HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(2) MR R. H. LOBO asked the following question:
(a) Is the Chairman aware that hawkers are using vacant lots for dumping rubbish in many parts on both sides of the harbour?
(b) What action, if any, can be taken to prevent this as such vacant lots appear to present a health hazard? I refer in particular to the vacant areas in Bulkeley Street, Kowloon and Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
(c) Is it not a fact that Bulkeley Street is a particularly notorious area for this type of offence caused by the very large number of illegal hawkers of meat, fish and poultry there?
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
In regard to the first part of the question, both the Chairman of the Urban Council and I am aware, Sir, that vacant private lots are often used by persons unknown for dumping refuse. Hawkers are not the only offenders, other persons include some of the occupants of adjacent buildings and even passersby. But hawkers are also in the habit of making use of such lots to store their paraphernalia.
Regarding the second part of the question, whenever accumulations of refuse or other potentially unhealthy material are found on such lots, statutory notices are served on owners requiring them to remove the refuse and to take steps to prevent a recurrence of the nuisance. The vacant site at Nos. 165-167 Bulkeley Street has been dealt with in this fashion but to date the owner has not complied with the requirements of the notice and the Council is taking further action through the Courts. There is only this one vacant site at Bulkeley Street. In Wan Chai, between Arsenal Street and Bowrington Canal, there are 102 vacant sites. Appropriate action has been taken in 44 cases for apparently similar statutory offences.
As to the last part of the question, since, as I have said, there is only one vacant lot in Bulkeley Street, it can hardly be said that this street is notorious for this type of offence, that is, the accumulation of refuse, etc. on vacant lots. But the street is undoubtedly misused by illegal hawkers in the area. I shall be referring to it again in my answer to Dr. LEE.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. BELL:- Mr. Chairman, is it possible for this Council to put rubbish bins on these vacant lots?
CHAIRMAN:- Offhand I would say "no", since they are private lots. But I will look into it, Dr. Bell.
MR. SALES:- Sir, in view of the great shortage of playgrounds, could I make a plea through you to Government to allocate such vacant sites to the Urban Council for development as temporary playgrounds? It is not a supplementary question, it's a plea, so you cannot rule it out of order. (Laughter).
(3) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question:-
I have noted that recently great quantities of rubbish have been accumulating rapidly in the gutters and parts of the roads leading from the City to the Southern part of the Island. Can the Chairman inform me what action will be taken to clear such rubbish and if the Department is taking any steps to prevent unnecessary flooding and damage to the property owing to the present condition of channels and gutters in view of the forthcoming rainy season?
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-
Those sections of the roads leading from the City to the southern part of the Island which lie outside built-up areas are regularly serviced by Public Works Department road gangs. Before the wet season, that is in April, the Public Works Department makes a particular effort to clear all drains, channels and road gullies, and at the same time asks building contractors to take precautions at sites which are being formed, so that earth and debris is not washed down into the public drainage system. During heavy rains and typhoons special gangs organized by the Roads and Drainage Office operate to deal with any landslides and other emergencies, in order to prevent flooding and obstructions to traffic.
The Urban Services Department assists in reporting choked drains when found. It also undertakes the removal of any accumulation of domestic and other offensive refuse that may be found on these roads.
MR. FORSGATE : Mr. Chairman, may I ask through you, a supplementary? In the event of a typhoon there is obviously plenty of
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(2) MR R. H. LOBO asked the following question:
(a) Is the Chairman aware that hawkers are using vacant lots for dumping rubbish in many parts on both sides of the harbour?
(b) What action, if any, can be taken to prevent this as such vacant lots appear to present a health hazard? I refer in particular to the vacant areas in Bulkeley Street, Kowloon and Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
(c) Is it not a fact that Bulkeley Street is a particularly notorious area for this type of offence caused by the very large number of illegal hawkers of meat, fish and poultry there?
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
In regard to the first part of the question, both the Chairman of the Urban Council and I am aware, Sir, that vacant private lots are often used by persons unknown for dump- ing refuse. Hawkers are not the only offenders, other persons include some of the occupants of adjacent build- ings and even passersby. But hawkers are also in the habit of making use of such lots to store their para- phernalia.
Regarding the second part of the question, whenever accumulations of refuse or other potentially unhealthy material are found on such lots, statutory notices are served on owners requiring them to remove the refuse and to take steps to prevent a recurrence of the nuisance. The vacant site at Nos. 165-167 Bulkeley Street has been dealt with in this fashion but to date the owner has not complied with the requirements of the notice and the Council is taking further action through the Courts. There is only this one vacant site at Bulkeley Street. In Wan Chai, between Arsenal Street and Bowrington Canal, there are 102 vacant sites. Appropriate action has been taken in 44 cases for apparently similar statutory offences.
As to the last part of the question, since, as I have said, there is only one vacant lot in Bulkeley Street, it can hardly be said that this street is notorious for this type of offence, that is, the accumulation of refuse, etc. on vacant lots. But the street is undoubtedly misused by illegal Hawkers in the area. I shall be referring to it again in my answer to Dr. LEE.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
7
DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, is it possible for this Council to put rubbish bins on these vacant lots?
CHAIRMAN:-Offhand I would say "no", since they are private lots. But I will look into it Dr. Bell.
MR. SALES-Sir, in view of the great shortage of playgrounds, could I make a plea through you to Government to allocate such vacant sites to the Urban Council for development as temporary playgrounds? It is not a supplementary question, it's a plea, so you cannot rule it out of order. (Laughter).
(3) MR. R. H. LOBO asked the following question:-
I have noted that recently great quantities of rubbish have been accumulating rapidly in the gutters and parts of the roads leading from the City to the Southern part of the Island. Can the Chairman inform me what action will be taken to clear such rubbish and if the Depart- ment is taking any steps to prevent unnecessary flooding and damage to the property owing to the present condi- tion of channels and gutters in view of the forthcoming rainy season?
-
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS replied as follows:-
Those sections of the roads leading from the City to the southern part of the Island which lie outside built-up areas are regularly serviced by Public Works Department road gangs. Before the wet season, that is in April, the Public Works Department makes a particular effort to clear all drains, channels and road gullies, and at the same time asks building contractors to take precautions at sites which are being formed, so that earth and debris is not washed down into the public drainage system. During heavy rains and typhoons special gangs organized by the Roads and Drainage Office operate to deal with any landslides and other emergencies, in order to prevent flooding and obstructions to traffic.
The Urban Services Department assists in reporting choked
drains when found. It also undertakes the removal of any accumulation of domestic and other offensive refuse that may be found on these roads.
MR. FORSGATE : Mr. Chairman, may I ask through you, a sup- plementary? In the event of a typhoon there is obviously plenty of
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