Page 81 of 115
155
154
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
operation since the 1970's and all along the District Board has never disagreed to this arrangement. We feel that since it is not a new capital work but merely an improvement to current arrangements, we did not need to consult the District Board. However, if Mr. YUEN feels that this matter should be discussed at the District Board level, we can certainly raise it for discussion at the Recreation Select Committee meeting.
As regards the third question on whether we can carry out a one year trial scheme to look into odour and traffic congestion issues this RCP, I have stated in my main reply that the refuse collected from Victoria Park is generally dry refuse which is left from the activities held therein. It is therefore odourless. I don't think we need a one year trial, I think in the past 20 years we have already proven the fact that the refuse is odourless. With regard to traffic congestion, I am sure we can request the Transport Department to look into this.
Regarding our fourth question on residents' suggestion to re-locate the RCP to the north west corner of Victoria Park, you may wish to note that Victoria Park is bordered on all four sides by public roads. If we build the RCP on the north west corner of Victoria Park, it will still create traffic problems. In 1990, when the Transport Department requested us to suspend the RCP, a detailed investigation was carried out on Victoria Park to see if we could provide a temporary RCP there. The investigations showed that there were no available sites. Victoria Park, as I have said, is bordered on all four sides by public roads and therefore, there is a certain amount of restriction.
I hope I have answered the questions asked by Mr. YUEN.
MISS CHRISTINA TING YUK-CHEE (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you Mr. YUEN for asking this question. I have been following up on this issue for over a month and I have raised it at Recreation Select Committee meeting.
On 14 November, we met a group of residents under the Members' Duty Roster System and on 16 November, the issue was raised at the Recreation Select Committee. The Recreation Select Committee has given a reply to the residents to the extent that all this dry refuse should be put into Tsing Fung Street RCP. During weekends, when there are a lot of maids in the area leaving a lot of chicken bones and food remains which are bound to produce odour, we recommended that this refuse be taken to Wing Hing Street RCP. As USD would like to beautify the area, it has felled some big trees in the area.
I would like to tackle the point of odourless refuse. All I want to say is that if there are chicken wings and food there, they are bound to produce odour. Before beautifying the area, why didn't the Department consult the District Board? Instead of doing this, some big trees have been felled. This matter will be brought up for discussion at the Eastern District Board day after tomorrow.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): On the problem of odour, I think I have stated in paragraph 3 that there is little odour rather than no odour. I forgot to mention one point on District Board consultation. In the past
Page 81 of 115
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
years, some District Board members have become Urban Councillors and a lot of DB members have actively participated in a number of Select Committees, of which the Recreation Select Committee is one of the most popular. So I am sure they are able to take the relevant messages back to the District Boards.
THE HONOURABLE LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have a follow-up question which consists of two parts.
My question deals with the general policy and the selection criteria for RCP locations. Therefore, I might need Professor LEUNG to answer my question. According to my observation, many newly built or rebuilt housing estates under the HA's jurisdiction have asked our refuse collection vehicles to collect refuse in their refuse collection points. However, I understand that no prior consultation with USD has been made on the designs of RCPs. Subsequently, there were complaints that the vehicles could not get in or there were traffic circulation problems. When choosing a site for these RCPs, has the Council worked alongside with the Housing Department on their site selection and design?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—As Mr. Li has said, Professor LEUNG would be in a better position to answer this question.
I don't have a lot of details at hand, so perhaps I can refer this issue to the Public Health Select Committee.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): Right, so could you please include this as an agenda item and don't just leave it at that.
MISS CECEILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):—We know that there are quite a number of lunch boxes and chicken wings in Victoria Park. However, in addition to this problem, I think there are a lot of Filipino maids congregating at the north west corner of Victoria during the weekends. Can we therefore have the RCP at that corner as it is far away from residential area? I think Mr. Wong should consider that.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—I think we will discuss this issue at the Select Committee meeting.
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese):—Thank you for having such a high regard for the Public Health Select Committee to the extent that I can answer questions impromptu. Anyway, I will give it a try and if members are satisfied, then there will be one less question on this issue.
On the selection criteria of RCP location, we have a geographical and population yardstick and Mr. WONG has taken us through that. For example, where there is a population of 20 000 persons or within a radius of 500 metres, we will need a RCP. So these are very clear quantitative yardsticks.
As to social, psychological, political yardsticks and considerations, well, there are none at the moment and perhaps we need to work on them.
