Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ16: Unauthorised refuse dumping spot

Following is a question by the Ir Dr Hon Ho Chung-tai and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (February 11) :

Question:

It has been reported that although there is a refuse collection point at the junction of Shui Wo Street and Wan Hon Lane in Kwun Tong, residents in the area do not use it but discard their refuse outside the park at Ngan Yuet Lane, Wan Hon Street. Instead of stepping up prosecution efforts in this case, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has only arranged for refuse collection outside the park by contractors in the early hours of the day. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) for how long the above problem has existed;

(b) of the reasons for the residents not using the refuse collection point, and whether the authorities have taken measures to educate the residents on the proper disposal of waste at the refuse collection point; if so, of the effectiveness of such measures; and

(c) why the authorities do not step up their efforts to prosecute residents for discarding refuse outside the park?

Reply:

President Madam,

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) received a complaint about the dumping of bagged refuse in the vicinity of Wan Hon Street in October 2003. The buildings in that area are mostly old tenement buildings. As some of those buildings are not properly managed, some residents may deposit their refuse on the street in the evening. In addition, some refuse collectors engaged by the building management dumped bagged refuse on the street during late evening instead of depositing them properly at FEHD's refuse collection points for their own convenience.

FEHD has taken various measures to deal with the problem. Warning notices have been posted in the area to remind residents not to discard refuse in public places. In addition, FEHD has taken enforcement actions against littering offenders in the area, including blitz operations in late evening. Since October 2003, FEHD has issued four fixed penalty notices against offenders who dumped refuse near Wan Hon Street. Moreover, as one of Team Clean's initiatives to improve environmental hygiene, FEHD has engaged cleansing contractors to collect bagged refuse found in the area since mid-2003. The hygienic condition of the area has improved as a result of the above measures.

Ends/Wednesday, February 11, 2004
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