Traditional Chinese Simplified Chinese Email this article news.gov.hk
LCQ21: Retrofitting air-conditioning facilities at public markets
**********************************************************

     Following is a question by the Hon Tang Ka-piu and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today (June 22):

Question:

     At present, where the management consultative committee and a specified percentage of the tenants (the threshold) of a public market under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) have pledged their support for retrofitting an air-conditioning system at the market, FEHD will conduct a technical feasibility study on the relevant works.  On July 1 last year, the authorities lowered the threshold from 85% to 80%.  In addition, the result of a questionnaire survey conducted among tenants of Tai Wai Market by FEHD in 2014 showed that 86.2% of the tenants expressed support for the retrofitting of an air-conditioning system.  However, the works concerned have not yet commenced.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1)  of the latest progress of the works for retrofitting an air-conditioning system at Tai Wai Market; whether there is a specific implementation scheme in place; if so, of the arrangements, costs, implementation schedule and the anticipated completion date of the works; if not, the reasons for that;

(2)  whether the works for retrofitting an air-conditioning system at Tai Wai Market will be carried out in phases; whether the market needs to be closed partially or completely during the period when the works are carried out; of the authorities' measures to reduce the impact of the works on the tenants; whether the authorities will provide assistance or compensation to the tenants during the period when the works are carried out; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3)  of the public markets which had already met the 85% threshold before July 1 last year and, among them, those markets at which the works for retrofitting air-conditioning systems have not yet commenced at present; and

(4)  of the number of markets in respect of which the authorities have conducted questionnaire surveys on the retrofitting of air-conditioning systems since the threshold was lowered to 80%, and set out, by name of market, the years in which the questionnaire surveys were conducted, the results of the surveys and the progress of the works concerned?

Reply:

President,

     According to the established mechanism, a suggestion of retrofitting air-conditioning facilities at a public market will first be discussed at the meeting of the relevant Market Management Consultative Committee (Note 1) (MMCC).  Should there be a preliminary consensus, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will conduct a questionnaire survey to gauge the views of all tenants.  Subject to there being sufficient support from the tenants, we will conduct a technical feasibility study.  Taking into consideration factors such as the findings of the technical feasibility study, the extent of works required, cost effectiveness and impact on business and market operation, the Government will decide whether there is a case for seeking funds to carry out the air-conditioning retrofitting works.

     My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) and (2)  Following completion of the preliminary technical feasibility study on the retrofitting of air-conditioning at Tai Wai Market, the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) advised that the retrofitting works would require complete closure of the market on a temporary basis.  FEHD has invited the ArchSD to examine ways for shortening the duration of market closure as much as possible.   Based on the outcome of ArchSD's examination, we will consult the MMCC and tenants of Tai Wai Market on the way forward.  At this stage, we do not have a basis to accurately ascertain the costs and commencement time of the retrofitting works.  Pending the provision of the air-conditioning system, FEHD has earlier completed works for installing added exhaust trunks, as well as provided 12 evaporative air coolers and 21 fans in Tai Wai Market as an interim measure to improve ventilation.

     If it is ultimately decided that the proposed air-conditioning retrofitting works should proceed, in deciding whether rental waivers are to be provided, we will take into consideration relevant factors such as the impact of the works on market operations and the resultant difficulties that individual tenants may have to face in conducting their businesses.

(3)  Shui Wo Street Market Cooked Food Centre had already obtained sufficient tenant support before the lowering of the threshold on July 1, 2015.   However, there is insufficient electricity supply to operate the proposed air-conditioning system.  Preliminary assessment reveals that some stalls will have to be permanently closed to free up space for installing the required electrical facilities, and the entire cooked food centre will have to be temporarily closed to carry out the relevant works.  The proposal drew strong objections from the tenants.  Whilst the Government had discussed with the tenants on a number of occasions, given the technical difficulties, a consensus has not been reached.  The Government will continue to liaise with the tenants on this.  In the interim, FEHD has installed 14 evaporative air coolers in the cooked food market to improve ventilation.

(4)  On July 1, 2015, the threshold of tenant support is lowered from 85% to 80%.  FEHD has since consulted the MMCCs of those public markets (Note 2) without air-conditioning.  In the event, the MMCCs of 27 markets / cooked food centres / cooked food markets indicate support for conducting the questionnaire surveys.  The results are at Annex.  

     Based on the results of the questionnaire surveys, there are six markets where sufficient (i.e. at least 80%) tenants support for the retrofitting of air-conditioning facilities has been obtained.  They are the Electric Road Market Cooked Food Centre, the Fa Yuen Street Market Cooked Food Centre, the Ngau Chi Wan Market Cooked Food Centre, the Ngau Tau Kok Market Cooked Food Centre, the Quarry Bay Market Cooked Food Centre and the Shek Tong Tsui Market Cooked Food Centre.

     ArchSD will roll out, by batches, the preliminary technical feasibility studies for retrofitting air-conditioning at the relevant sites.  These include the Aberdeen Market and Cooked Food Centre, for which sufficient tenant support to carry out retrofitting of air-conditioning facilities has been obtained vide a questionnaire survey conducted before the support threshold is lowered.

Note 1:  Membership of a MMCC consists of market management representatives of the FEHD, District Council members, market tenant representatives, market management contractor/ cleansing contractor and security services contractor and representatives of the ArchSD, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department or other Government departments when necessary.

Note 2:  Not including those markets where tenant support had already passed the threshold during the surveys conducted earlier, and those where the environment was not suitable for retrofitting air-conditioning systems (for example, those located in an outdoor environment).

Ends/Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:31

NNNN

Print this page