# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
# ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
## MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 1986, were confirmed.
## STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-I would like to take this opportunity to welcome into the Council yet another newcomer, Ms. Victoria CHAN, who is with us today in open meeting for the first time. Vicky replaces Mrs. Margaret Li, who resigned last August, and her initial term of appointment will run until 31 March 1988.
We are confident that Vicky, being an experienced solicitor and a former president of the Hong Kong Federation of Women Lawyers, will be able to offer us valuable professional legal advice as well as many constructive ideas.
Vicky is the seventh new member to join the Council since April 1 this year. I am happy to say that our older members and the newcomers have combined into an energetic and hard-working team instilled with new thinking, new ideas, new approaches to old policies. This is good not only for the Council, but far more important for the people we serve.
Welcome aboard, Vicky. (applause)
## PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of September 1986.
## QUESTIONS
1. Mr. Man Sai-CHEONG asked the following question (in English):—When and how many times did we receive complaints recently from residents over the problems of smell as created by our refuse collection point at Wing Hing Street, North Point? How long did it take to settle the complaint? In case if the handling of such a complaint may involve the cooperation or the share of responsibilities with other government departments, how far could we be sure that complaints of a similar nature are handled in a more effective and efficient manner?
Page 130
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—Mr. Chairman, this question has three parts, separate part. The first two concern a specific complaint about the nuisance and smell from a refuse collection point at Wing Hing Street; the third part concerns ways and means to improve arrangements when other government departments are involved in overcoming these problems.
The cause of this particular complaint was the breakdown of the roller-shutter at the entrance of the Wing Hing Street RCP and as a result on-street refuse collection arrangement had to be instituted whilst repairs were being carried out.
The Department received two complaints directly from the nearby residents; one telephone complaint was received on 31 July and one written complaint on 19 August. There were also three other complaints appearing in the local press on 16 August, 20 August and 13 September in the press. An anonymous complaint was received through producer of RTHK programme entitled 'Access' on 10 September.
The source of the complaint was finally eliminated on 16 September when the RCP was brought back into service following the total replacement of the roller-shutter by the Architectural Services Department. It took about two months to effect this repair. During the period when the roller shutter was out of order, RCP was however used as a refuse temporary holding area pending the scheduled arrival of the Refuse Collection Vehicle, in order to minimize the nuisance that would arise from the on-street accumulation of refuse. However, the actual loading of the RCV had to take place on-street. The area in front of the RCP was thoroughly washed clean after each collection.
A review of study of this incident has shown that better inter-departmental arrangements could have been made to minimize this nuisance had senior local management been involved at an early stage and I am pleased to inform the Council that the Department has now given out instructions to the senior local managers to ensure that they should personally involve in any such future incidents. This should not only shorten the period of the nuisance by bringing about prompt repairs but also ensuring that the best possible arrangements are introduced in the interim pending ultimate solution. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. WALTER M. SULKE (in English): Mr. Chairman, I have noticed that sometimes these roller-shutters at our RCPs are not closed when the RCPs are not in use. Would my friend please ask the department to inspect our RCPs more frequently to make sure the shutters are being used properly?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, is this a question or is it just an advice to the department?
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130
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 1986, were confirmed.
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English):-I would like to take this opportunity to welcome into the Council yet another newcomer, Ms. Victoria CHAN, who is with us today in open meeting for the first time. Vicky replaces Mrs. Margaret Li, who resigned last August, and her initial term of appointment will run until 31 March 1988.
We are confident that Vicky, being an experienced solicitor and a former president of the Hong Kong Federation of Women Lawyers, will be able to offer us valuable professional legal advice as well as many constructive ideas.
Vicky is the seventh new member to join the Council since April 1 this year. I am happy to say that our older members and the newcomers have combined into an energetic and hard-working team instilled with new thinking, new ideas, new approaches to old policies. This is good not only for the Council, but far more important for the people we serve.
Welcome aboard, Vicky. (applause)
PAPER
The following paper was laid on the table:-
(1) Report to the Urban Council by the Director of Urban Services and
Secretary, Urban Council, for the month of September 1986.
QUESTIONS
1. Mr. Man Sai-CHEONG asked the following question (in English):—When and how many times did we receive complaints recently from residents over the problems of smell as created by our refuse collection point at Wing Hing Street, North Point? How long did it take to settle the complaint? In case if the handling of such a complaint may involve the cooperation or the share of responsibilities with other government departments, how far could we be sure that complaints of a similar nature are handled in a more effective and efficient manner?
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Page 86 of 201
131
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE Select COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):—Mr. Chairman, this question has three parts, separate part. The first two concern a specific complaint about the nuisance and smell from a refuse collection point at Wing Hing Street; the third part concerns ways and means to improve arrangements when other govern- ment departments are involved in overcoming these problems.
The cause of this particular complaint was the breakdown of the roller- shutter at the entrance of the Wing Hing Street RCP and as a result on-street refuse collection arrangement had to be instituted whilst repairs were being carried out.
The Department received two complaints directly from the nearby residents; one telephone complaint was received on 31 July and one written complaint on 19 August. There were also three other complaints appearing in the local press on 16 August, 20 August and 13 September in the press. An anonymous complaint was received through producer of RTHK programme entitled 'Access' on 10 September.
The source of the complaint was finally eliminated on 16 September when the RCP was brought back into service following the total replacement of the roller- shutter by the Architectural Services Department. It took about two months to the effect this repair. During the period when the roller shutter out of order, RCP was however used as a refuse temporary holding area pending the scheduled arrival of the Refuse Collection Vehicle, in order to minimize the nuisance that would arise from the on-street accumulation of refuse. However the actual loading of the RCV had to take place on-street. The area in front of the RCP was thoroughly washed clean after each collection.
A review of study of this incident has shown that better inter-departmental arrangements could have been made to minimize this nuisance had senior local management been involved at an early stage and I am pleased to inform the Council that the Department has now given out instructions to the senior local managers to ensure that they should personally involve in any such future incidents. This should not only shorten the period of the nuisance by bringing about prompt repairs but also ensuring that the best possible arrangements are introduced in the interim pending ultimate solution. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. WALTER M. SULKE (in English): Mr. Chairman, I have noticed that sometimes these roller-shutters at our RCPs are not closed when the RCPs are not in use. Would my friend please ask the department to inspect our RCPs more frequently to make sure the shutters are being used properly?
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):-Mr. Chairman, is this a question or is it just an advice to the department?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.