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which it is stated "after completion of this programme". Now, at what point of time is it anticipated that this site to which I refer, this private refuse dump, will be cleared, will it be cleared sometime during November?
DR. HUANG: I do not think so. I do not know when.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN: The reason I ask, Mr. Chairman, is that it is a huge site and it is a rather ugly black spot in the area and I hope that, if the Department says it is going to be November, it should really do so, because the residents will be told that it will be cleared in November and I think they will expect the Department to keep its promise.
(5) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question:
What volume of untreated sewage is currently discharged into Hong Kong waters, and how has this load increased in the past five years? How many sea-wall sewage discharge points are in use within the Harbour limits? Does this pollution create any particular health or other hazard? What plans are there to control and improve the situation?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
This question is about untreated sewage—which, in the Urban Council context, is “nightsoil”.
The quantities of nightsoil disposed of are on the decrease as more old buildings without flush sanitation are demolished. The monthly averages for the last three years are:-
541,500 gallons in 1970
510,618 gallons in 1971 and
479,794 gallons in 1972.
This nightsoil is disposed of by dumping into the waters of the West Lamma Channel. The second part of this question does not therefore arise.
At the request of the Urban Services Department, the Public Works Department undertook an investigation into this method of dumping raw sewage to see whether it was likely to cause any health risk or nuisance at bathing beaches and, if so, to advise on alternative methods of disposal. I understand that their investigation has been completed and that the details are being analysed so that we may, in due course, expect a report on this matter.
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195
MR. MACKENZIE: Mr. Chairman, as a considerable nuisance already exists at bathing beaches, might I ask when this investigation commenced and when the report might be available?
CHAIRMAN: I believe, subject to correction, that this study started in 1971 and it was going to take over a year to do; it has now been completed. We would hope that we get a report soon, but how soon I cannot say; it depends on the staff, of course, of the Public Works Department.
MR. MACKENZIE: Is it not possible also, Sir, that this nuisance at beaches is caused by the fact that untreated sewage is discharging directly from seawall to harbour?
CHAIRMAN: It is possible.
MR. MACKENZIE: May I have any information available, Sir, on the number of discharge points at harbour walls and the quantities of sewage being discharged into the harbour?
CHAIRMAN: Not in this Council, Mr. MACKENZIE.
MR. MACKENZIE: The problem has been neatly evaded.
CHAIRMAN: As you well know and as everyone knows, the Director of Public Works is the authority for sewage and sewage disposal of this nature. Not the Urban Council.
MR. BERNACCHI: Mr. Chairman, I seek clarification by way of a supplementary which in the Urban Council context is nightsoil. What does that sentence mean? Is nightsoil a word invented by the Urban Services Department?
CHAIRMAN: It has certainly been in use for many years, I suppose "by convention"; one of the Urban Council conventions. (Laughter)
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I help you, I have the impression that that word was invented by the Reform Club. (Laughter). When I was not a member of the Urban Council, the Reform Club used to move motions on this particular subject over the question of charges for conservancy and nightsoil. Perhaps Mr. BERNACCHI's memory will hark back to that time, so he might explain to Council how nightsoil arose in this context. (Laughter)
MR. BERNACCHI: I think that my question was referring to the invention of the word “nightsoil". I do not think that it is an invention of the Urban Services Department or of the Urban Council or of the Reform Club.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, I was giving credit to the Reform Club.
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which it is stated "after completion of this programme". Now, at what point of time is it anticipated that this site to which I refer, this private refuse dump, will be cleared, will it be cleared sometime during November?
DR. HUANG: I do not think so. I do not know when.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-The reason I ask, Mr. Chairman, is that it is a huge site and it is a rather ugly black spot in the area and I hope that, if the Department says it is going to be November, it should really do so, because the residents will be told that it will be cleared in November and I think they will expect the Department to keep its promise.
(5) MR. JOHN MACKENZIE asked the following question:
What volume of untreated sewage is currently discharged into Hong Kong waters, and how has this load increased in the past five years? How many sea-wall sewage dis- charge points are in use within the Harbour limits? Does this pollution create any particular health or other hazard? What plans are there to control and improve the situation?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:
This question is about untreated sewage--which, in the Urban
Council context, is “nightsoil”.
The quantities of nightsoil disposed of are on the decrease as more old buildings without flush sanitation are demolished. The monthly averages for the last three years are:-
541,500 gallons in 1970
510,618 gallons in 1971 and
479,794 gallons in 1972.
This nightsoil is disposed of by dumping into the waters of the West Lama Channel. The second part of this ques- tion does not therefore arise.
At the request of the Urban Services Department, the Public Works Department undertook an investigation into this method of dumping raw sewage to see whether it was likely to cause any health risk or nuisance at bathing beaches and, if so, to advise on alternative methods of disposal. I understand that their investigation has been completed and that the details are being analysed so that we may, in due course, expect a report on this matter.
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195
MR. MACKENZIE:-Mr. Chairman, as a considerable nuisance already exists at bathing beaches, might I ask when this investigation commenced and when the report might be available?
CHAIRMAN:-I believe, subject to correction, that this study started in 1971 and it was going to take over a year to do; it has now been completed. We would hope that we get a report soon, but how soon I cannot say; it depends on the staff, of course, of the Public Works Department.
MR. MACKENZIE:--Is it not possible also, Sir, that this nuisance at beaches is caused by the fact that untreated sewage is discharging directly from seawall to harbour?
CHAIRMAN:-It is possible.
MR. MACKENZIE:-May I have any information available, Sir, on the number of discharge points at harbour walls and the quantities of sewage being discharged into the harbour?
CHAIRMAN:-Not in this Council, Mr. MACKENZIE.
MR. MACKENZIE:-The problem has been neatly evaded. CHAIRMAN: ---As you well know and as everyone knows, the Director of Public Works is the authority for sewage and sewage dis- posal of this nature. Not the Urban Council.
MR. BERNACCHI:-Mr. Chairman, I seek clarification by way of a supplementary which in the Urban Council context is nightsoil. What does that sentence mean? Is nightsoil a word invented by the Urban Services Department?
CHAIRMAN: It has certainly been in use for many years, I suppose "by convention"; one of the Urban Council conventions. (Laughter)
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, may I help you, I have the impression that that word was invented by the Reform Club. (Laughter). When I was not a member of the Urban Council, the Reform Club used to move motions on this particular subject over the question of charges for conservancy and nightsoil. Perhaps Mr. BERNACCHI's memory will hark back to that time, so he might explain to Council how nightsoil arose in this context. (Laughter)
MR. BERNACCHI-I think that my question was referring to the invention of the word “nightsoil". I do not think that it is an invention of the Urban Services Department or of the Urban Council or of the Reform Club.
MR. SALES:—Mr. Chairman, I was giving credit to the Reform Club.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.