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(4) As regards the poor ventilation problem of the Market that has existed so long, is there any long-term and basic solution? Is it possible to install air-conditioning system there?
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE (in English):—Mr. Chairman, this question, which comprises four parts, concerns the Cheung Sha Wan Cooked Food Market and the standard of facilities for cooked food markets in general.
The site on which the Cheung Sha Wan Cooked Food Market is situated is allocated to the Council on a temporary basis until mid-1992. There is currently no plan to resite the cooked food market, as a viable permanent site is still being identified.
Generally, permanent cooked food centres are included in Council Complexes. They are provided with electricity, gas and water supply, drainage and exhaust system, toilet facilities, easy-to-clean wall and floor surface, large food preparation and scullery spaces etc. Such centres normally rely on natural ventilation, but exceptionally this may be assisted by mechanical ventilation depending on the circumstances of each case.
As regards the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Cooked Food Market, regular facilities such as electricity and water supply, drainage and ventilation system, public toilet and refuse collection facilities, are provided to meet hygiene and operational requirements. Various improvements have been made to the market since 1985: these include the widening of entrances to attract more customers; the upgrading of electricity supply to facilitate the use of more electrical appliances; and the installation of 23 large exhaust fans on the high level louvres to extract fumes and hot air. In June last year, 8 oscillating fans were installed. Action is being taken to install another 14 ceiling fans in the common passageways in the market to further improve ventilation. Upon the completion of the installation of the 14 ceiling fans around May this year, the Department will assess the overall adequacy of ventilation in the market.
The Department is considering the provision of air-conditioning for permanent cooked food centres as a matter of general policy. Initially, two centres will be air-conditioned as a pilot scheme. As for temporary cooked food markets, it is not cost-effective to do so and there is at present no plan to get them air-conditioned.
MR. MA LEE-WO (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, it is quite difficult to understand why it is still called a temporary cooked food centre that has been in existence for 10 years. If a worker has been working in a factory for 10 years, he will be eligible for long service payment already. As regards the site, it is due to expire in 1992. I would like to know when the Department will consider the future development of the market? In the reply given by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, I am told that there is no plan to resite the market but a permanent site is still being identified. Will the market be resited or not? As 1992 is about 2 years from now
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and the stall holders of the market have to be moved elsewhere, they have to make a lot of preparations. I would like the Department to make a quick decision on the future development of the market, so the stall holders can be well informed beforehand and they can make their necessary preparations. My next question is about the ventilation system. I remember in the past we had installed similar fans and no improvements were made. So I really doubt whether the 14 additional fans will be able to improve the situation. Can we review the overall ventilation system first before installing the 14 additional fans?
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, in regard to the last point made by Mr. Ma, it is suggested it be passed on to the Department for consideration and follow up. In regard to first point, as Members are aware, temporary facilities such as this may last for 2 years or may last for 20 years and all depend on the individual centre concerned. However, speaking on this particular one, I mentioned in my reply that the market is on a temporary basis until mid-1992 and Mr. Ma has my assurance that the Select Committee will ask the Department to look into the situation further and see what are the possibilities for the future. As I have already said the Department is actively seeking to find a viable permanent site, but so far a site has not yet been identified. I would like to assure him that the Department will continue to look around to find something that is suitable.
CHAIRMAN (in English):—Most of us with long memory of Kowloon will recall the temporary post office in Tsim Sha Tsui, built pre-war, which had lasted for some 50 years.
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I think ventilation is public health related. I am interested that Mr. MA is from Sham Shui Po and I think he must know his area very well. Even after installation of the 10 wall-mounted fans, last summer, the condition was not improved. My question is: the proposal from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department was turned down because of the high cost, I would like to know the cost and what is considered as cost? And I think we should make a proper balance before we turn down their proposal instead of installing simple exhaust system which may eventually prove to be ineffective at the end.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am sure the Select Committee will look into the point raised by Dr. LEUNG. But as I also said we have to review what are the future plans for this temporary market from mid-1992 onwards.
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, as regards this cooked food centre, according to the information available, proper and standard facilities were installed and we haven't identified a suitable site for relocation. Actually we have tried a lot of improvement measures for many times already. So can we consider what are meant by proper and standard facilities? I recall that I had
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Page 9 of 95
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(4) As regards the poor ventilation problem of the Market that has existed so long, is there any long-term and basic solution? Is it possible to install air-conditioning system there?
