1993 — Page 127

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 127 of 132

249

248

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

At present the Urban Council operates 100 purpose-built RCPs and 101 temporary RCPs. They are strategically located such that the great majority of the residents have access to a RCP within a radius of 550m. In densely populated areas, the Department uses its best endeavours to provide one RCP per 20,000 population.

Operating hours of RCPs range from 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. Operating hours are adjusted to suit local conditions and are regularly reviewed and, if needed, will be changed. The problem is that many residents in old tenement buildings often do not employ private refuse collectors and seldom bring their waste to RCPs. Instead, some residents dump their waste at nearby on-street litter containers after dark and usually late at night. When the litter containers are full, they simply deposit their domestic refuse on the ground. This irresponsible behaviour happens irrespective of whether there are often conveniently located RCPs nearby or not.

To tackle the problem, the Department will step up action against people dumping refuse around litter containers. The Department said that two years ago when I first became a Councillor. The Department is still saying it today. In addition, the Department operates two special refuse collection routes to empty the litter containers at black spots and clear any overflow deposits after midnight. This ensures that such refuse accumulated in the street is removed during the early morning hours prior to the normal street sweeping service which starts around 7 o'clock in the morning.

Eradication of rodent infestation depends very much upon the cooperation of the public. Indiscriminate dumping of refuse and food remnants not only causes sanitary nuisances but also encourages rodent infestation. Having said that, there are no indications, however, that Hong Kong's rodent population is any greater than any other city of comparable size. With the cooperation of members of the public, the Department will endeavour to keep our streets clean and in this way reduce the breeding ground for rats.

MR. JUSTIN WONG (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Young's question is in relation to the spilling over at litter bins. Actually, there must be a demand before such a phenomenon happens. Perhaps we should place more litter bins at black spots for people. We must place emphasis on the supply side. Have we considered providing bigger and wider litter containers so that there won't be overflowing of refuse? The current ones may be too small and so if they are big enough, people will be able to deposit their refuse properly and there won't be any spill over.

PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese): There should be three reasons for residents to deposit refuse near litter containers: (1) the number is insufficient, (2) the size is too small, and (3) there are difficulties in prosecution. The Department is actually working on it already. First, to increase the number; secondly, increasing the size, and actually ever since last year, the sizes of litter bins have been increased. Thirdly, in relation to prosecution, the results are rather disappointing. Because up to now, the figures are rather low and we do not have any specific statistics of prosecution to show people depositing refuse indiscriminately in the vicinity of litter bins. I hope that the Department can take note of Members' comments and make further improvement in this regard.

MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese): To follow up on the fourth point, i.e., the Department will step up action against people dumping domestic waste around litter containers. Could we be informed what specific measures have been taken in order to prevent people from dumping refuse indiscriminately? And the next point is: does the Department know there is another factor leading to rodent infestation? This has been either ignored deliberately or due to some oversight. In fact, the import of food is by sea or by land. I am talking in particular about food coming by sea. Very often, the ships are infested by rodents and then they come on land after the ships arrive at the harbour. Very often, we can notice this at waterfront areas. I wonder if the Department has paid attention to this and has taken appropriate action accordingly?

PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. WONG has got two questions. First, prosecution of people dumping refuse around litter containers. As I have said, the Department does not have any specific statistics in this regard. In other words, they have only got general statistics in relation to littering. In 1993, there were 26,000 cases. Some of them related to dumping refuse around litter containers. So it might be difficult for us to come up with specific statistics. The Department is also doing something. The rodent control staff will visit all RCPs once every day to make sure that pests are kept under proper control. It appears that something has been done, but of course, these measures have not been totally effective. As I have told Members before, the Department will continue to monitor the situation and improve the condition. As regards rodents imported to Hong Kong, of course, the Department of Health, the Pest Control Section, and also the Port Health Office control the import of goods, including the normal ones and the abnormal passengers. I believe that the imported rodents only take up a very small percentage. In other words, most of our rats are locals.

MISS CECILIA YEUNG LAI-YIN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in relation to litter containers, I think that we need to step up educating the public as well because prosecution does not appear to be totally effective. Some people simply deposit their domestic waste inside or outside the litter containers for convenience's sake. Our litter containers are definitely not able to take up so many cartons. So perhaps we have neglected this point. In other words, litter containers, in fact, are merely for depositing small refuse such as tissue papers, and they are not catered for big cartons. As for rats, I wonder if we need to have a Rats Immigration Department to deal with that?

