ENG-1970 — Page 34

REVIEW

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the common parts of these buildings and to require all owners in the building to contribute towards the cost. Some owners have already taken advantage of these provisions; it is hoped that their example will be followed and that by this means a higher standard of cleanliness and order will be brought about in the high rise build- ings which now comprise so much of the urban area.

The problem of cleanliness and of the disposal of refuse generally, in this age of plastics and packaging, has plagued Hong Kong as much as any other modern city. Some improvement will be brought about by the increase in incinerator facilities, but the main difficulty remains in the careless habits of the population who in spite of numerous campaigns mounted by the Urban Council and by the Kaifongs cannot, it seems, be persuaded to use the numerous litter bins provided for them. It is an offence to throw litter in the streets and other public places but this habit can probably only be cured by education and precept.

As a further step towards cleanliness new regulations are being drawn up under the Clean Air Ordinance to control and reduce emissions of smoke, grit and dust from chimneys. On the recom- mendation of the Air Pollution Committee, which has now become a permanent advisory body, it is proposed to declare the whole Colony a smoke control area from a date in 1971. It should be recorded here that as a result of measures taken by the China Light and Power Company the average concentration of sulphur dioxide. over Hung Hom has been reduced from 70 to 34 parts per hundred million.

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While much effort was dedicated during the year to the im- provement of social services, there was continued development and progress in other fields. There was a record revenue collection of $2,481 million; there was a record number of visitors to the Colony; there was a record volume of legislation dealt with by the Legislative Council. The scale of physical development can best be illustrated by the annual public works programme which it is estimated cost some $333.5 million in 1970 or $44.5 million more than the previous year. It contained more than 400 different projects, including housing and public buildings, swimming pools and recreation grounds and improvements to the Colony's roads. Among the major works set in hand were the lengthening of the runway at Kai Tak and the