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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL, replied as follows:-

I think that Members are aware that over the past year or two, the Department has been able to obtain additional posts such as those for the Hawker Liaison Section and the Deputy Commandant, Hawker Control Force, and also to have hawker bazaars built and additional bazaar sites allocated or earmarked in a number of locations. In addition, funds have also been provided for the construc- tion of modular markets in certain Resettlement Estates.

However, on the broader front progress has been slow. This is because full implementation of the Council's revised Hawker Policy will necessitate the provision of staff, land, vehicles, etc. on a much larger scale than hitherto and it will therefore be necessary for the Governor in Council to endorse this Council's Hawker Policy and for the Legislative Council to approve the necessary funds.

The point has now been reached where a paper on the subject will be submitted to the Executive Council for approval in the near future, and I would hope that, thereafter, it will be possible for greater and more rapid progress to be made in this connection-even though detailed examina- tion will still be necessary of any major proposals.

In the meantime the Department has spared no effort in stressing the urgency of this matter and has been doing all it can on the ground with such resources as are avail- able. But as Members will realize, such steps as we are able to take will help barely to contain the situation, no permanent improvement will be possible until the neces- sary resources which we need and which we have been asking for are provided by Government in full measure.

I would like to assure all Members that Government is well aware of the need for early action to prevent any further deterioration in the hawker situation. I will, however, draw the Secretariat's attention to the Council's anxiety about the lack of progress.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN: In the context of this reply, what is meant by the phrase "in the near future”?

CHAIRMAN:-What it says; I can't amplify in any way.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-In other words, you yourself are not sure what it means?

CHAIRMAN:-Not in specific details.

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MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Well, in general details then, how many weeks?

CHAIRMAN:-I am not prepared to say, Mr. CHEONG-LEEN. MR. BERNACCHI:-How many years?

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I recall the last time you said in the near future, on which many Members of this Council expressed very great concern, was in regard to the expansion of the scope of the Urban Council and I think "in the near future" at that time has dragged on into more than 18 months.

CHAIRMAN:-That is why I am not prepared to make a specific

statement.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-I do appreciate your problems, and you have my sympathy.

(6) MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN asked the following question:-

I have received representations from members of the public to the effect that with the approach of the summer months the smoke emission from the Kowloon incinerator could pose a pollution problem for urban Kowloon; can the Chairman make a statement as to whether this matter has been looked into previously and whether it will be kept under observation from now on?

DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-

The emission of smoke from the Lai Chi Kok incinerator is kept continuously under observation and is a matter of review at all seasons. The plant is designed to be within the provisions of the Clean Air Ordinance which require that the visible smoke be always better than No. 2 of the Ringlemann Chart. The approach of the summer months has a bearing on this problem in as much as the refuse which is fired may contain as much as 65% water. 27 tons of steam per hour are discharged into the air. This means that when the atmosphere is very humid the plume of steam becomes more visible. However, no pollution problem is posed by this steam and at all times levels of sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide in the gases are at a considerably lower level than those resulting from the normal combustion of fossil fuels.

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