Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ6: Public toilets in remote areas
Following is a question by the Hon Daniel Lam and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (November 17):
Question:
It is learnt that in some remote areas, there are inadequate public toilets and many of them are unhygienic and smelly aqua privies ("APs"). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the implementation timetable for the plan proposed at the end of last year to convert 100 APs into flushing toilets;
(b) whether it has any long-term plans to convert all APs into flushing toilets in various districts of the New Territories and outlying islands, particularly Lamma Island and Tai O; and
(c) whether it has plans to provide additional public toilets in areas frequented by visitors, such as Yuen Long, Sai Kung, exits of the Tung Chung MTR Station, Lamma Island and South Lantau; if so, of the timetable of the construction programme?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) There are 582 aqua privies in Hong Kong managed by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). To improve public hygiene, the Government has proposed to convert 100 aqua privies located near sightseeing spots or in areas with high patronage rates into flushing toilets. In consultation with the relevant District Councils, the government has formulated a conversion programme which will be carried out in two phases. In July 2004, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved funding for Phase 1 of the programme, which covers 30 aqua privies, to proceed. Conversion works will commence by the end of this year for completion in the second half of 2006. For the remaining 70 aqua privies under Phase 2, the Architectural Services Department is now carrying out technical feasibility studies and outline design work. We plan to seek funding approval from the Finance Committee in the first half of 2005 and expect to complete this part of the conversion programme by the end of 2007.
(b) As regards other aqua privies not covered in the conversion programme including those in Lamma Island and Tai O, we will take into account factors like actual needs, availability of public sewerage and cost-effectiveness in deciding whether to convert more of them into flushing toilets. In the meantime, the Government has been exploring new environmental-friendly toilet waste treatment systems in order to improve the sanitary conditions of the existing aqua privies and a trial scheme has been launched recently to examine the feasibility of the system. In addition, we will step up the cleansing services for the aqua privies at popular sightseeing spots in particular during public holidays in order to improve their hygiene conditions.
(c) The Government has plans to build 20 flushing public toilets in the New Territories and Islands District. We have already secured funding support to proceed with 13 projects, which are at the varying stages of development. Some are now being constructed and some will be constructed in the next few years. The timetable for completion is at Annex A.
Apart from these 13 projects, the Government will also seek funds to build seven more public toilets which are expected to be completed in the next few years. A list of these projects is at Annex B.
Ends/Wednesday, November 17, 2004
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LEGCO QUESTION No. 6
Annex A
New Public Toilets under Construction or will be Constructed
(Funding Approved)
|
Serial No. |
Name/Location of Public Toilet |
Expected Completion Date |
|
1.* |
Lantau Link View Point Public Toilet, Tsing Yi |
2005 |
|
2.* |
Sunny Bay Public Toilet, Lantau Island |
2005 |
|
3.* |
Pubic Toilet at Jat��s Incline, Ma On Shan Country Park |
2005 |
|
4.* |
Public Toilet at Pak Shek Kok Site I, Sha Tin |
2005 |
|
5. |
Public Toilet at District Open Space and Football Pitch in Area 5, Tai Po |
2005 |
|
6. |
Public Toilet at District Open Space in Area 7, Tung Chung |
2005 |
|
7.* |
Public Toilet at Tai Tong, Tai Lam Country Park |
2006 |
|
8. |
Public Toilet at Hong Kong Management Area at Shekou of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Western Corridor (I) |
2006 |
|
9. |
Public Toilet at Hong Kong Management Area at Shekou of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Western Corridor (II) |
2006 |
|
10.* |
Public Toilet at Pak Shek Kok Site IV, Sha Tin |
2006 |
|
11.* |
Public Toilet at Pak Shek Kok Site II, Tai Po |
2007 |
|
12.* |
Public Toilet at Pak Shek Kok Site III, Tai Po |
2007 |
|
13. |
Public Toilet at Town Lot No. 24, Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long |
2009 |
* Toilets frequented by visitors.
LEGCO QUESTION No. 6
Annex B
New Public Toilets to be Constructed
(Funding Yet to be Approved)
|
Serial No. |
Name/Location of Public Toilet |
Tentative Completion Date |
|
1.* |
Lo Wai Road Public Toilet, Tsuen Wan |
2005 |
|
2.* |
Public Toilet at Ngong Ping Public Transport Interchange, Lantau Island |
2006 |
|
3. |
Public Toilet at Public Transport Interchange at the Ma On Shan Rail Tai Wai Station |
2006 |
|
4.* |
Public Toilet at Tsam Chuk Wan Anti-Japanese Martyrs Monument, Sai Kung |
2006 |
|
5.* |
Public Toilet at the Public Transport Interchange at Lok Ma Chau Terminus of Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line |
2006 |
|
6. |
Public Toilet at District Open Space in Area 39, Fanling/Sheung Shui |
2007 |
|
7. |
Public Toilet at District Open Space in Area 2, Tung Chung |
2007 |
* Toilets frequented by visitors.