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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
standard. All along, the hygiene standard of RCPs and refuse chambers in public housing estates has been the blackspot of our beautiful estates and one that tarnishes their image.
The Democratic Party conducted a survey on this last year to get to know about the problem. We conducted site visits to 28 estates and have found that the design and facilities of RCPs in estates are not standardised. Most estates do not have RCPs of enclosed design, which differs from the design of existing RCPs of the USD. As a result, there are problems with odour, sewage and rodents. The general situation is not satisfactory and a lot of rodents roam around. When we studied the environmental hygiene of RCPs, we also found that it had a lot to do with sewage channels and seeping sewage.
On different occasions, we have learnt through staff of USD that many RCPs of new and old types of housing estates alike are located in emergency lanes. There are no prominent road signs. hence drivers of refuse collection vehicles always refuse to drive into them so as to avoid being made accountable in case of accidents. Because of this, cleaning workers have to wheel refuse out to the open space before vehicles arrive. It causes pollution. The same kind of situation is found even in newly completed estates such as Hiu Lai Court, Ko Chun Court or Ping Tin Estate in Lam Tin. In other words, although there are paths for refuse collection vehicles to enter, they do not serve the purpose.
The Democratic Party would like to make the following suggestions on the design of RCPs of the Housing Department.
1. Although in the guidelines of the Housing Department updated in 1995, any estate with over 3,000 households should be provided with an RCP of enclosed design for handling of refuse, in view of space or other constraints, only refuse points are provided in estates. Since these refuse points are still of the open design without pest control facilities, they rely on natural ventilation and are a nuisance to residents as well as cause environmental pollution. Enclosed designs should be made the standard design. Those RCPs in housing estates which are not yet up to this standard should be converted. There are still other sets of standards adopted by the Housing Department which are not up to the standard required by the USD, particularly in odour removing facilities. To replace the old active carbon filter systems, the USD at present adopts the water scrubber system which is of a more advanced level. However, even in a more well-equipped RCP of the Housing Department, the active carbon filter system is still in use. This coordination system does not match with the USD facilities and causes harm to estate residents as well as fails to protect environmental hygiene. There is need for the Housing Department to install new systems.
2.
The Housing Department and the Urban Services Department should step up communication and coordination in handling the problems of
£606
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Page 31 of 606
Page 30 of 606
T006
Page 30 of 606
30
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
standard. All along, the hygiene standard of RCPs and refuse chambers in public housing estates has been the blackspot of our beautiful estates and one that tarnishes their image.
The Democratic Party conducted a survey on this last year to get to know about the problem. We conducted site visits to 28 estates and have found that the design and facilities of RCPs in estates are not standardised. Most estates do not have RCPs of enclosed design, which differs from the design of existing RCPs of the USD. As a result, there are problems with odour, sewage and rodents. The general situation is not satisfactory and a lot of rodents roam around. When we studied the environmental hygiene of RCPs, we also found that it had a lot to do with sewage channels and seeping sewage.
On different occasions, we have learnt through staff of USD that many RCPs of new and old types of housing estates alike are located in emergency lanes. There are no prominent road signs. hence drivers of refuse collection vehicles always refuse to drive into them so as to avoid being made accountable in case of accidents. Because of this, cleaning workers have to wheel refuse out to the open space before vehicles arrive. It causes pollution. The same kind of situation is found even in newly completed estates such as Hiu Lai Court, Ko Chun Court or Ping Tin Estate in Lam Tin. In other words, although there are paths for refuse collection vehicles to enter, they do not serve the purpose.
The Democratic Party would like to make the following suggestions on the design of RCPs of the Housing Department.
1. Although in the guidelines of the Housing Department updated in 1995, any estate with over 3 000 households should be provided with an RCP of enclosed design for handling of refuse, in view of space or other constraints, only refuse points are provided in estates. Since these refuse points are still of the open design without pest control facilities, they rely on natural ventilation and are a nuisance to residents as well as cause environmental pollution. Enclosed designs should be made the standard design. Those RCPs in housing estates which are not yet up to this standard should be converted. There are still other sets of standards adopted by the Housing Department which are not up to the standard required by the USD, particularly in odour removing facilities. To replace the old active carbon filter systems, the USD at present adopts the water scrubber system which is of a more advanced level. However, even in a more well-equipped RCP of the Housing Department, the active carbon filter system is still in use. This coordination system does not match with the USD facilities and causes harm to estate residents as well as fails to protect environmental hygiene. There is need for the Housing Department to install new systems.
2.
The Housing Department and the Urban Services Department should step up communication and coordination in handling the problems of
£606
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Page 31 of 606
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