The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will launch a pilot scheme on the installation of Internet Protocol (IP) cameras at six refuse deposit blackspots in Central and Western, Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long districts on December 30 to strengthen the monitoring of illegal deposits of refuse and facilitate the planning of more effective enforcement actions.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said today (December 23), "To address the environmental hygiene problems caused by frequent deposits of refuse and waste at hygiene blackspots in individual districts, particularly at midnight or in early morning, the FEHD has proposed to implement the pilot scheme on installation of IP cameras at the locations concerned for enhanced monitoring of cleanliness offences and planning of more effective enforcement action. The department has consulted the District Councils concerned on the scheme and, with their support, it will be launched on December 30."

     During the trial period, the FEHD will install two IP cameras at each of the six refuse dumping blackspots in Central and Western, Sham Shui Po and Yuen Long districts, including the side lane of the Police Married Quarters, 2-4 Staunton Street, and Bridges Street (near the former Shing Wong Street Refuse Collection Point) in Central; Lin Cheung Road (Southbound) lay-by and Cheung Wah Street Refuse Collection Point in Sham Shui Po; and Tung Tai Street Refuse Collection Point and Pak Sha Tsuen Refuse Collection Point, Shap Pat Heung in Yuen Long. FEHD officers will closely monitor the targeted blackspots and revise its action plans accordingly in light of actual circumstances to enhance the effectiveness of enforcement actions.

     The spokesman said that the FEHD will implement the arrangements in accordance with the Guidance on CCTV Surveillance Practices issued by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, including posting notices in the areas covered by the IP cameras to inform the public that the cameras are in operation. In addition, the department will formulate clear operational guidelines and require the staff to strictly comply with the provisions on the manner of collecting personal data under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap 486) and handle privacy matters properly. The disclosure of the images captured is restricted to the extent necessary for legal action to be taken. Should no prosecution be instituted against the irregularities within six months, the images so captured will be deleted.

     The spokesman stressed that the FEHD would continue to combat illegal refuse deposits at hygiene blackspots in a multi-pronged manner. The pilot scheme will be reviewed after six months of implementation.

Ends/Friday, December 23, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:35

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