Page 127 of 132

Edit History

2026-05-15 22:08:42 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct

Live

View comparison

AI Proofread

Page 127 of 132 249 248 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL At present the Urban Council operates 100 purpose-built RCPs and 101 temporary RCPs. They are strategically located such that the great majority of the residents have access to a RCP within a radius of 550m. In densely populated areas, the Department uses its best endeavours to provide one RCP per 20,000 population. Operating hours of RCPs range from 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. Operating hours are adjusted to suit local conditions and are regularly reviewed and, if needed, will be changed. The problem is that many residents in old tenement buildings often do not employ private refuse collectors and seldom bring their waste to RCPs. Instead, some residents dump their waste at nearby on-street litter containers after dark and usually late at night. When the litter containers are full, they simply deposit their domestic refuse on the ground. This irresponsible behaviour happens irrespective of whether there are often conveniently located RCPs nearby or not. To tackle the problem, the Department will step up action against people dumping refuse around litter containers. The Department said that two years ago when I first became a Councillor. The Department is still saying it today. In addition, the Department operates two special refuse collection routes to empty the litter containers at black spots and clear any overflow deposits after midnight. This ensures that such refuse accumulated in the street is removed during the early morning hours prior to the normal street sweeping service which starts around 7 o'clock in the morning. Eradication of rodent infestation depends very much upon the cooperation of the public. Indiscriminate dumping of refuse and food remnants not only causes sanitary nuisances but also encourages rodent infestation. Having said that, there are no indications, however, that Hong Kong's rodent population is any greater than any other city of comparable size. With the cooperation of members of the public, the Department will endeavour to keep our streets clean and in this way reduce the breeding ground for rats. MR. JUSTIN WONG (in Cantonese): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Young's question is in relation to the spilling over at litter bins. Actually, there must be a demand before such a phenomenon happens. Perhaps we should place more litter bins at black spots for people. We must place emphasis on the supply side. Have we considered providing bigger and wider litter containers so that there won't be overflowing of refuse? The current ones may be too small and so if they are big enough, people will be able to deposit their refuse properly and there won't be any spill over. PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese): There should be three reasons for residents to deposit refuse near litter containers: (1) the number is insufficient, (2) the size is too small, and (3) there are difficulties in prosecution. The Department is actually working on it already. First, to increase the number; secondly, increasing the size, and actually ever since last year, the sizes of litter bins have been increased. Thirdly, in relation to prosecution, the results are rather disappointing. Because up to now, the figures are rather low and we do not have any specific statistics of prosecution to show people depositing refuse indiscriminately in the vicinity of litter bins. I hope that the Department can take note of Members' comments and make further improvement in this regard. MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese): To follow up on the fourth point, i.e., the Department will step up action against people dumping domestic waste around litter containers. Could we be informed what specific measures have been taken in order to prevent people from dumping refuse indiscriminately? And the next point is: does the Department know there is another factor leading to rodent infestation? This has been either ignored deliberately or due to some oversight. In fact, the import of food is by sea or by land. I am talking in particular about food coming by sea. Very often, the ships are infested by rodents and then they come on land after the ships arrive at the harbour. Very often, we can notice this at waterfront areas. I wonder if the Department has paid attention to this and has taken appropriate action accordingly? PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. WONG has got two questions. First, prosecution of people dumping refuse around litter containers. As I have said, the Department does not have any specific statistics in this regard. In other words, they have only got general statistics in relation to littering. In 1993, there were 26,000 cases. Some of them related to dumping refuse around litter containers. So it might be difficult for us to come up with specific statistics. The Department is also doing something. The rodent control staff will visit all RCPs once every day to make sure that pests are kept under proper control. It appears that something has been done, but of course, these measures have not been totally effective. As I have told Members before, the Department will continue to monitor the situation and improve the condition. As regards rodents imported to Hong Kong, of course, the Department of Health, the Pest Control Section, and also the Port Health Office control the import of goods, including the normal ones and the abnormal passengers. I believe that the imported rodents only take up a very small percentage. In other words, most of our rats are locals. MISS CECILIA YEUNG LAI-YIN (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, in relation to litter containers, I think that we need to step up educating the public as well because prosecution does not appear to be totally effective. Some people simply deposit their domestic waste inside or outside the litter containers for convenience's sake. Our litter containers are definitely not able to take up so many cartons. So perhaps we have neglected this point. In other words, litter containers, in fact, are merely for depositing small refuse such as tissue papers, and they are not catered for big cartons. As for rats, I wonder if we need to have a Rats Immigration Department to deal with that? Page 127 of 132 Page 127 of 132

