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Following is a question by the Hon Chan Han-pan and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for the Environment, Ms Christine Loh, in the Legislative Council today (July 8):
Question:
It has been reported that the streets in Kwai Chung industrial area and those in the vicinity of Rambler Channel Typhoon Shelter, including Kwai Yue Street, Kwai Tai Road, Kwai Hei Street and Wing Lap Street, have become popular locations for fly-tipping of construction waste, industrial waste or other bulky waste in recent years. Some local residents have relayed that the accumulated waste affects environmental hygiene and compromises the safety of road users, and the authorities should therefore address and follow up the issue expeditiously. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the time periods of regular cleaning of the aforesaid streets by the authorities at present and the manpower deployed;
(2) of the number of complaints received in each of the past three years by the authorities about fly-tipping of construction waste, industrial waste and other waste in the aforesaid areas;
(3) of the number of prosecutions instituted in each of the past three years by the authorities against persons who fly-tipped waste in the aforesaid areas; and
(4) whether the authorities will deploy additional manpower to combat the aforesaid fly-tipping activities and install closed circuit television surveillance systems in the aforesaid areas to curb such illegal activities?
Reply:
President,
(1) The Government is much concerned about the problem of fly-tipping and is committed to combating fly-tipping and clearing the fly-tipped waste promptly through an inter-departmental co-ordination mechanism. For the streets in the Kwai Chung industrial area and those in the vicinity of Rambler Channel Typhoon Shelter, including Kwai Yue Street, Kwai Tai Road, Kwai Hei Street and Wing Lap Street, staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) conduct daily inspection and provide street cleansing services on a regular basis. When bulky waste and domestic waste is found on streets, more manpower resources will be deployed for clearance. In addition, the Highways Department assists in cleaning up any construction waste dumped on public roads. As the inspections and street cleansing work form part and parcel of the routine duties of the relevant government departments, there is no separate breakdown of the staffing provision dedicated to these areas of work.
(2) The number of complaints received from the public against fly-tipping of construction waste, industrial waste and other waste in the aforesaid areas over the past three years are as follows:
Year Number of Complaints
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2012 53
2013 75
2014 84
(3) The number of prosecutions instituted against fly-tippers in the aforesaid areas over the past three years are as follows:
Year Number of Prosecutions
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2012 3
2013 0
2014 1
(4) To combat fly-tipping in the aforesaid areas, the FEHD and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) have stepped up patrols and conducted blitz operations. They have also exchanged information and co-ordinated their enforcement actions. To enhance enforcement efforts, the two departments have, since May 2015, carried out seven joint blitz operations and there were five subsequent cases of prosecution of fly-tipping. In addition, the EPD has installed a surveillance camera in the aforesaid areas, and is planning to install more at other suitable locations to strengthen monitoring. Posters and banners have also been put up in the aforesaid areas for public education.
Ends/Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:25
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