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told whether toilets in restaurants are inspected by our staff during peak hours i.e. during or just after lunch and during and just after dinner and, if so, how often and how many inspectors do we have who do this particular type of work?
MR. L. H. KWAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the state of cleanliness of toilets in restaurants. It asks about the minimum size prescribed for such toilets; the time of inspection, the frequency of inspections and the number of staff engaged in such work.
At present, the law does not stipulate a minimum size for toilet in restaurants. It does, however, stipulate a minimum number of toilets, which increases with the overall size of the restaurant. Council's policy is that toilets should be so sited that customers can reach them without passing through food room and that they attain the minimum standards of sanitary fitments, plumbing, draining, etc. under the Building (Standards of Sanitary Fitments, Plumbing, Drainage Works and Latrines) Regulation 123. The Regulation 123 is quite long, Madam, and I would in order to make it short, I would refer to the Standing Order 12(7) ‘that it is deemed a sufficient reply if publication contain the information is indicated.' And so I have to shorten everything. As restaurants which do not meet these standards and those which do not allow sufficient space for installation and use of sanitary fittings in the toilets will not be licensed.
As regards ventilation, all restaurant premises, including their toilets, are required to provide a minimum of 17 cu. metres of fresh air per person per hour under the Second Schedule to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance Cap. 132. A backflow preventor must also be provided if such toilet is ventilated by central air-conditioning system. The installation of an extraction fan of suitable capacity is a 'must' for all toilets to promote a ‘one way' flow to the open air. For restaurants not equipped with air-conditioning systems, the toilets must be provided with both extraction fans or windows built in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance. So far, no complaint about inadequate ventilation in restaurant toilets have been received by the Department.
As a general rule, Health Inspectors inspect restaurant toilets during their routine visits and the timing of such visits varies according to their operational requirements. However, for premises where a previous warning for dirtiness has been recorded, the follow-up visit is made either at or around lunch/dinner hours. Licensees are prosecuted if warnings given are not heeded. In the past 6 months, a total of 1 463 warnings on dirty toilets were registered, resulting in 32 prosecutions against licensees for dirty toilets. All restaurants are inspected at a frequency of once every 3 weeks. Such inspections must include both the male and female toilets. Some restaurants with lower hygiene standard are inspected more frequently on a need basis. At the moment, a total of 168 Health Inspectors are engaged, in addition to other environmental control duties, in the inspection of food premises which include 4 165 restaurants of all types.
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Inspectors are engaged, in addition to other environmental control duties, in the inspection of food premises which include 4 165 restaurants of all types.
MR. WALTER M. SULKE (in English):—Madam Chairman, 1 467 complaints in 6 months only from our Health Inspectors would indicate that the problem is much bigger than I thought it was. Could I suggest first of all that the Food Hygiene Select Committee consider making regulation as to the size of toilets because some of the toilets that I have been in you couldn't swing a cat never mind do anything else. Obviously, it is very unhygienic. And then I would suggest that every toilet should have a signage in it which says if you have a complaint, telephone the Urban Service Department at this number which might hopefully have some effect.
MR. L. H. KWAN (in English):—Both points are noted, Madam Chairman.
THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Madam Chairman, could the Select Committee consider for next year since it is rather late this year a special campaign against dirty toilets within all the districts under the Urban Council's jurisdiction? And could information be provided to the Select Committee why is that 1 463 warnings on dirty toilets were registered, only 32 prosecutions were taken out and also could information be provided to Select Committee that out of 32 prosecutions which were taken up, how many were successful and what was the level of fines?
MR. L. H. KWAN (in English):-Madam Chairman, I do not agree with my friend that it is too late. I think the media behind would pass along the message to the Hong Kong citizens suggesting that if they have complaints against dirty toilets in respect of restaurants, they can lodge their complaints to the respective Urban Councillors through their ward offices. And the second point by my dear friend about the prosecution and the warnings. In the usual cases, Health Inspectors when they discover that there are dirty toilets, they would warn them first and if they do not improve, they would prosecute them. In respect of these 32 prosecutions, I do not have a detailed breakdown but as I understand that the range of fine would be between magistrate to magistrates around $500 to $1,000 together with other penalties as well.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Madam Chairman, I agree with Mr. SULKE'S point. I think we should meet the needs of time and to make regular reviews. Some laws especially those relates to application for a licence to run a restaurant. The proportion of the food preparation area in relation to total area of the restaurant were decided quite a long time ago. But because of higher requirement of health standards, the Urban Council has a right to meet the needs of the time to relax or to make the laws more strict as the case may be. As to the sanitary conditions in the toilets and the size of the toilets, from the merchant's point of view, then he will certainly try to make use of that loophole, to make the toilet as small as possible. If this do not meet hygiene standards, I think we should
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told whether toilets in restaurants are inspected by our staff during peak hours i.e. during or just after lunch and during and just after dinner and, if so, how often and how many inspectors do we have who do this particular type of work?
