Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ21: Retrofitting air-conditioning facilities at public markets
Following is a question by the Hon Tang Ka-piu and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today
(June 22):
Question:
At present, where the management consultative committee and a specified
percentage of the tenants (the threshold) of a public market under the Food and
Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) have pledged their support for
retrofitting an air-conditioning system at the market, FEHD will conduct a
technical feasibility study on the relevant works. On July 1 last year, the
authorities lowered the threshold from 85% to 80%. In addition, the result of a
questionnaire survey conducted among tenants of Tai Wai Market by FEHD in 2014
showed that 86.2% of the tenants expressed support for the retrofitting of an
air-conditioning system. However, the works concerned have not yet commenced. In
this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the latest progress of the works for retrofitting an air-conditioning
system at Tai Wai Market; whether there is a specific implementation scheme in
place; if so, of the arrangements, costs, implementation schedule and the
anticipated completion date of the works; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) whether the works for retrofitting an air-conditioning system at Tai Wai
Market will be carried out in phases; whether the market needs to be closed
partially or completely during the period when the works are carried out; of the
authorities' measures to reduce the impact of the works on the tenants; whether
the authorities will provide assistance or compensation to the tenants during
the period when the works are carried out; if they will, of the details; if not,
the reasons for that;
(3) of the public markets which had already met the 85% threshold before July 1
last year and, among them, those markets at which the works for retrofitting
air-conditioning systems have not yet commenced at present; and
(4) of the number of markets in respect of which the authorities have conducted
questionnaire surveys on the retrofitting of air-conditioning systems since the
threshold was lowered to 80%, and set out, by name of market, the years in which
the questionnaire surveys were conducted, the results of the surveys and the
progress of the works concerned?
Reply:
President,
According to the established mechanism, a suggestion of retrofitting
air-conditioning facilities at a public market will first be discussed at the
meeting of the relevant Market Management Consultative Committee (Note 1)
(MMCC). Should there be a preliminary consensus, the Food and Environmental
Hygiene Department (FEHD) will conduct a questionnaire survey to gauge the views
of all tenants. Subject to there being sufficient support from the tenants, we
will conduct a technical feasibility study. Taking into consideration factors
such as the findings of the technical feasibility study, the extent of works
required, cost effectiveness and impact on business and market operation, the
Government will decide whether there is a case for seeking funds to carry out
the air-conditioning retrofitting works.
My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(1) and (2) Following completion of the preliminary technical feasibility study
on the retrofitting of air-conditioning at Tai Wai Market, the Architectural
Services Department (ArchSD) advised that the retrofitting works would require
complete closure of the market on a temporary basis. FEHD has invited the ArchSD
to examine ways for shortening the duration of market closure as much as
possible. Based on the outcome of ArchSD's examination, we will consult the MMCC
and tenants of Tai Wai Market on the way forward. At this stage, we do not have
a basis to accurately ascertain the costs and commencement time of the
retrofitting works. Pending the provision of the air-conditioning system, FEHD
has earlier completed works for installing added exhaust trunks, as well as
provided 12 evaporative air coolers and 21 fans in Tai Wai Market as an interim
measure to improve ventilation.
If it is ultimately decided that the proposed air-conditioning retrofitting
works should proceed, in deciding whether rental waivers are to be provided, we
will take into consideration relevant factors such as the impact of the works on
market operations and the resultant difficulties that individual tenants may
have to face in conducting their businesses.
(3) Shui Wo Street Market Cooked Food Centre had already obtained sufficient
tenant support before the lowering of the threshold on July 1, 2015. However,
there is insufficient electricity supply to operate the proposed
air-conditioning system. Preliminary assessment reveals that some stalls will
have to be permanently closed to free up space for installing the required
electrical facilities, and the entire cooked food centre will have to be
temporarily closed to carry out the relevant works. The proposal drew strong
objections from the tenants. Whilst the Government had discussed with the
tenants on a number of occasions, given the technical difficulties, a consensus
has not been reached. The Government will continue to liaise with the tenants on
this. In the interim, FEHD has installed 14 evaporative air coolers in the
cooked food market to improve ventilation.
(4) On July 1, 2015, the threshold of tenant support is lowered from 85% to 80%.
FEHD has since consulted the MMCCs of those public markets (Note 2) without
air-conditioning. In the event, the MMCCs of 27 markets / cooked food centres /
cooked food markets indicate support for conducting the questionnaire surveys.
The results are at Annex.
Based on the results of the questionnaire surveys, there are six markets where
sufficient (i.e. at least 80%) tenants support for the retrofitting of
air-conditioning facilities has been obtained. They are the Electric Road Market
Cooked Food Centre, the Fa Yuen Street Market Cooked Food Centre, the Ngau Chi
Wan Market Cooked Food Centre, the Ngau Tau Kok Market Cooked Food Centre, the
Quarry Bay Market Cooked Food Centre and the Shek Tong Tsui Market Cooked Food
Centre.
ArchSD will roll out, by batches, the preliminary technical feasibility studies
for retrofitting air-conditioning at the relevant sites. These include the
Aberdeen Market and Cooked Food Centre, for which sufficient tenant support to
carry out retrofitting of air-conditioning facilities has been obtained vide a
questionnaire survey conducted before the support threshold is lowered.
Note 1: Membership of a MMCC consists of market management representatives of
the FEHD, District Council members, market tenant representatives, market
management contractor/ cleansing contractor and security services contractor and
representatives of the ArchSD, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department or
other Government departments when necessary.
Note 2: Not including those markets where tenant support had already passed the
threshold during the surveys conducted earlier, and those where the environment
was not suitable for retrofitting air-conditioning systems (for example, those
located in an outdoor environment).
Ends/Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:31
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LCQ21 Annex