Page 537 of 606
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464
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
With these remarks, I beg to move the motion under my name. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I second the motion.
Mr. Daniel To Boon-man (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, influenza is very common in February and March each year. Many citizens overlook this. Very often, people are infected when they frequent public places like restaurants, cinemas, arcades or karaokes too often. Air quality has become a topic of special concern this year. The worrying thing is that the above mentioned venues are all hotbeds of bacteria.
Earlier on, I read reports that the bacteria content of the ventilation system of MTR stations was found below standard. The reports sparked wide concern and people have begun to question the air quality standard of and maintenance arrangement for central air-conditioning systems. We want to know what arrangement is beneficial to the general public.
In fact, Government has not laid by in monitoring air quality at public venues. However, both in facilities and system, we are falling behind advanced countries overseas. That is why today's motion warrants wide concern. In terms of facilities, we are monitoring air quality at public venues with outdated methodology. Under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, this Council issues licenses to public venues with large people movement such as restaurants, karaokes and cinemas. From figures collected in the past, USD staff did not pay sufficient attention to air quality when they inspected such venues. In the past three years, USD conducted 2300 inspections related to air quality resulting in 200-odd verbal warnings and almost no prosecution. In respect of restaurants, there were 25 warning letters and 9 prosecutions. The approach was somewhat indifferent. Inspectors relied on their impression and carbon dioxide testing equipment was only brought along occasionally. As for testing the content of other toxins like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, suspended particulate and other pollutants, there are at present no fixed standards and no uniform testing method. As compared to the use of hand carried toxin testing equipment for on site tests used in foreign countries, Hong Kong badly needs improvement.
A more important point is that the functions of departments implementing air quality measures, including the EPD, Department of Health and USD, have not been clearly defined. Overall, I must say that we do not have a set of laws that clearly provides for control of air quality standards. Under the present set up, it is best for USD to take up inspection and prosecution work because we are the licence issuing authority and we should be responsible for protection of air quality at public venues. In the long term, a set of standards for the regular cleaning and maintenance of air conditioning systems should be devised and incorporated as licensing conditions. In view that there were only
Page 537 of 606
Page 537 of 606
Page 537 of 606
464
PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
With these remarks, I beg to move the motion under my name. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG (in Cantonese);:-Mr. Chairman, 1 second the motion.
Mr. Daniel To Boon-man (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, influenza is very common in February and March each year. Many citizens overlook this. Very often, people are infected when they frequent public places like restaurants, cinemas, arcades or karaokes too often. Air quality has become a topic of special concern this year. The worrying thing is that the above mentioned venues are all hotbeds of bacteria.
Earlier on, I read reports that the bacteria content of the ventilation system of MTR stations was found below standard. The reports sparked wide concern and people have begun to question the air quality standard of and maintenance arrangement for central air-conditioning systems. We want to know what arrangement is beneficial to the general public.
In fact, Government has not laid by in monitoring air quality at public venues. However, both in facilities and system, we are falling behind advanced countries overseas. That is why today's motion warrants wide concern. In terms of facilities, we are monitoring air quality at public venues with outdated methodology. Under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, this Council issues licenses to public venues with large people movement such as restaurants, karaokes and cinemas. From figures collected in the past, USD staff did not pay sufficient attention to air quality when they inspected such venues. In the past three years, USD conducted 2300 inspections related to air quality resulting in 200-odd verbal warnings and almost no prosecution. In respect of restaurants, there were 25 warning letters and 9 prosecutions. The approach was somewhat indifferent. Inspectors relied on their impression and carbon dioxide testing equipment was only brought along occasionally. As for testing the content of other toxins like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, suspended particulate and other pollutants, there are at present no fixed standards and no uniform testing method. As compared to the use of hand carried toxin testing equipment for on site tests used in foreign countries, Hong Kong badly needs improvement.
A more important point is that the functions of departments implementing air quality measures, including the EPD, Department of Health and USD, have not been clearly defined. Overall, I must say that we do not have a set of laws that clearly provides for control of air quality standards. Under the present set up, it is best for USD to take up inspection and prosecution work because we are the licence issuing authority and we should be responsible for protection of air quality at public venues. In the long term, a set of standards for the regular cleaning and maintenance of air conditioning systems should be devised and incorporated as licensing conditions. In view that there were only
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