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sounder footing. In the meantime, we continue to strive to improve the standard of management of markets which, from my personal observation, are now much cleaner than in the past, and we shall follow up the present improvement to see what more can be done.
With regard to our Abattoirs, it is gratifying to have already been able to report that the night shift at Cheung Sha Wan and the early shift at Kennedy Town both started off smoothly. Work has begun on overhauling the machinery at Cheung Sha Wan and should be completed before the Lunar New Year and a start should be made some time next year on the installation of a third dressing line at both abattoirs which will enable the Council to meet adequately and efficiently the expected further increase in meat consumption. Here I should like to say a word of appreciation for the splendid co-operation that the meat trade has given us in all this, and also for the very loyal support afforded me by my staff. Attendance at the night and morning shifts has so far been 100% and this is most encouraging. Of course, for the future, we shall try to be ahead of the game and discussions have been going on for some time with regard to the planning of a third urban abattoir.
Various Members have spoken on the "Keep Hong Kong Clean" Campaign and it is certainly worth speaking about. Dr. HUANG and his Committee are to be heartily congratulated on their splendid achievements so far although, of course, we all know that a great deal more requires to be done to keep up the momentum which has been reached.
My special thanks, however, go out to the people of Hong Kong without whose co-operation and help, all our efforts would have been, and will be, in vain. They have shown their desire to see Hong Kong cleaned up and their environment so improved, and I am sure that they will not let me down but will now demonstrate their will to maintain and even improve upon what has already been achieved. If, however, there are any backsliders still among the population (as there might well be in spite of all our efforts) then there is nothing now left for them but prosecution.
The Government Information Services also are to be congratulated on doing a magnificent publicity job—without which it is doubtful if the Campaign could have got off the ground quite so successfully as it has. Similarly, the Secretary for Home Affairs and his community involvement plan—and indeed everyone everywhere in Government and out of Government—deserve our thanks for the great assistance given to ensure the success of this Campaign. I would, however, like to pay a special tribute to all the staff in my Department who have become involved in this major effort to clean up Hong Kong. They have worked long and arduous hours and have done a good job.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
331
As we all now know, the Campaign did not end on November 30th; nor will it at the end of December, but it will carry on and on until every inhabitant in Hong Kong accepts and plays his part. But there is no doubt that in order to help the Committee, more and probably permanent staff will be needed on law enforcement duties to rid us of "lap sap chungs".
Mr. MACKENZIE touched on the provision of receptacles for garbage at convenient collection points. I would like to think that I could persuade him that he was referring to bins for litter and not garbage as, under the law, house refuse has to be brought to the collecting vehicle at the collection points. But, of course, the Law can always be altered. Prior to the Campaign, there were only about 6,000 litter bins in our streets, where there are now not less than 16,000. A further 11,000 are being requisitioned, and by the time these are available, one should not have to walk more than 20 yards, in some cases only a few yards, to the nearest bin. But as I said, these are for litter not household refuse or garbage to which I shall refer in the context of Mr. MACKENZIE's further remarks about refuse collection.
We all share his view that the present methods of street cleansing and refuse collection require modernization as befits a progressive city like Hong Kong. In addition to receptacles for garbage he mentioned the use of more mechanized road sweepers and engine-powered vacuum sweepers to replace the slow-moving broomstick and handcart which we use. But our general congestion and shortage of space pose special problems. Several years ago, in fact, the Department experimented with the latest British engine-powered vacuum sweeper and found that it simply could not pick up the kind of litter we have in the streets. We also experimented with two small pedestrian-controlled vacuum sweepers for use by the labourer on the beat. They, too, were found to be unsuccessful for the same reason. Large mechanized road sweepers with huge pick-up brushes and brooms were, however, found to be useful in certain areas with limitations, and the Department now has a fleet of eleven such road sweepers, employed mainly on motorways and flyovers where car parking is not allowed or is kept to a minimum. These machines, however, do not sweep pavements. Like it or not, extensive car parking and hawking are still the major problems which limit the general use of mechanized road sweepers in our streets. If the "Keep Hong Kong Clean" Campaign could be so successful as to reduce the frequency of street sweeping to once in every two days, then the time will have come for us to propose alternate day car-parking on each side of the street, which would permit the general use of mechanized road sweepers in all streets.
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left at this point.)
