1989 — Page 89

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 89 of 166

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

such storages and measures taken by the Department in an incident in the Western District on 31 October.

The building involved in the incident on 31 October is a rice warehouse which, according to the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws, is not classified as a 'food business' and therefore requires no licence from the Urban Council to operate. No regular inspection is therefore carried out by the Department's staff in respect of this kind of premises. However, if it comes to light that any premises are infested with vermin, including cockroaches, a notice may be served by the Council under section 47 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owner or occupier of such premises requiring disinfestation of the vermin. In this case, enquiries have revealed that the owner of the rice warehouse conducts disinfestation three times a year. In the afternoon of 31 October, the owner of the warehouse applied a fumigant known as Fumite P, which contains 15% permethrin, for disinfestation of rice beetles and cockroaches on the premises. As crevices of windows, doors and drainage pipes etc. had not been properly sealed off, dying cockroaches escaped into the streets.

Insecticides used in Hong Kong are controlled by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department under the Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance. According to the Pest Control Advisory Unit of the Municipal Services Branch, the insecticide used in the rice warehouse in question is one of the safest insecticides available locally. The formulation used is specially designed for fumigation of godowns for food storage. If this insecticide, at a 15% formulation, is applied carefully, the foodstuff stored in the godown should not be affected.

The Department's staff were not aware of the incident until the morning of 1 November. All the dead cockroaches in the streets were immediately cleared and the surrounding areas washed down. The owner of the warehouse was advised that in future, before any disinfestation was carried out, all crevices and holes of the premises should be effectively sealed off to prevent the escape of the insects and to immediately clear all dead insects outside and inside the premises. He was also asked to inform the Department when future disinfestation took place in his warehouse so that the situation might be monitored by our pest control staff. Similar advice will be extended to other rice warehouses.

MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, from the reply given by Mr. TONG, does it mean that in applying insecticide, if it is applied differently it might affect the rice? If that is the case, could the Department advise the owners of such storages on the correct application of such insecticide? Secondly, it seems from the reply that the Department had not prosecuted the rice warehouse. Normally a litter offender is prosecuted. Since this warehouse had created a lot of nuisance, I think it is unfair not to prosecute it.

MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, as I said we had already sent notices to the owner of the warehouse asking him when future disinfestation took place, he should inform the Department, so that the situation might be monitored by our Department's staff. We also advise owners of the warehouses on how to use these insecticides carefully and correctly. As regards the cockroaches escaped into the street, it is due to the fact that the crevices are not sealed off and they have been advised to do so in the future. This incident is an isolated case. The cockroaches have been cleared and no prosecution will be taken.

MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, it is said that similar advices will be issued to other rice warehouses owners before the disinfestation is to take place, they should inform the Department. Is this optional or is this mandatory? If it is not mandatory, how can we guarantee that no such incident will recur in the future? Secondly, I really wonder why such premises are not under our control because rice warehouses have definitely something to do with hygiene and cleanliness. If they are not controlled by the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws, how are they controlled in order to make sure that everything is hygienic?

MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I said we only try to persuade the owners as rice warehouse is not a food business and therefore such premises are not under the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws. They do not need a licence from the Urban Council. Of course if they cause health hazards to the general public, they can be prosecuted under other ordinances. I am sure that after we have advised them what to do, they will do the disinfestation more carefully. As to why they are not controlled under the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws, I am afraid I do not have any information to give a reply off hand. I will give a detailed reply to Mr. Ma after getting the relevant information.

CHAIRMAN (in English): Perhaps, as a retired godown keeper, I had a great deal of experience in storing rice when I was in my previous business and I can assure you that it certainly didn't come under the Urban Council. It is really up to the godown keeper himself to ensure that his stocks of rice were kept in good order and condition, otherwise the crop became unsaleable. But, Mr. Ma, we can take advice in due course from my legal adviser and the DUS about whether it is necessary to exercise an expanded control over this particular item.

DR. STAN CHEUNG TSANG-KAY (in English): Mr. Chairman, I ask a supplementary question. If the Department was called upon to do the job in short notice and was it an extraordinary job? I want to know whether we charged them and if yes, how much we charged them for this particular, unusual and short notice service?

MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I don't think we did charge them. It was a purely accidental case. If we find that there are rubbish and environmental problems at a particular place, we will immediately clear them without charging anyone.

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Page 89 of 166 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL such storages and measures taken by the Department in an incident in the Western District on 31 October. The building involved in the incident on 31 October is a rice warehouse which, according to the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws, is not classified as a 'food business' and therefore requires no licence from the Urban Council to operate. No regular inspection is therefore carried out by the Department's staff in respect of this kind of premises. However, if it comes to light that any premises are infested with vermin, including cockroaches, a notice may be served by the Council under section 47 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owner or occupier of such premises requiring disinfestation of the vermin. In this case, enquiries have revealed that the owner of the rice warehouse conducts disinfestation three times a year. In the afternoon of 31 October, the owner of the warehouse applied a fumigant known as Fumite P, which contains 15% permethrin, for disinfestation of rice beetles and cockroaches on the premises. As crevices of windows, doors and drainage pipes etc. had not been properly sealed off, dying cockroaches escaped into the streets. Insecticides used in Hong Kong are controlled by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department under the Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance. According to the Pest Control Advisory Unit of the Municipal Services Branch, the insecticide used in the rice warehouse in question is one of the safest insecticides available locally. The formulation used is specially designed for fumigation of godowns for food storage. If this insecticide, at a 15% formulation, is applied carefully, the foodstuff stored in the godown should not be affected. The Department's staff were not aware of the incident until the morning of 1 November. All the dead cockroaches in the streets were immediately cleared and the surrounding areas washed down. The owner of the warehouse was advised that in future, before any disinfestation was carried out, all crevices and holes of the premises should be effectively sealed off to prevent the escape of the insects and to immediately clear all dead insects outside and inside the premises. He was also asked to inform the Department when future disinfestation took place in his warehouse so that the situation might be monitored by our pest control staff. Similar advice will be extended to other rice warehouses. MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, from the reply given by Mr. TONG, does it mean that in applying insecticide, if it is applied differently it might affect the rice? If that is the case, could the Department advise the owners of such storages on the correct application of such insecticide? Secondly, it seems from the reply that the Department had not prosecuted the rice warehouse. Normally a litter offender is prosecuted. Since this warehouse had created a lot of nuisance, I think it is unfair not to prosecute it. MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, as I said we had already sent notices to the owner of the warehouse asking him when future disinfestation took place, he should inform the Department, so that the situation might be monitored by our Department's staff. We also advise owners of the warehouses on how to use these insecticides carefully and correctly. As regards the cockroaches escaped into the street, it is due to the fact that the crevices are not sealed off and they have been advised to do so in the future. This incident is an isolated case. The cockroaches have been cleared and no prosecution will be taken. MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, it is said that similar advices will be issued to other rice warehouses owners before the disinfestation is to take place, they should inform the Department. Is this optional or is this mandatory? If it is not mandatory, how can we guarantee that no such incident will recur in the future? Secondly, I really wonder why such premises are not under our control because rice warehouses have definitely something to do with hygiene and cleanliness. If they are not controlled by the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws, how are they controlled in order to make sure that everything is hygienic? MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I said we only try to persuade the owners as rice warehouse is not a food business and therefore such premises are not under the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws. They do not need a licence from the Urban Council. Of course if they cause health hazards to the general public, they can be prosecuted under other ordinances. I am sure that after we have advised them what to do, they will do the disinfestation more carefully. As to why they are not controlled under the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws, I am afraid I do not have any information to give a reply off hand. I will give a detailed reply to Mr. Ma after getting the relevant information. CHAIRMAN (in English): Perhaps, as a retired godown keeper, I had a great deal of experience in storing rice when I was in my previous business and I can assure you that it certainly didn't come under the Urban Council. It is really up to the godown keeper himself to ensure that his stocks of rice were kept in good order and condition, otherwise the crop became unsaleable. But, Mr. Ma, we can take advice in due course from my legal adviser and the DUS about whether it is necessary to exercise an expanded control over this particular item. DR. STAN CHEUNG TSANG-KAY (in English): Mr. Chairman, I ask a supplementary question. If the Department was called upon to do the job in short notice and was it an extraordinary job? I want to know whether we charged them and if yes, how much we charged them for this particular, unusual and short notice service? MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I don't think we did charge them. It was a purely accidental case. If we find that there are rubbish and environmental problems at a particular place, we will immediately clear them without charging anyone. Page 89 of 166 166

