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HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
4. The environmental hygiene of these RCPs is unsatisfactory. Overall, quite a large proportion of them are smelly with waste water flowing out and pests roaming the place.
5. Refuse bins have not been placed in RCPs as required, but instead they are placed at open places anywhere within estates.
The Democratic Party had a meeting with the HD last week. Staff of both the USD and RSD were present too. We exchanged views on the above matters of concern and got to understand that coordination and cooperation between the HD and USD remained at a very low level. I shall explain using the following two examples.
Example one. In new housing estates of Hiu Lai Court and Ko Chun Court in Kwun Tong, the new design allows refuse collection vehicles to drive straight into the RCPs. The same access road is for emergency use in case of fire too. As there is no proper signage, drivers of refuse collection vehicles do not enter for fear of extra responsibility in case of accident. As a result, the collection vehicles do not enter the RCPs and bins have to be wheeled outside the estates or blocks, thereby causing great nuisance and pollution. The Democratic Party met the staff of HD last week and discussed this. It turned out that the building section of the HD did not quite understand why drivers refused to drive into RCPs. As emergency accesses do not meet requirements laid down by the USD, the above ridiculous situation has occurred. There are roads but no one is using them. We think this has to be improved as soon as possible.
Secondly, about facilities inside RCPs. We found out that the HD did not know that the USD had started using the water scrubber system. In fact that system is used widely now in place of the old carbon activated system. The former is much better in terms of effectiveness and durability. However, the HD still uses the old system in new RCPs. We find this outdated, but we also found out that the HD did not know of the new system. According to information from the USD, to install a water scrubber system requires a one-off investment of about HK$1 million and the annual operation cost is about $100,000. In the long run, the new kind of system is more efficient and economical. The Democratic Party thinks that the HD should set strict standards in order to improve the hygiene level at RCPs. The old carbon activated system should not be used any more.
In view of the above, the Democratic Party feels that the HD and the USD should strengthen their coordination and cooperation and the HD should make reference to the experience of USD in construction of RCPs when designing public housing estates.
1. New RCPs at newly built public housing estates should be enclosed and facilities inside should adhere to strict standards. The standard laid down by the USD should be looked at as a blueprint. For example, there should be drains and water taps. We do not approve of natural
Page 408 of 654
of 654
Page 408 of 654
404
HONG KONG PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
4. The environmental hygiene of these RCPs is unsatisfactory. Overall, quite a large proportion of them are smelly with waste water flowing out and pests roaming the place.
5.
Refuse bins have not been placed in RCPs as required, but instead they are placed at open places anywhere within estates.
The Democratic Party had a meeting with the HD last week. Staff of both the USD and RSD were present too. We exchanged views on the above matters of concern and got to understand that coordination and cooperation between the HD and USD remained at a very low level. I shall explain using the following two examples.
Example one. In new housing estates of Hiu Lai Court and Ko Chun Court in Kwun Tong, the new design allows refuse collection vehicles to drive straight into the RCPs. The same access road is for emergency use in case of fire too. As there is no proper signage, drivers of refuse collection vehicles do not enter for fear of extra responsibility in case of accident. As a result, the collection vehicles do not enter the RCPs and bins have to be wheeled outside the estates or blocks, thereby causing great nuisance and pollution. The Democratic Party met the staff of HD last week and discussed this. It turned out that the building section of the HD did not quite understand why drivers refused to drive into RCPs. As emergency accesses do not meet requirements laid down by the USD, the above ridiculous situation has occurred. There are roads but no one is using them. We think this has to be improved as soon as possible.
Secondly, about facilities inside RCPs. We found out that the HD did not know that the USD had started using the water scrubber system. In fact that system is used widely now in place of the old carbon activated system. The former is much better in terms of effectiveness and durability. However, the HD still uses the old system in new RCPs. We find this outdated, but we also found out that the HD did not know of the new system. According to information from the USD, to install a water scrubber system requires a one- off investment of about HK$ 1 million and the annual operation cost is about $100,000. In the long run, the new kind of system is more efficient and economical. The Democratic Party thinks that the HD should set strict standards in order to improve the hygiene level at RCPs. The old carbon activated system should not be used any more.
In view of the above, the Democratic Party feels that the HD and the USD should strengthen their coordination and cooperation and the HD should make reference to the experience of USD in construction of RCPs when designing public housing estates.
1. New RCPs at newly built public housing estates should be enclosed and facilities inside should adhere to strict standards. The standard laid down by the USD should be looked at as a blueprint. For example, there should be drains and water taps. We do not approve of natural
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