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE (in English):-Mr. Chairman, this question, which comprises four parts, concerns the Cheung Sha Wan Cooked Food Market and the standard of facilities for cooked food markets in general.
The site on which the Cheung Sha Wan Cooked Food Market is situated is allocated to the Council on a temporary basis until mid-1992. There is currently no plan to resite the cooked food market, as a viable permanent site is still being identified.
Generally, permanent cooked food centres are included in Council Complexes. They are provided with electricity, gas and water supply, drainage and exhaust system, toilet facilities, easy-to-clean wall and floor surface, large food preparation and scullery spaces etc. Such centres normally rely on natural ventilation, but exceptionally this may be assisted by mechanical ventilation depending on the circumstances of each case.
As regards the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Cooked Food Market, regular facilities such as electricity and water supply, drainage and ventilation system, public toilet and refuse collection facilities, are provided to meet hygiene and operational requirements. Various improvements have been made to the market since 1985: these include the widening of entrances to attract more customers; the upgrading of electricity supply to facilitate the use of more electrical appliances; and the installation of 23 large exhaust fans on the high level louvres to extract fumes and hot air. In June last year, 8 oscillating fans were installed. Action is being taken to install another 14 ceiling fans in the common passageways in the market to further improve ventilation. Upon the completion of the installation of the 14 ceiling fans around May this year, the Department will assess the overall adequacy of ventilation in the market.
The Department is considering the provision of air-conditioning for permanent cooked food centres as a matter of general policy. Initially, two centres will be air-conditioned as a pilot scheme. As for temporary cooked food markets, it is not cost-effective to do so and there is at present no plan to get them air-conditioned.
MR. MA LEE-Wo (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, it is quite difficult to understand why it is still called a temporary cooked food centre that has been in existence for 10 years. If a worker has been working in a factory for 10 years, he will be eligible for long service payment already. As regards the site, it is due to expire in 1992. I would like to know when the Department will consider the future development of the market? In the reply given by Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, I am told that there is no plan to resite the market but a permanent site is still being identified. Will the market be resited or not? As 1992 is about 2 years from now
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and the stall holders of the market have to be moved elsewhere, they have to make a lot of preparations. I would like the Department to make a quick decision on the future development of the market, so the stall holders can be well informed beforehand and they can make their necessary preparations. My next question is about the ventilation system. I remember in the past we had installed similar fans and no improvements were made. So I really doubt whether the 14 additional fans will be able to improve the situation. Can we review the overall ventilation system first before installing the 14 additional fans?
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):-Mr. Chairman, in regard to the last point made by Mr. Ma, it is suggested it be passed on to the Department for consideration and follow up. In regard to first point, as Members are aware, temporary facilities such as this may last for 2 years or may last for 20 years and all depend on the individual centre concerned. However, speaking on this particular one, I mentioned in my reply that the market is on a temporary basis until mid-1992 and Mr. Ma has my assurance that the Select Committee will ask the Department to look into the situation further and see what are the possibilities for the future. As I have already said the Department is actively seeking to find a viable permanent site, but so far a site has not yet been identified. I would like to assure him that the Department will continue to look around to find something that is suitable.
CHAIRMAN (in English):-Most of us with long memory of Kowloon will recall the temporary post office in Tsim Sha Tsui, built pre-war, which had lasted for some 50 years.
DR. RONALD D. B. LEUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I think ventilation is public health related. I am interested that Mr. MA is from Sham Shui Po and I think he must know his area very well. Even after installation of the 10 wall-mounted fans, last summer, the condition was not improved. My question is: the proposal from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department was turned down because of the high cost, I would like to know the cost and what is considered as cost? And I think we should make a proper balance before we turn down their proposal instead of installing simple exhaust system which may eventually prove to be ineffective at the end.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am sure the Select Committee will look into the point raised by Dr. LEUNG. But as I also said we have to review what are the future plans for this temporary market from mid-1992 onwards.
MR. TONG KAM-BIU (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, as regards this cooked food centre, according to the information available, proper and standard facilities were installed and we haven't identified a suitable site for relocation. Actually we have tried a lot of improvement measures for many times already. So can we consider what are meant by proper and standard facilities? I recall that I had
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