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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Dr. HUANG. I would like to know whether the tunnel connecting To Kwa Wan with Kowloon Bay is dealt with the same as these tunnels.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, all tunnels are kept clean in the same way.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):---I would like to know apart from these tunnels, do we have such tunnels on the Hong Kong side?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):-I can only speak in principle. As I drive by myself and when I am passing through a tunnel, I dare not look at the sides of the tunnel, whereas Miss YEUNG has a chauffeur and she is able to look around and see the problems. I can say that in general, we will sweep all tunnels.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in Kowloon City near the roundabout, there are number of tunnels which are not for cars but for pedestrians. I would like to know the frequency of sweeping these subways.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I think in those places, mechanical sweepers are not available. As to the frequency of sweeping, it depends on the number of pedestrians. Take Tsim Sha Tsui and Central District as example, we clean them 8 times a day, but in other areas, 4 times a day. As to Kowloon City tunnel, if the tunnel is frequently used by large number of people, it will be cleaned more frequently. It all depends on the conditions.
2.
MRS. GRACE Ho asked the following question (in English):-Has the Urban Council made any progress with Government to require developers to provide refuse collection chambers and facilities within new buildings to improve the environmental conditions?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the mandatory provision of refuse storage chambers in new buildings.
The Government gave drafting approval of the new legislation in October 1981. Since then, draft legislation has been produced and is being considered by the Government. In addition, the Real Estates Developers Association has been consulted about the effects of the proposals on the building industry.
The enactment of the new legislation is a matter of direct concern to the Urban Council and we will continue to press the Government to expedite the matter.
But we know that the developers are usually spoiled by the Government and their opinions may hinder what we want to do.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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MRS. Ho (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I hope Dr. HUANG will pay attention to this because we have been discussing this for a long time. A decision was made in October 1980, but the drafting instructions came out only a year later. I hope there will be no more delay.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, going back in history, about ten years ago, I was the Chairman of the Clean Hong Kong Campaign and at that time, I moved that we had mandatory provision of refuse storage chambers in buildings and because of objection from the building contractors, when Miss YEUNG was the Chairman, compromise was effected and we only asked for refuse storage chambers. This shows that the Government is not very enthusiastic about the whole matter and if the Government wants to do it, I am sure that the Government can pass the bill in one day. If the Government can enforce the provision of refuse storage chambers as it does with the licensing of cars, I am sure that Miss YEUNG and I will be happy.
DR. CHAM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask whether when the Urban Council proposes the drafting of new legislation in connection with this matter, did the Council propose to the Government that they should for instance relax the plot ratio so that developers can remedy the losses in building refuse storage chambers as this, I think, is very important in environmental improvement.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I do not know whether Dr. CHAM has any connection with building industry. In all advanced countries, all new buildings have refuse storage chambers. In Hong Kong, the value of land is so high and the developers want to make more profit, I am sure that the Council has talked about the question with the P.W.D. As to the details, I cannot answer.
MRS. Ho (in Cantonese):-Can I answer the question for Dr. HUANG. In 1980, we discussed this matter four times. This matter did come up a number of times and we wanted them to relax the Buildings Ordinance just as for car parks, and therefore, on the one hand, we encourage builders and on the other hand, they will be able to get more profit. But even at this stage, we do not seem to have made any progress.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, this is a very difficult question to answer because I am very much irritated by the question myself. This question has been discussed for a number of years and the Government seems to be using delaying tactics. I don't know whether you, Mr. Chairman can make use of your personal relationship with the senior officials and push the matter for us.
DR. Kwok (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I understand that our request is not that each building should provide refuse chamber, but only a development of a certain size. The ratio is a very reasonable thing.
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90
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Dr. HUANG. I would like to know whether the tunnel connecting To Kwa Wan with Kowloon Bay is dealt with the
same as these tunnels.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, all tunnels are kept clean in the
same way.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese):---I would like to know apart from these tunnels, do we have such tunnels on the Hong Kong side?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):-I can only speak in principle. As I drive by myself and when I am passing through a tunnel, I dare not look at the sides of the tunnel, whereas Miss YEUNG has a chauffeur and she is able to look around and see the problems. I can say that in general, we will sweep all tunnels.
MISS YEUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in Kowloon City near the roundabout, there are number of tunnels which are not for cars but for pedestrians. I would like to know the frequency of sweeping these subways.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I think in those places, mechanical sweepers are not available. As to the frequency of sweeping, it depends on the number of pedestrians. Take Tsim Sha Tsui and Central District as example, we clean them 8 times a day, but in other areas, 4 times a day. As to Kowloon City tunnel, if the tunnel is frequently used by large number of people, it will be cleaned more frequently. It all depends on the conditions.
2.
MRS. GRACE Ho asked the following question (in English):-Has the Urban Council made any progress with Government to require developers to provide refuse collection chambers and facilities within new buildings to improve the
environmental conditions?
DR. DENNY M. H. HUANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the mandatory provision of refuse storage chambers in new buildings.
The Government gave drafting approval of the new legislation in October 1981. Since then, draft legislation has been produced and is being considered by the Government. In addition, the Real Estates Developers Association has been consulted about the effects of the proposals on the building industry.
The enactment of the new legislation is a matter of direct concern to the Urban Council and we will continue to press the Government to expedite the
matter.
But we know that the developers are usually spoiled by the Government and their opinions may hinder what we want to do.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 66 of 142
91
MRS. Ho (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I hope Dr. HUANG will pay attention to this because we have been discussing this for a long time. A decision was made in October 1980, but the drafting instructions came out only a year later. I hope there will be no more delay.
new
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, going back in history, about ten years ago, I was the Chairman of the Clean Hong Kong Campaign and at that time, I moved that we had mandatory provision of refuse storage chambers in buildings and because of objection from the building contractors, when Miss YEUNG was the Chairman, compromise was effected and we only asked for refuse storage chambers. This shows that the Government is not very enthusiastic about the whole matter and if the Government wants to do it, I am sure that the Government can pass the bill in one day. If the Government can enforce the provision of refuse storage chambers as it does with the licensing of cars, I am sure that Miss YEUNG and I will be happy.
DR. CHAM (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask whether when the Urban Council proposes the drafting of new legislation in connection with this matter, did the Council propose to the Government that they should for instance relax the plot ratio so that developers can remedy the losses in building refuse storage chambers as this, I think, is very important in environmental improvement.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I do not know whether Dr. CHAM has any connection with building industry. In all advanced countries, all new buildings have refuse storage chambers. In Hong Kong, the value of land is so high and the developers want to make more profit, I am sure that the Council has talked about the question with the P.W.D. As to the details, I cannot
answer.
MRS. Ho (in Cantonese):-Can I answer the question for Dr. HUANG. In 1980, we discussed this matter four times. This matter did come up a number of times and we wanted them to relax the Buildings Ordinance just as for car parks, and therefore, on the one hand, we encourage builders and on the other hand, they will be able to get more profit. But even at this stage, we do not seem to have made any progress.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, this is a very difficult question to answer because I am very much irritated by the question myself. This question has been discussed for a number of years and the Government seems to be using delaying tactics. I don't know whether you, Mr. Chairman can make use of your personal relationship with the senior officials and push the matter for us.
DR. Kwok (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I understand that our request is not that each building should provide refuse chamber, but only a development of a certain size. The ratio is a very reasonable thing.
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