***********************************************************
Following is a question by Hon Albert Chan Wai-yip and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (January 14):
Question:
Some members of the public have recently relayed to me that the number of public toilets at the camp sites and barbecue areas within the country parks is inadequate, and most of the toilets in such places do not have baby-sitting rooms and water closet cubicles for the disabled, which cause inconvenience to those in need. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the following details of each of the camp sites and barbecue areas with public toilets:
Name of the camp site/barbecue area
Name of the country park at which such camp site/
barbecue area is located
Aqua privy or flushing toilet
Number of water closet cubicles for the male
Number of water closet cubicles for the female
Number of water closet cubicles for the disabled
Number of baby-sitting rooms
(b) of the names of the camp sites and barbecue areas without public toilets, as well as the names of country parks within which such camp sites or barbecue areas are located; and
(c) whether it will increase the number of public toilets and water closet cubicles (especially the ones for the disabled) as well as install baby-sitting rooms at the above locations; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
When deciding on the type and size of toilets to be built, the number of cubicles to be provided, and whether closet cubicles for the disabled should be provided, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) takes into consideration a number of factors, namely the location of the barbecue areas and camp sites, the number of visitors, visitors' needs, topography, and impact to the natural environment and catchments area of reservoirs. My reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
(a) Information about toilets in camp sites and barbecue areas within country parks are at Annexes 1 and 2 respectively.
(b) There are toilet facilities at all camp sites and barbecue areas or in their vicinity.
(c) The AFCD would assess visitors' needs, the number of cubicles and the number of closet cubicles for the disabled in existing camp sites and barbecue areas within country parks, in reviewing whether to increase the number of toilets, build flushing type toilets or provide more closet cubicles for the disabled. The AFCD can only provide mobile or dry toilets in certain locations owing to their remoteness, low utilisation rate, and the lack of public sewerage system or power/water supply.
As the AFCD has received few requests for using facilities in relation to baby-sitting rooms in country parks, therefore the existing toilets in country parks do not have such facilities. Providing baby-sitting rooms in existing toilets will occupy the space and reduce the number of cubicles in the toilets. Therefore, the AFCD will not consider retrofitting existing toilets with baby-sitting rooms at the moment.
Ends/Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Issued at HKT 14:01
NNNN