Baseline (Original)

Page 127 of 132 Page 127 of 132 249 248 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL At present the Urban Council operates 100 purpose-built RCPs and 101 temporary RCPs. They are strategically located such that the great majority of the residents have access to a RCP within a radius of 550m. In densely populated areas, the Department uses its best endeavours to provide one RCP per 20 000 population. Operating hours of RCPs range from 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. Operating hours are adjusted to suit local conditions and are regularly reviewed and, if needed will be changed. The problem is that many residents in old tenement buildings often do not employ private refuse collectors and seldom bring their waste to RCPs. Instead, some residents dump their waste at nearby on-street litter containers after dark and usually late at night. When the litter containers are full, they simply deposit their domestic refuse on the ground. This irresponsible behaviour happens irrespective of whether there are often conveniently located RCPs near by or not. To tackle the problem, the Department will step up action against people dumping refuse around litter containers. The Department said that two years ago when I first became a Councillor. The Department is still saying it today. In addition, the Department operates two special refuse collection routes to empty the litter containers at black spots and clear any overflow deposits after mid-night. This ensures that such refuse accumulated in the street is removed during the early morning hours prior to the normal street sweeping service which starts around 7 o'clock in the morning. Eradication of rodent infestation depends very much upon the cooperation of the public. Indiscriminate dumping of refuse and food remnants not only causes sanitary nuisances but also encourages rodent infestation. Having said that there are no indications, however, that Hong Kong rodent population is any greater than any other city of comparable size. With the co-operation of members of the public, the Department will endeavour to keep our streets clean and in this way reduce the breading ground for rats. MR. JUSTEIN WONG (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Young's question is in relation to the spilling over at litter bins. Actually there must be a demand before such a phenomenon happens. Perhaps we should place more litter bins at black spots for people. We must place emphasis on the supply side. Have we considered providing bigger and wider litter containers so that there won't be overflowing of refuse? The current ones may be too small and so if they are big enough, people will be able to deposit their refuse properly and there won't be any spill over. PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese): There should be three reasons for residents to deposit refuse near litter containers: (1) the number is insufficient (2) the size is too small and (3) there are difficulties in prosecution. The Department actually is working on it already. First, to increase the number, secondly, increasing the size and actually ever since last year, the sizes Page 127 of 132 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL of litter bins have been increased. Thirdly, in relation to prosecution, the results are rather disappointing. Because up to now the figures are rather low and we do not have any specific statistics of prosecution to show people depositing refuse indiscriminately in the vicinity of litter bins. I hope that the Department can take note of Members' comments and make further improvement in this regard. MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):-To follow up on the fourth point, i.e. the Department will step up action against people dumping domestic waste around litter containers. Could we be informed what specific measures have been taken in order to prevent people from dumping refuse indiscriminately. And the next point is: does the Department know there is another factor leading to rodent infestation? This has been either ignored deliberately or due to some oversight. In fact, import of food is by sea or by land. I am talking in particular about food coming by sea. Very often the ships are infested by rodent and then they come on land after the ships arrive at the harbour. Very often we can notice this at water front areas. I wonder if the Department has paid attention to this and has taken appropriate action accordingly? PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. WONG has got two questions. First, prosecution of people dumping refuse around litter containers. As I have said, the Department does not have any specific statistics in this regard. In other words, they have only got general statistics in relation to littering. In 1993, there were 26 000 cases. Some of them related to dumping refuse around litter containers. So it might be difficult for us to come up with specific statistics. The Department is also doing something. The rodent control staff will visit all RCPs once everyday in order to make sure that pest is kept under proper control. It appears that something has been done but of course these measures have not been totally effective. As I have told Members before, the Department will continue to monitor the situation and improve the condition. As regards rodents imported to Hong Kong, of course the Department of Health, the Pest Control Section and also the Port Health Office control the import of goods including the normal one and the abnormal passengers. I believe that the imported rodents only take up a very small percentage. In other words, most of our rats are locals. MISS CECILIA YEUNG LAI-YIN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, in relation to litter containers, I think that we need to step up educating the public as well because prosecution does not appear to be totally effective. Some people simply deposit their domestic waste inside or outside the litter containers for convenience sake. Our litter containers are definitely not able to take up so many cartons. So perhaps we have neglected this point. In other words, litter containers in fact are merely for deposit of small refuse such as tissue papers and they are not catered for big cartons. As for rats, I wonder if we need to have a Rats Immigration Department to deal with that? Page 127 of 132

