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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(5) MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo asked the following question (in English):-
(a) Can the Council be informed what progress has been made to collect sea refuse in the Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay area?
(b) What quantity of refuse is collected per day on the average by this method?
(c) Are there any plans to extend this collection service to other areas?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-
Mr. Chairman, progress in this connection, resulting from the "Keep Our Beaches Clean" operation, has been the employment by the Marine Department of a small fleet of 3 non-mechanized sampans and one motor cargo boat to collect refuse from the sea at most popular beaches, i.e., Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay, Middle Bay, South Bay, and Chung Hom Kok.
This operation started on 1st June and information so far covers only the first 15 working days, 4 of which were interrupted by bad weather. In this time 2.4 tons of rubbish was collected, representing a daily average of 358.4 lbs. This is not a very high figure, but, of course, it must be borne in mind that the refuse is spread over a wide area of sea.
Obviously, any rubbish which is collected is prevented from reaching the beaches--and to that extent, the operation is perhaps worthwhile. However, the cost of the recent operation was high ($7,930)-compared with results, and this aspect must be considered when thought is being given to extending the scope of this service.
It is hoped that a final report about the scheme, together with recommendations from the Marine Department, may be available for Members of the "Keep Hong Kong Clean" Campaign Committee's information and discussion at their next meeting scheduled to be held on 20th July, 1974.
MR. Lo (in English):- Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee whether any enquiries have been made abroad to see whether we can buy small boats which are capable of picking up sea-borne refuse mechanically?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, in the past years, we had discussed this matter with some foreign countries, but up to now, I believe Mr. Lo, we have not been able to find this kind of boat.
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English):- Mr. Chairman, my question, in fact, was very similar to Mr. Lo's.
MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN (in Cantonese):- Mr. Chairman, according to the report made by Dr. HUANG, it seems that for each pound of rubbish, we have to pay $2, is that a bit costly?
DR. M. H. HUANG (in Cantonese):- Well, we know that, of course. We must forget the number of pounds. We must remember all this rubbish is floating on the water and, according to the estimation of the Marine Department during those fifteen days, the rubbish they collected, if the area is 1" by 6", the total area would be 6 miles. So we will all be able to see the rubbish floating before us if we go to swim. So if we need to clear this rubbish for 7 months of the year, we will spend about $100,000 and we would provide a service to 7 million odd people who will go to these beaches to swim. I believe this work is worthwhile.
MOTION
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, Chairman of the Recreation & Amenities Select Committee, moved the following motion:-
"That the Public Swimming Pools (Amendment) By-laws, 1974, be made under Section 42 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
He said (in English):- Mr. Chairman, the purpose of the amendment to By-law 7, namely, to lower the age prescribed therein from 12 years to 8 over which no person shall enter the dressing room or...
Page 54 of 187
77
76
Page 54 of 187
77
76
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(5) MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo asked the following question (in English): -
(a)
(b)
Can the Council be informed what progress has been made to collect sea refuse in the Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay area?
What quantity of refuse is collected per day on the average by this method?
(c) Are there any plans to extend this collection service to
other areas?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-
Mr. Chairman, progress in this connection, resulting from the "Keep Our Beaches Clean" operation, has been the employment by the Marine Department of a small fleet of 3 non-mechanized sampans and one motor cargo boat to collect refuse from the sea at most popular beaches, i.e.,
Deep Water Bay
Repulse Bay
Middle Bay
South Bay
and Chung Hom Kok.
This operation started on 1st June and information so far covers only the first 15 working days, 4 of which were interrupted by bad weather. In this time 2.4 tons of rubbish was collected, representing a daily average of 358.4 lbs. This is not a very high figure, but, of course, it must be borne in mind that the refuse it spread over a wide area of sea.
Obviously, any rubbish which is collected is prevented from reaching the beaches--and to that extent, the operation is perhaps worthwhile. However, the cost of the recent operation was high ($7,930)-compared with results, and this aspect must be considered when thought is being given to extending the scope of this service.
It is hoped that a final report about the scheme, together with recommendations from the Marine Department, may be available for Members of the "Keep Hong Kong Clean❞ Campaign Committee's information and discussion at
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
their next meeting scheduled to be held on 20th July, 1974.
MR. Lo (in English): -Mr. Chairman, may I ask the Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee whether any enquiries have been made abroad to see whether we can buy small boats which are capable of picking up sea-borne refuse mechanically?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, in the past years, we had discussed this matter with some foreign countries, but up to now, I believe Mr. Lo, we have not been able to find this kind of boat.
in his own work, has also a lot of information about this kind of work, but we don't have any ideal boat, so we can only carry out our experiments.
MR. JOHN MACKENZIE (in English): -Mr. Chairman, my question, in fact, was very similar to Mr. Lo's.
MR. CHARLES C. C. SIN (in Cantonese): -Mr. Chairman, according to the report made by Dr. HUANG, it seems that for each pound of rubbish, we have to pay $2, is that a bit costly?
DR. M. H. HUANG (in Cantonese):-Well, we know that, of course. We must forget the number of pounds. We must remember all this rubbish is floating on the water and, according to the estimation of the Marine Department during those fifteen days, the rubbish they collected, if the area is 1" by 6′′, the total area would be 6 miles. So we will all be able to see the rubbish floating before us if we go to swim. So if we need to clear this rubbish for 7 months of the year, we will spend about $100,000 and we would provide a service to 7 So I believe million odd people who will go to these beaches to swim. this work is worthwhile.
MOTION
MR. KENNETH T. C. Lo, Chairman of the Recreation & Amenities Select Committee, moved the following motion:-
"That the Public Swimming Pools (Amendment) By-laws, 1974, be made under Section 42 of the Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance, Cap. 132."
He said (in English):-Mr. Chairman, the purpose of the amend- ment to By-law 7, namely, to lower the age prescribed therein from 12 years to 8 over which no person shall enter the dressing room or
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