Baseline (Original)

Page 89 of 166 Page 89 of 166 166 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL such storages and measures taken by the Department in an incident in the Western District on 31 October. The building involved in the incident on 31 October is a rice warehouse which, according to the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws, is not classified as a 'food business' and therefore requires no licence from the Urban Council to operate. No regular inspection is therefore carried out by the Department's staff in respect of this kind of premises. However, if it comes to light that any premises are infested with vermin, including cockroaches, a notice may be served by the Council under section 47 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to the owner or occupier of such premises requiring disinfestation of the vermin. In this case, enquiries have revealed that the owner of the rice warehouse conducts disinfestation three times a year. In the afternoon of 31 October, the owner of the warehouse applied a fumigant known as Fumite P, which contains 15% permethrin, for disinfestation of rice beetles and cockroaches on the premises. As crevices of windows, doors and drainage pipes etc. had not been properly sealed off, dying cockroaches escaped into the streets. Insecticides used in Hong Kong are controlled by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department under the Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance. According to the Pest Control Advisory Unit of the Municipal Services Branch, the insecticide used in the rice warehouse in question is one of the safest insecticides available locally. The formulation used is specially designed for fumigation of godowns for food storage. If this insecticide, at a 15% formulation, is applied carefully, the foodstuff stored in the godown should not be affected. The Department's staff were not aware of the incident until the morning of 1 November. All the dead cockroaches in the streets were immediately cleared and the surrounding arcas washed down. The owner of the warehouse was advised that in future, before any disinfestation was carried out, all crevices and holes of the premises should be effectively sealed off to prevent the escape of the insects and to immediately clear all dead insects outside and inside the premises. He was also asked to inform the Department when future disinfestation took place in his warehouse so that the sitation might be monitored by our pest control staff. Similar advice will be extended to other rice warehouses. MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman, from the reply given by Mr. TONG, does it mean that in applying insecticide, if it is applied differently it might affect the rice? If that is the case, could the Department advise the owners of such storages on the correct application of such insecticide? Secondly, it seems from the reply that the Department had not prosecuted the rice warehouse. Normally a litter offender is prosecuted. Since this warehouse had created a lot of nuisance, I think it is unfair not to prosecute it. MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, as I said we had already sent notices to the owner of the warehouse asking him when future disinfestation took place, he should inform the Department, so that the HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL 167 situation might be monitored by our Department's staff. We also advise owners of the warehouses on how to use these insecticide carefully and correctly. As regards the cockroaches escaped into the street, it is due to the fact that the crevices are not sealed off and they have been advised to do so in the future. This incident is an isolated case. The cockroaches have been cleared and no prosecution will be taken. MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):----Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, it is said that similar advices will be issued to other rice warehouses owners before the disinfestation is to take place, they should inform the Department. Is this optional or is this mandatory? If it is not mandatory, how can we guarantee that no such incident will recur in the future? Secondly, I really wonder why such premises are not under our control because rice warehouses have definitely something to do with hygiene and cleanliness. If they are not controlled by the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws, how are they controlled in order to make sure that everything is hygienic? MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I said we only try to persuade the owners as rice warehouse is not a food business and therefore such premises are not under the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws. They do not need a licence from the Urban Council. Of course if they cause health hazards to the general public, they can be prosecuted under other ordinances. I am sure that after we have advised them what to do, they will do the disinfestation more carefully. As to why they are not controlled under the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws, I am afraid I do not have any information to give a reply off hand. I will give a detailed reply to Mr. Ma after getting the relevant information. CHAIRMAN (in English):-Perhaps, as a retired godown keeper, I had a great deal of experience in storing rice when I was in my previous business and I can assure you that it certainly didn't come under the Urban Council. It is really up to the godown keeper himself to ensure that his stocks of rice were kept in good order and condition, otherwise the crop became unsaleable. But, Mr. Ma, we can take advice in due course from my legal adviser and the DUS about whether it is necessary to exercise an expanded control over this particular item. DR. STAN CHEUNG TSANG-KAY (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I ask a supplementary question. If the Department was called upon to do the job in short notice and was it an extraordinary job? I want to know whether we charged them and if yes, how much we charged them for this particular, unusual and short notice service? MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I don't think we did charge them. It was a purely accidental case. If we find that there are rubbish and environmental problems at a particular place, we will immediately clear them without charging anyone.