Page 176 or 200
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
sounder footing. In the meantime, we continue to strive to improve the standard of management of markets which, from my personal observation, are now much cleaner than in the past, and we shall follow up the present improvement to see what more can be done.
With regard to our Abattoirs, it is gratifying to have already been able to report that the night shift at Cheung Sha Wan and the early shift at Kennedy Town both started off smoothly. Work has begun on overhauling the machinery at Cheung Sha Wan and should be completed before the Lunar New Year and a start should be made some time next year on the installation of a third dressing line at both abattoirs which will enable the Council to meet adequately and efficiently the expected further increase in meat consumption. Here I should like to say a word of appreciation for the splendid co-operation that the meat trade has given us in all this, and also for the very loyal support afforded me by my staff. Attendance at the night and morning shifts has so far been 100% and this is most encouraging. Of course, for the future, we shall try to be ahead of the game and discussions have been going on for some time with regard to the planning of a third urban abattoir.
Various Members have spoken on the "Keep Hong Kong Clean" Campaign and it is certainly worth speaking about. Dr. HUANG and his Committee are to be heartily congratulated on their splendid achievements so far although, of course, we all know that a great deal more requires to be done to keep up the momentum which has been reached.
My special thanks, however, go out to the people of Hong Kong without whose co-operation and help, all our efforts would have been, and will be, in vain. They have shown their desire to see Hong Kong cleaned up and their environment so improved, and I am sure that they will not let me down but will now demonstrate their will to maintain and even improve upon what has already been achieved. If, however, there are any backsliders still among the population (as there might well be in spite of all our efforts) then there is nothing now left for them but prosecution.
The Government Information Services also are to be congratulated on doing a magnificent publicity job-without which it is doubtful if the Campaign could have got off the ground quite so successfully as it has. Similarly, the Secretary for Home Affairs and his community involvement plan--and indeed everyone everywhere in Government and out of Government-deserve our thanks for the great assistance given to ensure the success of this Campaign. I would, however, like to pay a special tribute to all the staff in my Department who have become involved in this major effort to clean up Hong Kong. They have worked long and arduous hours and have done a good job.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
331
As we all now know, the Campaign did not end on November 30th; nor will it at the end of December, but it will carry on and on until every inhabitant in Hong Kong accepts and plays his part, But there is no doubt automatically, in improving the environment. that in order to help the Committee, more and probably permanent staff will be needed on law enforcement duties to rid us of "lap sap chungs”.
Mr. MACKENZIE touched on the provision of receptacles for garbage at convenient collection points. I would like to think that I could persuade him that he was referring to bins for litter and not garbage as, under the law, house refuse has to be brought to the collect- ing vehicle at the collection points. But, of course, the Law can always be altered. Prior to the Campaign, there were only about 6,000 litter bins in our streets, where there are now not less than 16,000. A further 11,000 are being requisitioned, and by the time these are available, one should not have to walk more than 20 yards, in some cases only a few yards, to the nearest bin. But as I said, these are for litter not household refuse or garbage to which I shall refer in the context of Mr. MACKENZIE's further remarks about refuse collection.
We all share his view that the present methods of street cleansing and refuse collection require modernization as befits a progressive city like Hong Kong. In addition to receptacles for garbage he mentioned the use of more mechanized road sweepers and engine-powered vacuum sweepers to replace the slow-moving broomstick and handcart which we use. But our general congestion and shortage of space pose special problems. Several years ago, in fact, the Department experimented with the latest British engine-powered vacuum sweeper and found that it simply could not pick up the kind of litter we have in the streets. We also experimented with two small pedestrian-controlled vacuum sweepers for use by the labourer on the beat. They, too, were found to be unsuccessful for the same reason. Large mechanized road sweepers with huge pick-up brushes and brooms were, however, found to be useful in certain areas with limitations, and the Department now has a fleet of eleven such road sweepers, employed mainly on motor- ways and flyovers where car parking is not allowed or is kept to a minimum. These machines, however, do not sweep pavements. Like it or not, extensive car parking and hawking are still the major problems which limit the general use of mechanized road sweepers in our streets. If the "Keep Hong Kong Clean" Campaign could be so successful as to reduce the frequency of street sweeping to once in every two days, then the time will have come for us to propose alternate day car-parking on each side of the street, which would permit the general use of mechanized road sweepers in all streets.
(Dr. Denny M. H. HUANG left at this point.)
Page 176 or 200
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