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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL ADDRESS BY CHAIRMANCHAIRMAN (in English): Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
Before taking the first item on the agenda, I would like to congratulate Mr. Frederick FUNG, Dr. Samuel WONG, Mr. Marvin CHEUNG, Mr. MAN Sai-cheong and Mr. Li Wah-ming and again to Dr. Elsie Tu on being elected/appointed to the Legislative Council.
MINUTESThe minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 1991, were confirmed.
PAPERSThe 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 1991.
QUESTIONS1. MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):-I have received a complaint about dogs excrement, waste products and dirty environment generally, on the way to the MTR along the Main Street East, Shau Kei Wan at the junction to the road to Chai Wan and Tung Hei Road. Could I be informed how many times per day this area is swept and, whether anything can be done to improve the dirty conditions, especially in Tung Hei Road?
MR. PAO PING-WING, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the cleansing and environmental condition of Shau Kei Wan Main Street East and Tung Hei Road.
Shau Kei Wan Main Street East is swept four times daily. Litter containers are provided at various convenient locations along the street for use by pedestrians. Tung Hei Road is relatively new, having only been gazetted in June this year. Since there are no residential buildings to date and the road is rarely frequented by pedestrians, cleanliness is being maintained by a cleansing gang three times a week. In addition to street sweeping, both roads are subject to regular street washing by specialist vehicles. The Department considers that the standard of cleanliness being maintained in both streets is generally satisfactory.
To deter littering and dog fouling in this locality, staff of the department regularly carry out patrols with a view to taking enforcement action against litterbugs and irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to foul the street. During the past three months, 16 prosecutions have been taken out against offenders in the vicinity of Shau Kei Wan Main Street East.
The department will continue to monitor the condition in these streets to ensure that they are kept clean.
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, is it possible for the street, Tung Hei Road, to be swept at least once a day and not just three times a week?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I have just explained the present situation in Tung Hei Road, which is a new road. As for the future situation, I think it depends on the population development. But in any case, plans are in hand to seek additional staff to perform beat sweeping twice daily in Tung Hei Road as suggested by Mr. BERNACCHI.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a supplementary question concerning dogs excrement on the street. Actually this is not the first time I asked this question and at the last meeting, the question was raised and I asked whether the USD had any plans to change the shift duty schedule of staff so that they would be able to take more effective enforcement actions against dog owners who allowed their dogs to foul the streets. I wonder whether the USD has plans to lengthen the working hours of staff so that more frequent patrols and prosecutions can be taken?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, as mentioned by Mr. WONG, we have in fact discussed this question at the last Open Meeting and Public Health Select Committee meeting. At the last meeting, many colleagues have already expressed a lot of views which are now being studied by the USD. Once the studies have been finalized, the issue will be discussed at the Select Committee. By that time, Mr. WONG can participate in the discussion to see whether new measures can be introduced or not.
2. MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):- Recently, illegal hawking, both in the vicinity of the Yu Wan Market and on the flyovers at Chai Wan have been increasing, particularly after the GD Teams go off duty. Can anything be done to alleviate this position?
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This question concerns illegal hawking in the vicinity of Yue Wan Market and the footbridge between Wan Tsui Estate and Chai Wan MTR Station. These are popular locations where illegal hawkers congregate and thus the Department already accords high priority in its efforts to deter such activities and to control the situation as far as possible. Since experience shows that the problem is potentially greater during morning marketing hours, two GDT squads are on constant patrol in the vicinity of the Yue Wan Market and the footbridge during this period of the day to ensure uninterrupted enforcement presence. In the afternoon, on other hand, enforcement is usually by way of mobile raiding squads, whose members take necessary action including arrests before moving on to cover other areas. However, this daily deployment strategy is flexible and is subject to constant adjustment in the light of the prevailing situation and the availability of resources. Furthermore, these arrangements are regularly supplemented by joint USD/Police operations in the vicinity.
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In the absence of GDT coverage, up to 15 illegal hawkers will usually attempt to trade at these two locations. However, whereas the area outside Yue Wan Market is usually fairly quiet after 8.00 p.m. at night, the footbridge continues to be relatively busy in the evening hours, thus necessitating that special GDT operations be mounted periodically at night to deter evening hawking.