Page 81 of 115
Page 81 of 115
155
154
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
operation since the 1970's and all along the District Board has never disagreed to this arrangement. We feel that since it is not a new capital work but merely an improvement to current arrangements, we did not need to consult the District Board. However, if Mr. YUEN feels that this matter should be discussed at the District Board level, we can certainly raise it for discussion at the Recreation Select Committee meeting.
As regards the third question on whether we can carry out a one year trial scheme to look into odour and traffic congestion issues this RCP, I have stated in my main reply that the refuse collected from Victoria Park is generally dry refuse which is left from the activities held therein. It is therefore odourless. I don't think we need a one year trial, I think in the past 20 years we have already proven the fact that the refuse is odourless. With regard to traffic congestion, I am sure we can request the Transport Department to look into this.
Regarding our fourth question on residents' suggestion to re-locate the RCP to the north west corner of Victoria Park, you may wish to note that Victoria Park is bordered on all four sides by public roads. If we build the RCP on the north west corner of Victoria Park, it will still create traffic problems. In 1990, when the Transport Department requested us to suspend the RCP, a detailed investigation was carried out on Victoria Park to see if we could provide a temporary RCP there. The investigations showed that there were no available sites. Victoria Park, as I have said, is bordered on all four sides by public roads and therefore, there is a certain amount of restriction.
I hope I have answered the questions asked by Mr. YUEN.
MISS CHRISTINA TING YUK-CHEE (in Cantonese):—Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you Mr. YUEN for asking this question. I have been following up on this issue for over a month and I have raised it at Recreation Select Committee meeting.
On 14 November, we met a group of residents under the Members' Duty Roster System and on 16 November, the issue was raised at the Recreation Select Committee. The Recreation Select Committee has given a reply to the residents to the extent that all this dry refuse should be put into Tsing Fung Street RCP. During weekends, when there are a lot of maids in the area leaving a lot of chicken bones and food remains which are bound to produce odour, we recommended that this refuse be taken to Wing Hing Street RCP. As USD would like to beautify the area, it has felled some big trees in the area.
I would like to tackle the point of odourless refuse. All I want to say is that if there are chicken wings and food there, they are bound to produce odour. Before beautifying the area, why didn't the Department consult the District Board? Instead of doing this, some big trees have been felled. This matter will be brought up for discussion at the Eastern District Board day after tomorrow.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese): On the problem of odour, I think I have stated in paragraph 3 that there is little odour rather than no odour. I forgot to mention one point on District Board consultation. In the past
Page 81 of 115
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
years, some District Board members have become Urban Councillors and a lot of DB members have actively participated in a number of Select Committees, of which the Recreation Select Committee is one of the most popular. So I am sure they are able to take the relevant messages back to the District Boards.
THE HONOURABLE LI WAH-MING (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I have a follow-up question which consists of two parts.
My question deals with the general policy and the selection criteria for RCP locations. Therefore, I might need Professor LEUNG to answer my question. According to my observation, many newly built or rebuilt housing estates under the HA's jurisdiction have asked our refuse collection vehicles to collect refuse in their refuse collection points. However, I understand that no prior consultation with USD has been made on the designs of RCPs. Subsequently, there were complaints that the vehicles could not get in or there were traffic circulation problems. When choosing a site for these RCPs, has the Council worked alongside with the Housing Department on their site selection and design?
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—As Mr. Li has said, Professor LEUNG would be in a better position to answer this question.
I don't have a lot of details at hand, so perhaps I can refer this issue to the Public Health Select Committee.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese): Right, so could you please include this as an agenda item and don't just leave it at that.
MISS CECEILIA L. Y. YEUNG (in Cantonese):---We know that there are quite a number of lunch boxes and chicken wings in Victoria Park. However, in addition to this problem, I think there are a lot of Filipino maids congregating at the north west corner of Victoria during the weekends. Can we therefore have the RCP at that corner as it is far away from residential area? I think Mr. Wong should consider that.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—I think we will discuss this issue at the Select Committee meeting.
PROFESSOR LEUNG PING-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-Thank you for having such a high regard for the Public Health Select Committee to the extent that I can answer questions impromptu. Anyway, I will give it a try and if members are satisfied, then there will be one less question on this issue.
On the selection criteria of RCP location, we have a geographical and population yardstick and Mr. WONG has taken us through that. For example, where there is a population of 20 000 persons or within a radius of 500 metres, we will need a RCP. So these are very clear quantitative yardsticks.
As to social, psychological, political yardsticks and considerations, well, there are none at the moment and perhaps we need to work on them.
Page 81 of 115
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.