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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
3
As regards part 2 and part 3 of the question, the Urban Services Department (USD) is responsible for the cleansing of pedestrian subways in respect of ground surface and steps/ramps leading to the subways. The Highways Department (HYD) is responsible for the cleansing of the wall surfaces and railings of the subways as well as their overall maintenance. The frequency of cleansing services provided to pedestrian subways depends on the usage rate of subways, which is similar to those provided for ordinary streets. As regards sweeping, it ranges up to 6 times a day for heavily used ones to twice daily for less busy ones; for washing, it ranges from twice weekly to once a month. As the design of pedestrian subways is different from that of streets, the washing procedures of pedestrian subways and streets are naturally different since street washing vehicles cannot have access to the former. The present practice is to connect sections of rubber hoses to convey water from street washing vehicles to the inside of pedestrian subways to carry out washing and spraying. Regarding extremely long pedestrian subways, the USD staff will have to convey water by means of buckets for the washing.
In view of the existing difficulties encountered in the washing of pedestrian subways, the Department is considering the purchase of a number of mini street washing vehicles which can be driven direct into pedestrian subways provided with ramps so as to carry out the washing more effectively. To facilitate cleansing operations, in the interim, the Department will liaise with the HyD, which is responsible for the maintenance of pedestrian subways, to install water points at appropriate locations within the subways so as to enable USD staff to carry out the washing more easily.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-I am pleased to learn from paragraph 4 of Mr. Joseph Chan's written reply that the Department is considering to buy mini street washing vehicles for direct access into subways. I also want to know when this idea will be put into practice. Can we have some actual dates, please?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. IP for his question. The Department is considering to acquire Wale brand hot-wash mini street washing vehicles with a tank capacity of 3,000 gallons and a boiler to heat water to 80°. Hot water can help to remove grease and chewing gums on the ground and the dirt and paint on the walls. Such mini vehicles cost over $860,000 each. The Department is at present considering the deal and if there are available funds, two will be bought within the year with one for the Kowloon side and the other for the Hong Kong Island side. We ask that the Department make that acquisition as soon as possible in order to improve cleanliness of our subways.
Mr. Wu Chi-wai (in Cantonese):—I am glad to hear of such a speedy response on street washing facilities. I want to know more clearly about paragraph 3 of the written reply which says street washing is done from twice weekly to once monthly. I want to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee whether there are
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Page 3 of 606
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
3
As regards part 2 and part 3 of the question, the Urban Services Department (USD) is responsible for the cleansing of pedestrian subways in respect of ground surface and steps/ramps leading to the subways. The Highways Department (HYD) is responsible for the cleansing of the wall surfaces and railings of the subways as well as their overall maintenance. The frequency of cleansing services provided to pedestrian subways depends on the usage rate of subways, which is similar to those provided for ordinary streets. As regards sweeping, it ranges up to 6 times a day for heavily used ones to twice daily for less busy ones; for washing, it ranges from twice weekly to once a month. As the design of pedestrian subways is different from that of streets, the washing procedures of pedestrian subways and streets are naturally different since street washing vehicles cannot have access to the former. The present practice is to connect sections of rubber hoses to convey water from street washing vehicles to the inside of pedestrian subways to carry out washing and spraying. Regarding extremely long pedestrian subways, the USD staff will have to convey water by means of buckets for the washing.
In view of the existing difficulties encountered in the washing of pedestrian subways, the Department is considering the purchase of a number of mini street washing vehicles which can be driven direct into pedestrian subways provided with ramps so as to carry out the washing more effectively. To facilitate cleansing operations, in the interim, the Department will liaise with the HyD, which is responsible for the maintenance of pedestrian subways, to install water points at appropriate locations within the subways so as to enable USD staff to carry out the washing more easily.
MR. IP KWOK-CHUNG (in Cantonese):-I am pleased to learn from paragraph 4 of Mr. Joseph Chan's written reply that the Department is considering to buy mini street washing vehicles for direct access into subways. I also want to know when this idea will be put into practice. Can we have some actual dates, please?
MR. JOSEPH CHAN YUEK-SUT (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. IP for his question. The Department is considering to acquire Wale brand hot-wash mini street washing vehicles with a tank capacity of 3 000 gallons and a boiler to heat water to 80o. Hot water can help to remove grease and chewing gums on the ground and the dirt and paint on the walls. Such mini vehicles cost over $860,000 each. The Department is at present considering the deal and if there are available funds, two will be bought within the year with one for the Kowloon side and the other for the Hong Kong Island side. We ask that the Department make that acquisition as soon as possible in order to improve cleanliness of our subways.
Mr. Wu Chi-wai (in Cantonese);—I am glad to hear of such a speedy response on street washing facilities. I want to know more clearly about paragraph 3 of the written reply which says street washing is done from twice weekly to once monthly. I want to ask the Chairman of the Select Committee whether there are
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