During the past six months, 329 arrests and 138 seizures have been made outside Yue Wan Market, and 155 arrests and 27 seizures on the footbridge. Eastern is a very large district and, for this reason alone, has a wide diversity of hawker problems which need constant attention. In this perspective, the Department is doing its best within available resources to keep hawking activities at these two locations under close control and there is no evidence to indicate that the overall situation is deteriorating in this vicinity.
Nevertheless, the Department assures me that they will make every effort to contain and, as far as is practicable, further improve the hawker situation in this area. Should the situation deteriorate, the Department would review the present tactics again and redeploy the GDT squads to deal with the changing ground situation. Resources permitting, special raidings and joint operations with the Police will be increased so as to put the situation under control.
(Messrs. Ambrose W. S. CHEUNG and Albert S. K. POON arrived at 2.38 p.m. and 2.39 p.m. respectively.)
3. MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the de-odorising system for Refuse Collection Points (RCP):
In the Committee Paper (CW/71/91) of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council dated 3 September 1991, it is stated that 'Since the installation of the first Carbon Filtration System (CFS) in the Spring Garden Lane RCP in 1981, there has not been any adverse report on its effectiveness. Neither has there been any complaint on the CFS facilities installed in other RCPs.'
The Yau Tsim District Board has complained on 16 June 1989, 22 June 1990 and 14 June 1991 that the CFS in the Battery Street RCP has not been functioning effectively, thus giving rise to serious air pollution problem in the vicinity of Battery Street and affecting the living environment of the residents.
Therefore, I would like to ask the Council:
(a) To clarify whether the CFS in the Battery Street RCP is functioning effectively; and
(b) What measures have been or will be taken to improve the CFS installed in the RCP at Battery Street?
MR. PAO PING-WING, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the effectiveness of the de-odorising system for the Refuse Collection Point at Battery Street.
The Activated Carbon Filtration System or ACFS, which de-odorises this RCP has recently been checked by staff of the Department and has been found...
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN (in English): Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
Before taking the first item on the agenda, I would like to congratulate Mr. Frederick FUNG, Dr. Samuel WONG, Mr. Marvin CHEUNG, Mr. MAN Sai-cheong and Mr. Li Wah-ming and again to Dr. Elsie Tu on being elected/appointed to the Legislative Council.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 1991, were confirmed.
PAPERS
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 1991.
QUESTIONS
1. MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):-I have received a complaint about dogs excrement, waste products and dirty environment generally, on the way to the MTR along the Main Street East, Shau Kei Wan at the junction to the road to Chai Wan and Tung Hei Road. Could I be informed how many times per day this area is swept and, whether anything can be done to improve the dirty conditions, especially in Tung Hei Road?
MR. PAO PING-WING, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the cleansing and environmental condition of Shau Kei Wan Main Street East and Tung Hei Road.
Shau Kei Wan Main Street East is swept four times daily. Litter containers are provided at various convenient locations along the street for use by pedestrians. Tung Hei Road is relatively new, having only been gazetted in June this year. Since there are no residential buildings to date and the road is rarely frequented by pedestrians, cleanliness is being maintained by a cleansing gang three times a week. In addition to street sweeping, both roads are subject to regular street washing by specialist vehicles. The Department considers that the standard of cleanliness being maintained in both streets is generally satisfactory.
To deter littering and dog fouling in this locality, staff of the department regularly carry out patrols with a view to taking enforcement action against litterbugs and irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to foul the street. During the past three months, 16 prosecutions have been taken out against offenders in the vicinity of Shau Kei Wan Main Street East.
The department will continue to monitor the condition in these streets to ensure that they are kept clean.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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MR. B. A. BERNACCHI (in English):-Mr. Chairman, is it possible for the street, Tung Hei Road, to be swept at least once a day and not just three times a week?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):--Mr. Chairman, I have just explained the present situation in Tung Hei Road, which is a new road. As for the future situation, I think it depends on the population development. But in any case, plans are in hand to seek additional staff to perform beat sweeping twice daily in Tung Hei Road as suggested by Mr. BERNACCHI.
MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a supplementary question concerning dogs excrement on the street. Actually this is not the first time I asked this question and at the last meeting, the question was raised and I asked whether the USD had any plans to change the shift duty schedule of staff so that they would be able to take more effective enforcement actions against dog owners who allowed their dogs to foul the streets. I wonder whether the USD has plans to lengthen the working hours of staff so that more frequent patrols and prosecutions can be taken?
MR. PAO PING-WING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, as mentioned by Mr. WONG, we have in fact discussed this question at the last Open Meeting and Public Health Select Committee meeting. At the last meeting, many colleagues have already expressed a lot of views which are now being studied by the USD. Once the studies have been finalized, the issue will be discussed at the Select Committee. By that time, Mr. WONG can participate in the discussion to see whether new measures can be introduced or not.
2. MR. B. A. BERNACCHI asked the following question (in English):- Recently, illegal hawking, both in the vicinity of the Yu Wan Market and on the flyovers at Chai Wan have been increasing, particularly after the GD Teams go off duty. Can anything be done to alleviate this position?
MR. CHAN TAK-CHOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese): This question concerns illegal hawking in the vicinity of Yue Wan Market and the footbridge between Wan Tsui Estate and Chai Wan MTR Station. These are popular locations where illegal hawkers congregate and thus the Department already accords high priority in its efforts to deter such activities and to control the situation as far as possible. Since experience shows that the problem is potentially greater during morning marketing hours, two GDT squads are on constant patrol in the vicinity of the Yue Wan Market and the footbridge during this period of the day to ensure uninterrupted enforcement presence. In the afternoon, on other hand, enforcement is usually by way of mobile raiding squads, whose members take necessary action including arrests before moving on to cover other areas. However, this daily deployment strategy is flexible and is subject to constant adjustment in the light of the prevailing situation and the availability of resources. Furthermore, these arrangements are regularly supplemented by joint USD/Police operations in the vicinity.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
In the absence of GDT coverage, up to 15 illegal hawkers will usually attempt to trade at these two locations. However, whereas the area outside Yue Wan Market is usually fairly quiet after 8.00 p.m. at night, the footbridge continues to be relatively busy in the evening hours, thus necessitating that special GDT operations be mounted periodically at night to deter evening hawking.
During the past six months, 329 arrests and 138 seizures have been made outside Yue Wan Market, and 155 arrests and 27 seizures on the footbridge. Eastern is a very large district and, for this reason alone, has a wide diversity of hawker problems which need constant attention. In this perspective, the Department is doing its best within available resources to keep hawking activities at these two locations under close control and there is no evidence to indicate that the overall situation is deteriorating in this vicinity.
Nevertheless, the Department assures me that they will make every effort to contain and, as far as is practicable, further improve the hawker situation in this area. Should the situation deteriorate, the Department would review the present tactics again and redeploy the GDT squads to deal with the changing ground situation. Resources permitting, special raidings and joint operations with the Police will be increased so as to put the situation under control.
(Messrs. Ambrose W. S. CHEUNG and Albert S. K. POON arrived
at 2.38 p.m. and 2.39 p.m. respectively.)
3. MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the de-odorising system for Refuse Collection Points (RCP):
In the Committee Paper (CW/71/91) of the Standing Committee of the Whole Council dated 3 September 1991, it is stated that 'Since the installation of the first Carbon Filtration System (CFS) in the Spring Garden Lane RCP in 1981, there has not been any adverse report on its effectiveness. Neither has there been any complaint on the CFS facilities installed in other RCPs.'
The Yau Tsim District Board has complained on 16 June 1989, 22 June 1990 and 14 June 1991 that the CFS in the Battery Street RCP has not been functioning effectively, thus giving rise to serious air pollution problem in the vicinity of Battery Street and affecting the living environment of the residents.
Therefore, I would like to ask the Council:
(a) To clarify whether the CFS in the Battery Street RCP is functioning
effectively; and
(b) What measures have been or will be taken to improve the CFS installed in the
RCP at Battery Street?
MR. PAO PING-WING, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-This question concerns the effectiveness of the de-odorising system for the Refuse Collection Point at Battery Street.
The Activated Carbon Filtration System or ACFS, which de-odorises this RCP has recently been checked by staff of the Department and has been found
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