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Following is a question by the Hon Bernard Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr David Lan, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is noted that every morning large quantities of waste papers are left behind after newspaper vendors finish sorting the newspapers in the streets. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the parties responsible for clearing up such waste papers; if public funds are used for clearing up such waste papers, of the reasons for that; and

(b) whether such waste papers are separated for recycling purpose?

Reply:

President,

On the basis of information provided by the two municipal services departments (MSDs), the replies to the Hon. Bernard Chan's questions are -

(a) Papers left behind by newspaper vendors after the sorting process are usually returned to the distributors or sold to the recycling companies. The small amount of waste newspapers discarded on the streets is regarded as refuse and cleared by the two MSDs and their contractors as part of the street sweeping services. Nonetheless, anti-littering messages are disseminated to the newspaper vendors and special blitz operations against litter offenders are taken out by the two MSDs where necessary.

(b) Discarded newspapers are mixed with other street wastes in the course of street sweeping thus making separation for recycling purpose impossible.

End/Wednesday, December 1, 1999

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