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MR. SULKE (in English):—I would like to thank Dr. CHAM for the reply. My impression is that our relations with the press are somewhat cool, and I would like to ask whether we could do more to involve the press in our activities, for instance, by asking them to ride along in a garbage truck on collection or accompanying our G.D. Teams when they carry out their duties.
DR. CHAM (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am afraid I cannot answer the first part of the question which seems to contain an opinion which is contrary to the Standing Order 12(11). However, as far as the second part of the question is concerned, I am quite sure the department and the Council will be able to arrange any visits which the press would like to make. But as far as riding on the garbage truck is concerned, I am sure observation is more pleasant than riding or participating.
MR. SULKE (in English):—My point was that I would like to ask whether the department is willing to at least invoke its initiative with the press on our activities instead of waiting for them to come to us. I apologize if I stated an opinion which was out of the Order.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Was that by way of explaining the purpose of your supplementary, Mr. SULKE?
MR. SULKE (in English):—No, this is a genuine question.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—We will give you the benefit of the doubt regarding the statement of opinion being made. Anyway, Dr. KIM CHAM, would you like to answer this supplementary?
DR. CHAM (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as far as visits of any kind are concerned, it would be difficult to simply come up with an idea and get the response. I think I would extend an open invitation to the press to come forward for any visits they like and we will be very pleased to oblige. But if Mr. SULKE thinks that what he has suggested a while ago is worth considering, then we will certainly issue a specific invitation to the press and I will discuss this in committee for the Public Information Unit to arrange.
MR. YOUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as a sort of supplementary to Mr. SULKE's supplementary, I can certainly recall one instance where the press were at a certain site taking photographs at 7.00 in the morning, and the next morning they also were very much present when I went on an inspection. I think from the statistics listed by Dr. CHAM, the press is not only responsible but also very fair and generous too to have published 99% of our replies. Is there a problem of the department not replying to letters which may have given the impression that all letters are not replied to.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
DR. CHAM (in English):—Mr. Chairman, the department does monitor all the complaints, editorials, and letters to editors from the papers in various forms and it does keep a list of these and notes the action taken, whether they have replied or taken action one way or the other.
6. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):—I understand that there have been considerable problems associated with the drainage outfall from the Kennedy Town Abattoir. Could I please have information as to what remedial measures are planned and how far these have progressed?
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):—This question concerns drainage problems at Kennedy Town Abattoir. There have been quite considerable problems associated with drainage at this Abattoir, resulting largely from the original drainage capacity being too small. This has created an overflow of abattoir waste liquid which has been discharged into the sea through storm-water drains. The Government Maintenance Surveyor is at present carrying out remedial works to the internal drains inside the Abattoir, including the installation of holding tanks for peak discharges and the provision of grease traps at suitable locations to remove grease and fat from the drainage system. A pumped connection will also be installed for a more efficient discharge of the effluent from the holding tanks to the public sewers outside the Abattoir.
In addition to the above, the Highways Office has completed the laying of a larger drainage connection from the Abattoir to the public sewer along Victoria Road. This will increase the capacity of effluent discharge from the Abattoir to the public sewer. It is expected that all these works should be completed in about four to five weeks' time. Upon completion, the present discharge into the sea will cease.
MR. SULKE (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Mr. SHUM for the reply from which I am very pleased to note that the two-year-old pollution of the sea will now be finally stopped. Could I ask Mr. SHUM to ask the department to make sure that in future, drains are properly maintained so that we do not have a recurrence of this very unfortunate incident.
MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, regarding this question, the U.S.D. has paid sufficient attention to this. The main problem concerns the design of the Abattoir. It was originally designed for 1,500 pigs, but now 2,000 pigs have to be slaughtered; that means exceeding the capacity. We are conducting a survey to find out how the Abattoir capacity can be increased or whether to re-build it. It is hoped that in four to five weeks' time, the present discharge into the sea will cease.
