me, if I know the man in the street, that the foreman of the Cleansing Division speaking to the foreman of a works site, is unlikely to achieve much once could, perhaps, result in a great deal more dilapidation and danger in these structures. I notice you say in your reply that "they do not report to the police" or "no report is made to the police except in the case of street sleepers." I wonder again if it would be possible to instruct the staff to make the report to the Urban Services Depart- ment headquarters, in order that a report can be given to the police when pedestrians are required, because of the dilapidated nature of the hoardings, to step out on to the street and run the risk of being knocked down by traffic on such a street? I would suggest that partic- ular attention is paid to Connaught Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central near the region of the Fire Station and the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.

1966 — Page 106

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