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Concerted and sustained efforts by Government departments and the community at large to clean up the environment are vital to demonstrating that Hong Kong is a real world-class city ready to stand up to the challenges that this status implies, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, said while inspecting the results of clean-up efforts in a rear lane in Tsuen Wan today (January 19).
The lane, Tai Pei Square, is one of six pilot projects launched by Team Clean in August 2003 to develop an inter-departmental partnership in attacking environmental hygiene blackspots.
Dr Ho was much impressed by the great improvement in the hygiene conditions of the lane.
"When I first came here last April, the conditions were filthy, with leaking pipes, choked ditches, illegal structures, walls covered in grime, puddles of water, and pests running all over the place," he said.
"Today I am pleased to find the surface repaved, surface channels reconstructed, defective drainage rectified, walls cleaned, and unauthorized building works removed.
"The hard work of Government departments and the co-operation of residents have brought about an incredible improvement in the level of cleanliness in Tai Pei Square," he declared.
Dr Ho also noted that 66 of 175 similar blackspots identified by Team Clean in various districts had been cleaned up in the last few months.
Since May last year, the Home Affairs Department has been co-ordinating monthly end-of-month clean-up operations throughout the 18 districts with the support of Government departments and the public, including members of District Councils, Area Committees, Owners Corporations, Mutual Aid Committees and other local bodies. And in the approach to the Chinese New Year, the department has further mobilised over 4,000 people to participate in special clean-up operations.
However, despite the determination of the majority of the population to keep clean, environmental hygiene problems persist in certain areas.
In his visit to another rear lane near Tai Pei Square, the Secretary for Home Affairs was disappointed to discover that hygiene conditions were still substandard as a result of the irresponsible behaviour of some residents.
Dr Ho said: "It is a disgrace that some people are still treating rear lanes as common dumping grounds and creating other environmental nuisances. We will not be able to eradicate all hygiene blackspots unless everyone pitches in.
"I appeal to all sectors of the community to observe personal, home and environmental hygiene. Make it a habit to keep clean and make our city truly clean and healthy," he said.
To help inspect hygiene conditions and identify problem sites, the Home Affairs Department has recruited more than 2,400 volunteers from local organisations to form 170 hygiene squads in the 18 districts. In addition, closed-circuit television (CCTV) has been installed, on a trial basis, at selected venues in Yuen Long, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City, and Yau Tsim Mong to monitor round the clock the "who, how and when" of environmental hygiene problems.
"At the end of the trial period, the department will assess the effectiveness of CCTV in improving the level of cleanliness. We will then decide on what to do next," the Secretary said.
Dr Ho also visited several shops run by Nepalese merchants in Kwun Chung, Yau Tsim Mong.
He distributed environmental hygiene leaflets in the Nepalese language to the shopkeepers and asked for their support to keep Hong Kong clean.
He also used the occasion to appeal for special public awareness of environmental cleanliness and personal hygiene during the Chinese New Year holidays.
"I hope that everyone who stays in Hong Kong during the holidays, especially those who attend the Fireworks Display, will pay heed to their personal safety and to the need to keep our surroundings clean," he said.
"And I hope that all those who spend their holidays abroad will pay extra attention to personal hygiene while they are travelling."
Accompanying the Secretary on his visits were the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Pamela Tan; Director of Buildings, Mr Marco Wu; Assistant Director (Operations), Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Ms Rhonda Lo; and representatives of the Drainage Services, Lands, Environmental Protection, Water Supplies and Highways departments and the Hong Kong Police Force.
Ends/Monday, January 19, 2004
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