Page 98 of 241
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Sir, this question enquires into the possibility of constructing a car park at Happy Valley under the sports grounds there.
Whilst it might be feasible to build such an underground car park, I am advised that generally speaking such a project would be much more expensive than a multi-storey car park above ground, for an equal amount of parking space. And, where drainage problems would be considerable, as would be the case at Happy Valley, the cost would be very high. In addition, difficult site conditions would make construction a lengthy process and in consequence the recreational facilities there would be lost for a considerable time. In any case, I shall be referring this inquiry to the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee for consideration after the department has studied your suggestion in consultation with the appropriate authorities.
MR. P. F. CHAN:- Mr. Chairman, may I thank Mr. SALES for the reply. I thought my idea was brilliant. (Laughter).
(4) MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE asked the following question:-
(a) The fumes from both the Kennedy Town and Lai Chi Kok Incinerators seem to be becoming more pronounced and are causing complaints.
What is being done to reduce this nuisance?
(b) (i) How much of our daily rubbish collection is burned in these Incinerators?
(ii) How much is dumped into Gin Drinker's Bay rubbish dump?
(c) Where will subsequent Incinerators be located?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Sir, the first part of the question concerns the refuse incinerators at Kennedy Town and Lai Chi Kok.
Refuse burnt at Kennedy Town and Lai Chi Kok Incinerator Plants contains 40 to 60% water. This creates a plume, largely of steam, the appearance and diffusion of which is considerably influenced by atmospheric conditions,
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
particularly moisture content, wind direction and velocity. These cause the observed variations in visual intensity of the chimney discharge.
Refuse is incinerated at 982 degrees Celsius and under these conditions obnoxious smells from waste gases are eliminated. I do not think therefore that any significant nuisance is created by these incinerators other than a visual one. However, studies are now being made with the view to raising the discharge plume from existing incinerator chimneys to achieve dispersal at a greater height.
The second part of the question concerns the amount of rubbish burnt daily in the incinerators and the amount dumped into Gin Drinker's Bay rubbish dump.
An average of 650 tons of refuse is burnt daily in the Kennedy Town Incinerator and 620 tons at Lai Chi Kok. About 950 tons of refuse are being dumped daily into Gin Drinker's Bay refuse dump - 800 tons from Kowloon and 150 tons from Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung.
The third part of the question concerns the siting of future incinerators.
The second incinerator in Kowloon now under construction is sited at Lai Chi Kok, adjacent to the existing one. A site has also been agreed adjoining Pillar Island for an incinerator to serve the area of Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung. Investigations are being made to find a site for an incinerator to serve the eastern area of Kowloon but great difficulty is being experienced in finding a suitable one.
MR. FORSGATE:- Mr. Chairman, one or two supplementaries, and I trust that if the Chairman of this particular Select Committee to whom we have passed the buck for answering this one is lost for technical answers, you will rise to the occasion. First of all, there are a number of complaints in the vicinity of Kennedy Town from residents there who are probably in the best position of all to determine whether they're obnoxious or not. Have any investigations been made by the department, other than distant observations, to see how obnoxious or otherwise the plume is? There have been a number of complaints in the paper about this.
CHAIRMAN:- I understand, Mr. FORSGATE, that there were originally complaints from persons living in that area, but recently there have not been any. However, I need to check again whether there has been any particular complaint.
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176
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. A. de O. SALES, CHAIRMAN OF RECREATION AND AMENITIES SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Sir, this question enquires into the possibility of constructing a car park at Happy Valley under the sports grounds there.
Whilst it might be feasible to build such an underground car park, 1 am advised that generally speaking such a project would be much more expensive than a multi-storey car park above ground, for an equal amount of parking space. And, where drainage problems would be consider- able, as would be the case at Happy Valley, the cost would be very high. In addition, difficult site conditions would make construction a lengthy process and in con- sequence the recreational facilities there would be lost for a considerable time. In any case, I shall be referring this inquiry to the Recreation and Amenities Select Committee for consideration after the department has studied your suggestion in consultation with the appropriate authorities.
MR. P. F. CHAN:-Mr. Chairman, may I thank Mr. SALES for the reply. I thought my idea was brilliant. (Laughter).
(4) MR. H. M. G. FORSGATE asked the following question:-
(a) The fumes from both the Kennedy Town and Lai Chi Kok Incinerators seem to be becoming more pronounced and are causing complaints.
What is being done to reduce this nuisance?
(b) (i) How much of our daily rubbish collection is burned
in these Incinerators?
(ii) How much is dumped into Gin Drinker's Bay
rubbish dump?
(c) Where will subsequent Incinerators be located?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-
Sir, the first part of the question concerns the refuse incinerators
at Kennedy Town and Lai Chi Kok.
Refuse burnt at Kennedy Town and Lai Chi Kok Incinerator Plants contains 40 to 60% water. This creates a plume, largely of steam, the appearance and diffusion of which is considerably influenced by atmospheric conditions,
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177
particularly moisture content, wind direction and velocity. These cause the observed variations in visual intensity of the chimney discharge.
Refuse is incinerated at 982 degrees Celsius and under these conditions obnoxious smells from waste gases are elimi- nated. I do not think therefore that any significant nuisance is created by these incinerators other than a visual one. However, studies are now being made with the view to raising the discharge plume from existing incinerator chimneys to achieve dispersal at a greater height.
The second part of the question concerns the amount of rubbish burnt daily in the incinerators and the amount dumped into Gin Drinker's Bay rubbish dump.
An average of 650 tons of refuse is burnt daily in the Kennedy Town Incinerator and 620 tons at Lai Chi Kok. About 950 tons of refuse are being dumped daily into Gin Drinker's Bay refuse dump 800 tons from Kowloon and 150 tons from Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung.
The third part of the question concerns the siting of future
incinerators.
The second incinerator in Kowloon now under construction is sited at Lai Chi Kok, adjacent to the existing one. А site has also been agreed adjoining Pillar Island for an incinerator to serve the area of Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung. Investigations are being made to find a site for an incinerator to serve the eastern area of Kowloon but great difficulty is being experienced in finding a suitable
one.
MR. FORSGATE:-Mr. Chairman, one or two supplementaries, and I trust that if the Chairman of this particular Select Committee to whom we have passed the buck for answering this one is lost for technical answers, you will rise to the occasion. First of all, there are a number of complaints in the vicinity of Kennedy Town from residents there who are probably in the best position of all to determine whether they're cbnoxious or not. Have any investigations been made by the depart- ment, other than distant observations, to see how obnoxious or otherwise the plume is? There have been a number of complaints in the paper
about this.
CHAIRMAN: -I understand, Mr. FORSGATE, that there were originally complaints from persons living in that area, but recently there have not been any. However, I need to check again whether there has been any particular complaint.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.