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MR. SULKE (in English):—I would like to thank Dr. CHAM for the reply. My impression is that our relations with the press are somewhat cool, and I would like to ask whether we could do more to involve the press in our activities, for instance, by asking them to ride along in a garbage truck on collection or accompanying our G.D. Teams when they carry out their duties.
DR. CHAM (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I am afraid I cannot answer the first part of the question which seems to contain an opinion which is contrary to the Standing Order 12(11). However, as far as the second part of the question is concerned, I am quite sure the department and the Council will be able to arrange any visits which the press would like to make. But as far as riding on the garbage truck is concerned, I am sure observation is more pleasant than riding or in participating.
MR. SULKE (in English):--My point was that I would like to ask whether the department is willing to at least invoke its initiative with the press on our activities instead of waiting for them to come to us. I apologize if I stated an opinion which was out of the Order.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Was that by way of explaining the purpose of your supplementary, Mr. SULKE?
MR. SULKE (in English):-No, this is a genuine question.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-We will give you the benefit of the doubt regarding the statement of opinion being made. Anyway, Dr. Kim CHAM, would you like to answer this supplementary?
DR. CHAM (in English): Mr. Chairman, as far as visits of any kind are concerned, it would be difficult to simply come up with an idea and get the response. I think I would extend an open invitation to the press to come forward for any visits they like and we will be very pleased to oblige. But if Mr. SULKE thinks that what he has suggested a while ago is worth considering, then we will certainly issue a specific invitation to the press and I will discuss this in committee for the Public Information Unit to arrange.
MR. YOUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, as a sort of supplementary to Mr. SULKE'S Supplementary, I can certainly recall one instance where the press were at a certain site taking photographs at 7.00 in the morning, and the next morning they also were very much present when I went on an inspection. I think from the statistics listed by Dr. CHAM, the press is not only responsible but also very fair and generous too to have published 99% of our replies. Is there a problem of the department not replying to letters which may have given the impression that all letters are not replied to.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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DR. CHAM (in English):—Mr. Chairman, the department does monitor all the complaints editorials and letter to editors from the papers in various forms and it does keep a list of these and notes the action taken, whether they have replied or taken action one way or the other.
6. MR. WALTER M. SULKE asked the following question (in English):—I understand that there have been considerable problems associated with the drainage outfall from the Kennedy Town Abattoir. Could I please have information as to what remedial measures are planned and how far these have progressed?
MR. SHUM CHOI-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns drainage problems at Kennedy Town Abattoir. There have been quite considerable problems associated with drainage at this Abattoir, resulting largely from the original drainge capacity being too small. This has created an overflow of abattoir waste liquid which has been discharged into the sea through storm-water drains. The Government Maintenance Surveyor is at present carrying out remedial works to the internal drains inside the Abattoir, including the installation of holding tanks for peak discharges and the provision of grease traps at suitable locations to remove grease and fat from the drainage system. A pumped connection will also be installed for a more efficient discharge of the effluent from the holding tanks to the public sewers outside the Abattoir.
In addition to the above, the Highways Office has completed the laying of a larger drainage connection from the Abattoir to the public sewer along Victoria Road. This will increase the capacity of effluent discharge from the Abattoir to the public sewer. It is expected that all these works should be completed in about four to five weeks' time. Upon completion, the present discharge into the sea will cease.
MR. SULKE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Mr. SHUм for the reply from which I am very pleased to note that the two-year-old pollution of the sea will now be finally stopped. Could I ask Mr. SHUM to ask the department to make sure that in future, drains are properly maintained so that we do not have a recurrence of this very unfortunate incident.
MR. SHUM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, regarding this question, the U.S.D. has paid sufficient attention to this. The main problem concerns the design of the Abattoir. It was originally designed for 1 500 pigs, but now 2 000 pigs have to be slaughtered; that means exceeding the capacity. We are conducting a survey to find out how the Abattoir capacity can be increased or whether to re- build it. It is hoped that in four to five weeks' time, the present discharge into the sea will cease.
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