2026-05-15 18:36:16 · Baseline

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Page 89 of 166

166

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

such storages and measures taken by the Department in an incident in the Western District on 31 October.

The Department's staff were not aware of the incident until the morning of 1 November. All the dead cockroaches in the streets were immediately cleared and the surrounding arcas washed down. The owner of the warehouse was advised that in future, before any disinfestation was carried out, all crevices and holes of the premises should be effectively sealed off to prevent the escape of the insects and to immediately clear all dead insects outside and inside the premises. He was also asked to inform the Department when future disinfestation took place in his warehouse so that the sitation might be monitored by our pest control staff. Similar advice will be extended to other rice warehouses.

MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman, from the reply given by Mr. TONG, does it mean that in applying insecticide, if it is applied differently it might affect the rice? If that is the case, could the Department advise the owners of such storages on the correct application of such insecticide? Secondly, it seems from the reply that the Department had not prosecuted the rice warehouse. Normally a litter offender is prosecuted. Since this warehouse had created a lot of nuisance, I think it is unfair not to prosecute it.

MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, as I said we had already sent notices to the owner of the warehouse asking him when future disinfestation took place, he should inform the Department, so that the

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

167

situation might be monitored by our Department's staff. We also advise owners of the warehouses on how to use these insecticide carefully and correctly. As regards the cockroaches escaped into the street, it is due to the fact that the crevices are not sealed off and they have been advised to do so in the future. This incident is an isolated case. The cockroaches have been cleared and no prosecution will be taken.

MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):----Mr. Chairman, on a point of clarification, it is said that similar advices will be issued to other rice warehouses owners before the disinfestation is to take place, they should inform the Department. Is this optional or is this mandatory? If it is not mandatory, how can we guarantee that no such incident will recur in the future? Secondly, I really wonder why such premises are not under our control because rice warehouses have definitely something to do with hygiene and cleanliness. If they are not controlled by the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws, how are they controlled in order to make sure that everything is hygienic?

MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I said we only try to persuade the owners as rice warehouse is not a food business and therefore such premises are not under the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws. They do not need a licence from the Urban Council. Of course if they cause health hazards to the general public, they can be prosecuted under other ordinances. I am sure that after we have advised them what to do, they will do the disinfestation more carefully. As to why they are not controlled under the Food Business (Urban Council) By-laws, I am afraid I do not have any information to give a reply off hand. I will give a detailed reply to Mr. Ma after getting the relevant information.

CHAIRMAN (in English):-Perhaps, as a retired godown keeper, I had a great deal of experience in storing rice when I was in my previous business and I can assure you that it certainly didn't come under the Urban Council. It is really up to the godown keeper himself to ensure that his stocks of rice were kept in good order and condition, otherwise the crop became unsaleable. But, Mr. Ma, we can take advice in due course from my legal adviser and the DUS about whether it is necessary to exercise an expanded control over this particular item.

DR. STAN CHEUNG TSANG-KAY (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I ask a supplementary question. If the Department was called upon to do the job in short notice and was it an extraordinary job? I want to know whether we charged them and if yes, how much we charged them for this particular, unusual and short notice service?

MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I don't think we did charge them. It was a purely accidental case. If we find that there are rubbish and environmental problems at a particular place, we will immediately clear them without charging anyone.

1989 — Page 89

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