MR. L. H. KWAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in English):-This question concerns the state of cleanliness of toilets in restaurants. It asks about the minimum size prescribed for such toilets; the time of inspection, the frequency of inspections and the number of staff engaged in such work.
At present, the law does not stipulate a minimum size for toilet in restaurants. It does, however, stipulate a minimum number of toilets, which increases with the overall size of the restaurant. Council's policy is that toilets should be so sited that customers can reach them without passing through food room and that they attain the minimum standards of sanitary fitments, plumbing, draining, etc. under the Building (Standards of Sanitary Fitments, Plumbing, Drainage Works and Latrines) Regulation 123. The Regulation 123 is quite long, Madam, and I would in order to make it short, I would refer to the Standing Order 12(7) ‘that it is deemed a sufficient reply if publication contain the information is indicated.' And so I have to shorten everything. As restaurants which do not meet these standards and those which do not allow sufficient space for installation and use of sanitary fittings in the toilets will not be licensed.
As regards ventilation, all restaurant premises, including their toilets, are required to provide a minimum of 17 cu. metres of fresh air per person per hour under the Second Schedule to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance Cap. 132. A backflow preventor must also be provided if such toilet is ventilated by central air-conditioning system. The installation of an extraction fan of suitable capacity is a 'must' for all toilets to promote a ‘one way' flow to the open air. For restaurants not equipped with air-conditioning systems, the toilets must be provided with both extraction fans or windows built in accordance with the Buildings Ordinance. So far, no complaint about inadequate ventilation in restaurant toilets have been received by the Department.
As a general rule, Health Inspectors inspect restaurant toilets during their routine visits and the timing of such visits varies according to their operational requirements. However, for premises where a previous warning for dirtiness has been recorded, the follow-up visit is made either at or around lunch/dinner hours. Licensees are prosecuted if warnings given are not heeded. In the past 6 months, a total of 1 463 warnings on dirty toilets were registered, resulting in 32 prosecutions against licensees for dirty toilets. All restaurants are inspected at a frequency of once every 3 weeks. Such inspections must include both the male and female toilets. Some restaurants with lower hygiene standard are inspected more frequently on a need basis. At the moment, a total of 168 Health
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Inspectors are engaged, in addition to other environmental control duties, in the inspection of food premises which include 4 165 restaurants of all types.
MR. WALTER M. SULKE (in English):—Madam Chairman, 1 467 complaints in 6 months only from our Health Inspectors would indicate that the problem is much bigger than I thought it was. Could I suggest first of all that the Food Hygiene Select Committee consider making regulation as to the size of toilets because some of the toilets that I have been in you couldn't swing a cat never mind do anything else. Obviously, it is very unhygienic. And then I would suggest that every toilet should have a signage in it which says if you have a complaint, telephone the Urban Service Department at this number which might hopefully have some effect.
MR. L. H. KWAN (in English):—Both points are noted, Madam Chairman.
THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Madam Chairman, could the Select Committee consider for next year since it is rather late this year a special campaign against dirty toilets within all the districts under the Urban Council's jurisdiction? And could information be provided to the Select Committee why is that 1 463 warnings on dirty toilets were registered, only 32 prosecutions were taken out and also could information be provided to Select Committee that out of 32 prosecutions which were taken up, how many were successful and what was the level of fines?
MR. L. H. KWAN (in English):-Madam Chairman, I do not agree with my friend that it is too late. I think the media behind would pass along the message to the Hong Kong citizens suggesting that if they have complaints against dirty toilets in respect of restaurants, they can lodge their complaints to the respective Urban Councillors through their ward offices. And the second point by my dear friend about the prosecution and the warnings. In the usual cases, Health Inspectors when they discover that there are dirty toilets, they would warn them first and if they do not improve, they would prosecute them. In respect of these 32 prosecutions, I do not have a detailed breakdown but as I understand that the range of fine would be between magistrate to magistrates around $500 to $1,000 together with other penalties as well.
MR. MAN SAI-CHEONG (in Cantonese):-Madam Chairman, I agree with Mr. SULKE'S point. I think we should meet the needs of time and to make regular reviews. Some laws especially those relates to application for a licence to run a restaurant. The proportion of the food preparation area in relation to total area of the restaurant were decided quite a long time ago. But because of higher requirement of health standards, the Urban Council has a right to meet the needs of the time to relax or to make the laws more strict as the case may be. As to the sanitary conditions in the toilets and the size of the toilets, from the merchant's point of view, then he will certainly try to make use of that loophole, to make the toilet as small as possible. If this do not meet hygiene standards, I think we should
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