2026-05-15 22:08:42 · Baseline

View content

Page 127 of 132

249

248

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

Operating hours of RCPs range from 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m. Operating hours are adjusted to suit local conditions and are regularly reviewed and, if needed will be changed. The problem is that many residents in old tenement buildings often do not employ private refuse collectors and seldom bring their waste to RCPs. Instead, some residents dump their waste at nearby on-street litter containers after dark and usually late at night. When the litter containers are full, they simply deposit their domestic refuse on the ground. This irresponsible behaviour happens irrespective of whether there are often conveniently located RCPs near by or not.

To tackle the problem, the Department will step up action against people dumping refuse around litter containers. The Department said that two years ago when I first became a Councillor. The Department is still saying it today. In addition, the Department operates two special refuse collection routes to empty the litter containers at black spots and clear any overflow deposits after mid-night. This ensures that such refuse accumulated in the street is removed during the early morning hours prior to the normal street sweeping service which starts around 7 o'clock in the morning.

Eradication of rodent infestation depends very much upon the cooperation of the public. Indiscriminate dumping of refuse and food remnants not only causes sanitary nuisances but also encourages rodent infestation. Having said that there are no indications, however, that Hong Kong rodent population is any greater than any other city of comparable size. With the co-operation of members of the public, the Department will endeavour to keep our streets clean and in this way reduce the breading ground for rats.

MR. JUSTEIN WONG (in Cantonese):-Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Young's question is in relation to the spilling over at litter bins. Actually there must be a demand before such a phenomenon happens. Perhaps we should place more litter bins at black spots for people. We must place emphasis on the supply side. Have we considered providing bigger and wider litter containers so that there won't be overflowing of refuse? The current ones may be too small and so if they are big enough, people will be able to deposit their refuse properly and there won't be any spill over.

PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese): There should be three reasons for residents to deposit refuse near litter containers: (1) the number is insufficient (2) the size is too small and (3) there are difficulties in prosecution. The Department actually is working on it already. First, to increase the number, secondly, increasing the size and actually ever since last year, the sizes

Page 127 of 132

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

of litter bins have been increased. Thirdly, in relation to prosecution, the results are rather disappointing. Because up to now the figures are rather low and we do not have any specific statistics of prosecution to show people depositing refuse indiscriminately in the vicinity of litter bins. I hope that the Department can take note of Members' comments and make further improvement in this regard.

MR. WONG SHUI-LAI (in Cantonese):-To follow up on the fourth point, i.e. the Department will step up action against people dumping domestic waste around litter containers. Could we be informed what specific measures have been taken in order to prevent people from dumping refuse indiscriminately. And the next point is: does the Department know there is another factor leading to rodent infestation? This has been either ignored deliberately or due to some oversight. In fact, import of food is by sea or by land. I am talking in particular about food coming by sea. Very often the ships are infested by rodent and then they come on land after the ships arrive at the harbour. Very often we can notice this at water front areas. I wonder if the Department has paid attention to this and has taken appropriate action accordingly?

PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese): Mr. WONG has got two questions. First, prosecution of people dumping refuse around litter containers. As I have said, the Department does not have any specific statistics in this regard. In other words, they have only got general statistics in relation to littering. In 1993, there were 26 000 cases. Some of them related to dumping refuse around litter containers. So it might be difficult for us to come up with specific statistics. The Department is also doing something. The rodent control staff will visit all RCPs once everyday in order to make sure that pest is kept under proper control. It appears that something has been done but of course these measures have not been totally effective. As I have told Members before, the Department will continue to monitor the situation and improve the condition. As regards rodents imported to Hong Kong, of course the Department of Health, the Pest Control Section and also the Port Health Office control the import of goods including the normal one and the abnormal passengers. I believe that the imported rodents only take up a very small percentage. In other words, most of our rats are locals.

MISS CECILIA YEUNG LAI-YIN (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, in relation to litter containers, I think that we need to step up educating the public as well because prosecution does not appear to be totally effective. Some people simply deposit their domestic waste inside or outside the litter containers for convenience sake. Our litter containers are definitely not able to take up so many cartons. So perhaps we have neglected this point. In other words, litter containers in fact are merely for deposit of small refuse such as tissue papers and they are not catered for big cartons. As for rats, I wonder if we need to have a Rats Immigration Department to deal with that?

1993 — Page 127

Edit History

Comments

Private Research Note