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2. Turning to the second part of this question, non-combustible waste only presents a problem if it comprises large individual items or is of such a nature that it cannot pass through the incinerator plant. Smaller objects, whether combustible or not, will pass through the plant without difficulty and will end up in the ash, which is at present dumped at Gin Drinkers' Bay. After the closure of the dump, it seems likely that the ash from the incinerators will have to be dumped at sea by special hopper barges.
3. As regards the disposal of large, incombustible, industrial waste, special arrangements may have to be made, but I am informed that the incinerators will accept all but building debris. Iron waste, for example, will be stored in a compound and sold as scrap. If you, Sir, will let me have details of the types of incombustible waste you have in mind I will have the matter gone into in more detail.
MR. FORSGATE:- Mr. Chairman, thank you for that full answer. One point which immediately prompts me to ask a supplementary, is the daily output of Kowloon refuse is already 1,100 tons. How is that estimated, Mr. Chairman, because I know several large industrial undertakings who undertake their own dumping at Gin Drinkers' Bay, and I cannot see how the Department can estimate that amount. Assuming there is a large unknown factor compounding at 12% per annum until 1970, when the second incinerator comes into action, we will have 1,500 tons, plus an unknown quantity to dispose of. So even when the second incinerator comes into action there will be a short-fall which will have to be dumped somewhere else. This really is what prompted my original question.
CHAIRMAN: — I shall have to look into that, Sir. It is possible that you have put your finger on a weakness in our planning. On the other hand, it is possible that this figure of 1,100 tons is arrived at by weighing at the Gin Drinkers' Bay Dump.
(7) Mr. H. M. G. FORSGATE asked the following question:
(a) We have had mechanical road sweepers operating for some time now, can the Chairman say how effective they are in comparison with manual labour?
(b) Will they largely displace the use of street sweeping gangs?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
15
THE CHAIRMAN, Urban Council replied as follows:-
The first part of this question concerns the effectiveness of mechanical road sweepers in comparison with manual labour. In the view of the Urban Services Department the "Wayne" mechanical road sweeper has proved to be extremely efficient in sweeping up litter, earth, sand and grit on motor highways. It can do a more thorough job than manual labour, but it has its limitations in that it cannot sweep pavements or under parked cars, and it is difficult for the driver to do a clean sweep of all litter whilst rounding corners. In an experiment with unobstructed motor roads it was found that one road sweeper working two shifts a day for 7 days was able to do the work of about 20 labourers including the usual leave reserve. No experiment has ever been conducted in more congested areas due to the presence of parked cars, but it is clear that its working capacity in comparison with manual labour would be greatly reduced.
In reply to the second part of the question, the Department does not think that mechanical sweepers can ever displace street sweeping gangs as long as most of our streets are obstructed by parked cars, hawker stalls and so on, and, of course, mechanical sweepers cannot deal with pavements, stepped streets or narrow lanes and alleys.
MR. FORSGATE:- Thank you Mr. Chairman. In the congested areas, obviously the dirtiest areas, could not some plan be worked out in conjunction with the traffic authorities to have parked cars moved from certain areas, so that the mechanical sweepers could do their work possibly the day after the parking area is clear and go on from area to area?
CHAIRMAN: ---- Thank you for the suggestion, Sir. I will have that looked into.
(8) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
(a) Can the Chairman inquire from Government whether it is still planned to have a large convention complex in Hunghom after the railway terminus has been moved?
(b) Does Government alternatively have in mind using the Naval Dockyard land for the building of such a Convention Complex? If not, what are Government's plans for the Dockyard land over the next 5 years?
Page 16 of 259
Page 16 of 259
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2. Turning to the second part of this question, non-combus- tible waste only presents a problem if it comprises large individual items or is of such a nature that it cannot pass through the incinerator plant. Smaller objects, whether combustible or not, will pass through the plant without difficulty and will end up in the ash, which is at present dumped at Gin Drinkers' Bay. After the closure of the dump, it seems likely that the ash from the incinera- tors will have to be dumped at sea by special hopper barges.
3.
As regards the disposal of large, incombustible, industrial waste, special arrangements may have to be made, but I am informed that the incinerators will accept all but building debris. Iron waste, for example, will be stored in a compound and sold as scrap. If you, Sir, will let me have details of the types of incombustible waste you have in mind I will have the matter gone into in more detail.
MR. FORSGATE:-Mr. Chairman, thank you for that full answer. One point which immediately prompts me to ask a supplementary, is the daily output of Kowloon refuse is already 1,100 tons. How is that estimated, Mr. Chairman, because I know several large industrial undertakings who undertake their own dumping at Gin Drinkers' Bay, and I cannot see how the Department can estimate that amount. Assuming there is a large unknown factor compounding at 12% per annum until 1970, when the second incinerator comes into action, we will have 1,500 tons, plus an unknown quantity to dispose of. So even when the second incinerator comes into action there will be a short-fall which will have to be dumped somewhere else. This really is what prompted my original question.
CHAIRMAN: —I shall have to look into that, Sir. It is possible that you have put your finger on a weakness in our planning. On the other hand, it is possible that this figure of 1,100 tons is arrived at by weighing at the Gin Drinkers' Bay Dump.
(7) Mr. H. M. G. FORSGATE asked the following question:
(a) We have had mechanical road sweepers operating for some time now, can the Chairman say how effective they are in comparison with manual labour?
(b) Will they largely displace the use of street sweeping gangs?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
15
THE CHAIRMAN, Urban Council replied as follows:-
The first part of this question concerns the effectiveness of mechanical road sweepers in comparison with manual labour. In the view of the Urban Services Department the "Wayne" mechanical road sweeper has proved to be extremely efficient in sweeping up litter, earth, sand and grit on motor highways. It can do a more thorough job than manual labour, but it has its limitations in that it cannot sweep pavements or under parked cars, and it is difficult for the driver to do a clean sweep of all litter whilst rounding corners. In an experiment with unob- structed motor roads it was found that one road sweeper working two shifts a day for 7 days was able to do the work of about 20 labourers including the usual leave reserve. No experiment has ever been conducted in more congested areas due to the presence of parked cars, but it is clear that its working capacity in comparison with manual labour would be greatly reduced.
In reply to the second part of the question, the Department does not think that mechanical sweepers can ever displace street sweeping gangs as long as most of our streets are obstructed by parked cars, hawker stalls and so on, and, of course, mechanical sweepers cannot deal with pave- ments, stepped streets or narrow lanes and alleys.
MR. FORSGATE:-Thank you Mr. Chairman. In the congested areas, obviously the dirtiest areas, could not some plan be worked out in conjunction with the traffic authorities to have parked cars moved from certain areas, so that the mechanical sweepers could do their work possibly the day after the parking area is clear and go on from area to area?
CHAIRMAN: ----Thank you for the suggestion, Sir. I will have that looked into.
(8) MR. H. CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-
(a) Can the Chairman inquire from Government whether it is still planned to have a large convention complex in Hunghom after the railway terminus has been moved?
(b) Does Government alternatively have in mind using the Naval Dockyard land for the building of such a Conven- tion Complex? If not, what are Government's plans for the Dockyard land over the next 5 years?
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