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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
(4) MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN asked the following question:-The Council has already passed a legislation on the prohibition of 'wax-melting/burning' in the Council's public pleasure grounds. How will the Urban Services Department enforce the legislation during the Mid-Autumn Festival? Will the Department increase its manpower to undertake the work of management and prosecution? Will the Department deploy staff to conduct prosecution at its venues in different districts? Will the Department set up any telephone hot-lines to facilitate citizens reporting cases of wax-melting/burning?
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Thank you. Will the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee, Mr. Ronnie WONG Man-chiu, give an overall reply to questions 3 and 4?
Mr. Ronnie WONG MAN-Chiu, CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-As the questions raised by Mr. CHAN Kwok-leung and Mr. Christopher CHUNG Shu-kun are interrelated, I will therefore answer the 2 questions together.
The first part of Mr. Chan's question enquires whether the Council has, during the period surrounding the Ghost Festival on 14th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar, stepped up street cleansing, encouraged worshippers through education and publicity to bring their own joss paper containers, and carried out overall street washing afterwards to improve the cleanliness of streets.
Before the Ghost Festival each year, the Department makes announcements through radio broadcasts and newspapers, calling upon members of the public to pay attention to fire risks and safety when burning joss papers. They are also reminded to keep streets clean and burn joss papers inside containers (commonly known as 'treasure bowls') as far as possible in order to avoid causing nuisance to pedestrians and vehicles. After the joss papers are burnt, the embers should be put out with water to prevent accidents and the spots cleaned up immediately. During the period, the Department also steps up street cleansing and washing to ensure environment hygiene and cleanliness of streets.
The second part of Mr. Chan's question as well as the first, second and third part of Mr. CHUNG's question enquire how the new legislation on 'prohibition of wax-melting/burning' will be enforced by the Department during the Mid-Autumn Festival. As in the past years, the Department will deploy more manpower to carry out duties and patrol at UC venues during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Apart from on-site staff at major venues, such as Victoria Park and Ko Shan Road Park, district mobile teams will be sent to patrol the venues within their districts. The Department has issued working guidelines to the on-site staff in order that they may take appropriate action against those who violate the legislation. In the event of violation of legislation, departmental staff will first of all explain the legislation and give advice to the
Page 227 of 654
Page 227 of 654
Page 227 of 654
227 of 654
226
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
(4) MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN asked the following question:-The Council has already passed a legislation on the prohibition of 'wax- melting/burning' in the Council's public pleasure grounds. How will the Urban Services Department enforce the legislation during the Mid-Autumn Festival? Will the Department increase its manpower to undertake the work of management and prosecution? Will the Department deploy staff to conduct prosecution at its venues in different districts? Will the Department set up any telephone hot-lines to facilitate citizens reporting cases of wax-melting/burning?
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-Thank you. Will the Chairman of the Recreation Select Committee. Mr. Ronnie WONG Man-chiu, give an overall reply to questions 3 and 4?
Mr. Ronnie WONG MAN-Chiu, ChairMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows:-As the questions raised by Mr. CHAN Kwok- leung and Mr. Christopher CHUNG Shu-kun are interrelated, I will therefore answer the 2 questions together.
The first part of Mr. Chan's question enquires whether the Council has, during the period surrounding the Ghost Festival on 14th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar, stepped up street cleansing, encouraged worshippers through education and publicity to bring their own joss paper containers, and carried out overall street washing afterwards to improve the cleanliness of streets.
Before the Ghost Festival each year, the Department makes announcements through radio broadcasts and newspapers, calling upon members of the public to pay attention to fire risks and safety when burning joss papers. They are also reminded to keep streets clean and burn joss papers inside containers (commonly known as 'treasure bowls') as far as possible in order to avoid causing nuisance to pedestrians and vehicles. After the joss papers are burnt, the embers should be put out with water to prevent accidents and the spots cleaned up immediately. During the period, the Department also steps up street cleansing and washing to ensure environment hygiene and cleanliness of streets.
The second part of Mr. Chan's question as well as the first, second and third part of Mr. CHUNG's question enquire how the new legislation on 'prohibition of wax-melting/burning' will be enforced by the Department during the Mid- Autumn Festival. As in the past years, the Department will deploy more manpower to carry out duties and patrol at UC venues during the Mid- Autumn Festival. Apart from on site staff at major venues, such as Victoria Park and Ko Shan Road Park, district mobile teams will be sent to patrol the venues within their districts. The Department has issued working guidelines to the on-site staff in order that they may take appropriate action against those who violate the legislation. In the event of violation of legislation, departmental staff will first of all explain the legislation and give advice to the
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