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Chairman of the Select Committee: since they consult us in the design stage, what follow-up action can be taken if they don't accept our views? Would any investigation be conducted to find out why they do not proceed in the light of our views given during the consultation, thereby wasting our time?
Secondly, has our dissatisfaction been made known? We have put forth a number of recommendations, say on the enclosed design, covers, ventilation pipes, etc but none of them has been accepted. Have we expressed regret about this and have we given any serious warning that if the situation has become so bad as to cause nuisance to residents, we will institute legal proceedings under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance? It is only then that the Urban Council can strengthen its authority and responsibility in serving the public. I don't know whether the Chairman of the Select Committee has done anything in this respect. If yes, please tell the Council.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, as mentioned in my written reply, if any Member was not satisfied, the Department would forward his views to the Housing Department. However, regarding the basic requirements (that the Department's refuse collection vehicles should go into the estates for refuse collection), they have already fulfilled them in several aspects I mentioned just now. As to the compliance with our new standard for RCPs, they have not fulfilled our requirement yet. As to whether we can warn them if they do not comply, we do not have the legal authority for the time being.
If the environmental hygiene of the RCPs is unsatisfactory or has violated the sanitation ordinance, we could of course institute legal proceedings, but the normal practice is that if we received any complaint, we would notify the Housing Department immediately so that the latter would inform the cleansing contractor of the estate. If the contractor failed to make any improvement, we would take prosecution action. Normally the contractor would take remedial action promptly after being warned by the Housing Department. This is the present situation.
MR. RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU (in Cantonese):—May I ask the Chairman of the Select Committee whether his Committee can press the Urban Services Department to review the design requirements laid down by the Housing Department for RCPs in public housing estates, so as to ensure that they meet our operational needs?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, it is possible. It is possible to press them, but this must be done through the effective channel, meaning that we can by all means press them but there is nothing we can do if they do not comply. As to how such an authority can be obtained legally, this is an even more complicated issue.
Page 333 of 654
Page 333 of 654
Page 333 of 654
Page 333 of 654
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
329
Chairman of the Select Committee: since they consult us in the design stage, what follow-up action can be taken if they don't accept our views? Would any investigation be conducted to find out why they do not proceed in the light of our views given during the consultation, thereby wasting our time?
Secondly, has our dissatisfaction heen made known? We have put forth a muumber of recommendations, say on the enclosed design, covers, ventilation pipes, etc but none of them has been accepted. Have we expressed regret about this and have we given any serious warning that if the situation has become so bad as to cause nuisance to residents, we will institute legal proceedings under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance? It is only then that the Urban Council can strengthen its authority and responsibility in serving the public. I don't know whether the Chairman of the Select Committee has done anything in this respect. If yes, please tell the Council.
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman. as mentioned in my written reply, if any Member was not satisfied, the Department would forward his views to the Housing Department. However, regarding the basic requirements (that the Department's refuse collection vehicles should go into the estates for refuse collection), they have already fulfilled them in several aspects I mentioned just now. As to the compliance with our new standard for RCPs, they have not fulfilled our requirement yet. As to whether we can warn them if they do not comply, we do not have the legal authority for the time being.
If the environmental hygiene of the RCPs is unsatisfactory or has violated the sanitation ordinance, we could of course institute legal proceedings, but the mormal practice is that if we received any complaint, we would notify the Housing Department immediately so that the latter would inform the cleansing contractor of the estate. If the contractor failed to make any improvement, we would take prosecution action. Normally the contractor would take remedial action promptly after being warned by the Housing Department. This is the present situation.
MR. RONNIE Wong Man-CHIU (în Cantonese):—May I ask the Chairman of the Select Committee whether his Committee can press the Urban Services Department to review the design requirements laid down by the Housing Department for RCPs in public housing estates, so as to ensure that they meet our operational needs?
MR. JOSEPHI Chan Yuek-sut (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, it is possible. It is possible to press them, but this must be done through the effective channel, meaning that we can by all means press them but there is nothing we can do if they do not comply. As to how such an authority can be obtained legally, this is: an even more complicated issue.
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